Abstract
In an age where science is no longer content with merely healing the human body but increasingly seeks to redesign it, the question of what it means to be human has become more urgent than ever. The rapid growth of genetic technologies has opened possibilities that were once unimaginable, raising deep concerns about whether humanity is gradually crossing moral boundaries that safeguard human worth and identity. Against this backdrop, the ethical debate surrounding genetic manipulation has become central to contemporary bioethical discussions. This paper is guided by the problem: to what extent can human beings manipulate genetic structures without undermining the dignity that defines human life? In addressing this question, the study critically examines the philosophical concerns raised by Michael Sandel on genetic enhancement and bioethical engineering. Using analytic method, the findings reveal that while genetic engineering holds significant benefits in medicine and the improvement of human life, its application in enhancement raises serious ethical concerns. These include the risk of treating human beings as designed products, the erosion of humility and gratitude, and the deepening of social inequality. Sandel’s critique highlights that the core issue is not merely technical capability but the moral attitude of control over life itself. The paper concludes that human dignity must remain a guiding principle in the development and application of genetic technologies. It further recommends that scientific progress should not come at the expense of reducing human life to an object of design and manipulation. Instead, a balanced ethical approach is necessary one that recognises both the benefits of biotechnology and the moral limits that protect human identity.