Not a trekkie and writing from a real life perspective: genetic engineering cannot have the consent of the child whereas an adult may freely consent to become a cyborg. Moreover, genetic changes are permanent in the population whereas cyborg modifications end with the individual.
Those ideas coupled with the Federation having the legacy of the Eugenics Wars in the past probably motivate them to ban genetic engineering.
Because Earth never faced an extinction-level Cyborg War, pretty much. I'm of the opinion that the primary reason for the Federation's ban on genetic engineering is Earth's enduring trauma from the Eugenics War.
Eugenics is a major part of that trauma, being part of the war. But banning all forms of genetic engineering across the entire multi-species alliance for centuries because it can go too far is a vast overreaction. Imagine if the nuclear reactors had been completely banned because of WWII, or if viral research was banned because of COVID, or if prosthetic limbs were banned because of Wolf 359.
You're saying that banning eugenics is an overreaction to the eugenics war? Because there's no evidence that genetic modification was banned in general.
I feel like you're actively choosing not to read what I said, because literally the entire point of that post that I'm not saying that.
I'm saying banning all forms of genetic engineering is an overreaction to the Eugenics War. Not all genetic engineering is eugenics. Like any medical technology, when used wisely, it can be invaluable in helping people and improving their lives. The Earth was so traumatized by the results of eugenics that centuries later, they still mandate the entire Federation throw out the baby with the bathwater.
DS9 clarifies this a bit:
DNA resequencing for any reason other than repairing serious birth defects is illegal. Any genetically enhanced human being is barred from serving in Starfleet or practising medicine.
And in regards to the ban:
Two hundred years ago we tried to improve the species through DNA resequencing, and what did we get for our trouble? The Eugenics Wars. For every Julian Bashir that can be created, there's a Khan Singh waiting in the wings. A superhuman whose ambition and thirst for power have been enhanced along with his intellect. The law against genetic engineering provides a firewall against such men
The federation sure gets trigger happy with the banhammer at times, look at the synths.
The Federation's position on genetic engineering is not well considered
As many have pointed out, trauma from the Eugenics wars is a big reason behind the Federations stance on genetic engineering, but that's just part of it. The Federation is a Utopian Meritocracy that celebrates diversity. Genetic Engineering undermines diversity and creates inequality in a society where everyone is granted an equal opportunity to rise and succeed. This is the other half of the equation as to why the UFP doesn't like genetic engineering.
