title: Ethical Concerns About Human Genetic Enhancement in the Malay Science Fiction Novels.
abstract: Advancements in science and technology have not only brought hope to humankind to produce disease-free offspring, but also offer possibilities to genetically enhance the next generation's traits and capacities. Human genetic enhancement, however, raises complex ethical questions, such as to what extent should it be allowed? It has been a great challenge for humankind to develop robust ethical guidelines for human genetic enhancement that address both public concerns and needs. We believe that research about public concerns is necessary prior to developing such guidelines, yet the issues have not been thoroughly investigated in many countries, including Malaysia. Since the novel often functions as a medium for the public to express their concerns, this paper explores ethical concerns about human genetic enhancement expressed in four Malay science fiction novels namely Klon, Leksikon Ledang, Transgenesis Bisikan Rimba and Transgenik Sifar. Religion has a strong influence on the worldview of the Malays therefore some concerns such as playing God are obviously religious. Association of the negative image of scientists as well as the private research companies with the research on human genetic enhancement reflects the authors' concerns about the main motivations for conducting such research and the extent to which such research will benefit society.
authors.affiliation: Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. noormunirah@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Noor Munirah
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Isa
authors.affiliation: Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Fakhruddin
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hj Safian Shuri
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D019976:Cloning, Organism / Q000941:ethics*; D024861:Genetic Enhancement / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008093:Literature, Modern; D008296:Malaysia; D008513:Medicine in Literature; D009014:Morals; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000941:ethics; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012945:Social Values; D013672:Technology
keywords: Ethical issues; Human cloning; Human genetic enhancement; Islam; Science fiction novels; Transgenic human