Summary: Recent developments in genomic research have allowed humans to manipulate the genes of living organisms through genetic engineering. This poses a threat to nature's carefully balanced environment, as humans construct organisms that nature never intended to exist. Additionally, the United States government does not require genetically modified foods to be labeled as such. Is this ethically responsible? Should we pursue these scientific advances if we do not understand their consequences? This article analyzes the above questions. In a lifetime of technological advancement, we face many ethical questions regarding the natural world. Humans have become capable of scientifically manipulating genes to create organisms that nature never intended to exist. Even if we have the technology, is it ethical to modify living organisms to better meet our own needs? Is it environmentally friendly? Do we know enough about the consequences of such activities to make sound judgments? Many companies have made significant profits from genetically modified material. The tomatoes are larger and the corn is browner. Consumers are happier. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require farmers to label their genetically modified products. So why should we care about genetically modified foods? Genes can be compared to individual computer programs or routines of human development. In DNA we have a code for the composition of a specific organism and all of its traits. Manipulating this code is, in theory, hacking into a system that we do not have and, I believe, should not have access to. Ron Epstein describes genetic engineering as "the artificial modification of the genetic code of a living thing...... middle of paper ... that exists now." Furthermore, if humans have the power to manipulate the genes of living organisms, what's to stop us from building our own humans, building computers that look and act like humans, and slowly eliminating all intentions of nature in order to formulate a world that we select? References: 1 Epstein, Ron "Redesigning the. World: Ethical Questions about Genetic Engineering." http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/GE%20Essays/Redesigning.htm.2 Grogan, John and Cheryl Long. “The Problem of Genetic Engineering.” Organic Gardening Magazine, 2000.3 Sterling, John. “Why Patagonia? Why now?" From the Patagonia catalog of early spring 2001. Reno: Patagonia, 2001. 23.4 Grogan and Long. "The problem with genetic engineering."5 Epstein. "Rethinking the world: ethical questions about genetic engineering."