Educational Research International Vol. 4(4) August 2015 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2014 SAVAP International ISSN: 2307-3721, eISSN: 2307-3713 www.savap.org.pk 52 www.erint.savap.org.pk Genetic Engineering Option for Persons with Disabilities: To Be or Not To Be Jerry E. JUMMAI 1 , Rufus Olanrewaju ADEBISI 2 1 Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, Nasarawa State University, & 2 School of Postgraduate Studies, Department of Special Education & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Jos, NIGERIA. 2 aderufus2@gmail.com ABSTRACT This paper discussed the topic of genetic engineering option for persons with disabilities, to be or not to be. In this paper, the meaning of genetic engineering as a field of biotechnology, which deal with the modification of genes was discussed. The international regulations on genetic engineering on the rights of persons with disabilities were exposed; the issues against genetic engineering for persons with disabilities, which were based on limitation of children’s freedom, fears that genetic engineering will lead to eugenics, social inequalities, and possible environmental hazards were pointed out. The discourse highlighted the possible gains or merits of genetic engineering as a treatment option for persons with disabilities, also on children’s independence to rebuild their own destinies, among others merits. Possible dangers of genetic engineering to persons with disabilities were discussed and the paper gave recommendations, inters alia, that there should be established regulations and published safety guidelines to reduce the dangers of researches on genetic engineering. Keywords: Genetic Engineering, Persons with Disabilities, Human Right, Genes, social Discrimination INTRODUCTION Contemporary days have observed a universal move in the awareness and management of disability and people with disabilities towards a human rights viewpoint in line with the social model of disability (Oliver and Barnes, 1998). This was in response to the recent shift in the development of genetic technology particularly in the field of modified plantations and food and lately regarding the technology of cloning. The ongoing worldwide argument that interfering with humans through food and genes is an infringement of basic human rights for decent living and a safe existence which is clearly stated in Article (3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN, 1948) and the UNESCO's Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights (UNESCO, 1997; Degener, 1998). This further necessitated the current draft disability convention which has touched on this issue in its 4th session of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (UN ESA, 2004). The term genetic engineering is a technique, performed by scientists in a laboratory, to change a living organisms' Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA. Genetic engineering is defined as an alteration of the traits of the cell of an organism through the direct manipulation of genes. Nature can produce organisms with new gene combinations through sexual reproduction. A black cow for example, bred to a brown cow produce a calf of a completely new colour. However, reproductive mechanisms limit the number of new combinations, that is, cows must breed with other cows (or very near relative). A breeder who wants a purple cow would