Gene Therapy: A Form of Eugenics?

Obviously, if you alter someone so that they are faster, or more intelligent, then the autonomy of the person has been drastically changed. You are physically changing their DNA to make them a certain way. That isn't preserving the autonomy AT ALL. However, altering a mutated gene to heal a disease isn't changing anything, it is simply correcting it to a form that the large majority of the human race is, naturally.

Well, what I meant by autonomy was an independent decision not influenced or dictated by outside entities like the government. Typically, the term eugenics carries a negative connotation, and I generally see any eugenics program as a government-run program. I have no real problem about someone altering their genome as long as it is their own decision.

Of course then we have to get into whether or not it is okay for parents to alter a child's genome, and so forth. Where do we draw the line? That is always the question with such issues.

The breast-enhancement example may have been inadequate. However, it is safe to say that their are many irreversible procedures performed in the medical profession that alter someone's phenotypic traits. This, then, is really no different than genetic engineering, or eugenics if you'd rather. Since one is not seen as immoral, it should follow that the other is not percieved as immoral either as long as the autonomy of the individual is preserved.