A Brief Note On Genetic Engineering And Enhancement

Genetic engineering is a great thing that can help our society grow in a healthier way. Genetic engineering can prevent deadly diseases in children [babies] before they are born genetic engineering can also be used on fruits and vegetables not just humans and animals.

“With genetic engineering, we will be able to increase the complexity of our DNA, and improve the human race. But it will be a slow process, because one will have to wait about 18 years to see the effect of changes to the genetic code”(Hawking). Scientists have been practicing editing the DNA of organisms in order to remove unwanted genes and or enhance their survival rates. As technology advances, it allows this practice to become more precise and successful. Scientist have been having successful test in modifying human dna which causes more controversies on whether it should be allowed or not.Genetic engineering should be permitted due to its ability to benefit the medical and environmental future.To begin with the idea of potentially removing unwanted traits in DNA sequences, to aid in removing hereditary diseases.

Twenty five years ago Genetic Engineering was a scene from an unrealistic invention on a scene from a science fiction movie. However, recent scientific advancements, genetic engineering, is becoming more of a reality rather than a fantasy. Genetic Engineering was once an actually impractical thought, today it is a prominent issue around the world. The most controversial subject of genetic engineering deals with the impact that manipulation of humans will have on earth. Genetic engineering of humans will negatively affect the world in the following ways; social issues, violation of human rights, discrimination, religious objections and medical concerns.

Imagine if we could make disease a thing of the past and extend the average human lifespan past 100 years. With genetic engineering, someday this future could become reality. Genetic engineering can cure genetic diseases, and extend and empower human life. However, many people have overestimated and reacted to ethical and safety concerns associated with this new technology.

The altering of human genes could save lives. You could cure cystic fibrosis or alzheimer's. This would save the lives of many (Doc. 3). This technology could also give you children with specific traits of your choice. Also, this engineering can leave people painfree. This is not good because they can’t detect danger. As a plus side, scientists will eventually take the gene that causes this and help cure those with chronic long lasting pains (Doc. 2). This would make more people happy and healthy across the nation! Eventually we could go so far as to make a genetically engineered nation. As you can see, Genetic Engineering also could have a positive effect on

Human genetic engineering can save people's lives now and could save more in the future. According to a New Scientist article (Le Page, 2015), Layla was three months when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a kind of cancer in the bone marrow. She underwent other treatments like chemotherapy, but those failed so she underwent gene therapy by using the TALEN protein to edit her genes to produce a cancer fighting T cell called UCRAT19; She survived and thrived (Le Page 2015). Saving someone’s life through human genetic engineering doesn’t even have to be as complicated as altering genes. According to TIME Health (Park, 2014), Mya Burkhart was six months old when her parents started to look for a cure to her rare mutation in the gene for citrate. This mutation prevented certain parts of her from getting enough energy, causing breathing and development problems, and after having no luck with any other diagnosis, a genetic scan figured out what the issue was and gave her citrate supplements (Alice Park, 2014). Both Layla’s and Mya’s lives were saved because of human genetic engineering. Layla was cured of cancer because of human genetic engineering, which is one toughest diseases for humans to cure right now, while Layla’s cancer was cured, but Mya’s condition was only treated so maybe if human genetic engineering could continue a cure could be developed to improve her life.

Genetic engineering is a very controversial topic. People either agree with genetic modification, or they don’t. According to dictionary.com, genetic engineering is the development and application of scientific methods, procedures, and technologies that permit direct manipulation of genetic material in order to alter the hereditary traits of a cell, organism, or population. While researching this topic, I learned many interesting facts. I found out that genetic engineering first started in 1973, I did not know it had been around for so long. I learned that two men, Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen, were the first people to genetically modify an organism, which was bacteria. Yourgenome.org states that, “Genetic engineering can be applied to

In an ever-increasing technological world, many scientists and researchers are now trying to revolutionize the human body through genetic enhancement. Genetic enhancement is defined as the transfer of genetic material intended to modify one or many non-pathological human traits.

Imagine the possibility of eliminating serious genetic diseases from the world. Imagine the idea of treating, preventing or even curing diseases that are yet to be cured. Imagine the feeling of being given improved health and a prolonged lifespan. This can all be accomplished with the aide of genetic engineering. Human genetic engineering refers to the process of directly manipulating human DNA to produce wanted results. DNA is a simple but very complex chemical that has the power to change the world and has begun to do so already. Many opponents to gene therapy fail to realize that genetic engineering has great potential to become very important in the biomedical industry. Though controversy exists regarding the ethics of human genetic engineering, it can produce numerous benefits, which outweigh its disadvantages and side effects; therefore, scientists should be able to manipulate the human genome for the purpose of helping people with serious medical conditions.

Throughout the world, many intelligent minds exist. One, in particular, had something to say about Human genetic engineering. “Nuclear weapons need large facilities, but genetic engineering can be done in a small lab. You cannot regulate every lab in the world. The danger is that either by accident or design, we create a virus that destroys us” (Stephen Hawking). Hawking is considered to be one of the most intelligent people in the modern world. For this reason, his statement is not to be taken with a grain of salt. The concept of Human genetic engineering is surrounded with danger and controversy. There are several different positions on human genetic modification. Conservatives, or Traditionalists believe such innovation or change would be detrimental towards the human race. Conservatives say that families are the foundation of society so changing how families come to be would ultimately tear society apart (Foht). Others say that innovation of such magnitude would act as a boon to the human race. Concerning the danger of genetic engineering, it could definitely become an immense detriment. However, with the correct limitation and government oversight, the human race will benefit from it. Genetically engineering a Human embryo is a step that science will eventually take. Whether it be decades or centuries from now, genetically modified humans will walk the Earth.

It is incredible to see how far genetic engineering has come. Humans, plants, and any living organism can now be manipulated. Scientists have found ways to change humans before they are even born. They can remove, add, or alter genes in the human genome. Making things possible that humans (even thirty years ago) would have never imagined. Richard Hayes claims in SuperSize Your Child? that genetic engineering needs to have limitations. That genetic engineering should be used for medical purposes, but not for “genetic modification that could open the door to high-tech eugenic engineering” (188). There is no doubt that genetic engineering can amount to great things, but without limits it could lead the human race into a future that no one

Genetic engineering has been the subject of controversy since it first started. There is a lot of fear and concern surrounding the possibilities it presents. It is difficult to make ethical decisions about genetic engineering because if offers opportunities to solve many genetic problems such as hereditary diseases. The consequences are positive and negative, but there is no way to determine which will have a greater impact. Genetic engineering could lead to new treatments for hereditary diseases, but it could also have long-term adverse effects. Although there are benefits to genetic engineering, the negative side cannot be overlooked.

It’s been seen in movies like Gattaca, and now reality is catching up to fictional genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is defined as the deliberate modification of an organism’s characteristics by manipulating genetic material. Rapid progression in this field has already taken place; today, over 40% of the world’s food is genetically modified and this science has begun to allow parents to select the traits they want in their children. As of right now, genetic engineering is a fresh concept not completely accepted or understood, but by 2041, it will as common practice as smartphones are commonplace because of its contribution to the quality of life.

After reading the positive effect that genetic engineering has on society, we need to consider the bad side of this reality.

Though genes often have more than one use, for example, a gene that controls intelligence could also control anger management, you could end up with a genius, but very angry child, the technology has the ability to potentially eliminate the age barrier, and allow humans to live much longer than they are able to do today. The lifespan of a body 's cells could be lengthened, and regeneration of those cells stretched by several years, which raises many questions around ethics. One question is around compliance and the fact that genetically altered babies have no say in what is being done to their bodies before birth. Another is the fact that genetic testing is likely only something the wealthy will be able to afford. This may result in class wars and cause a great deal of resentment. Also, another question is around genetic engineering may cause overpopulation if humans are living longer, but there is no denying the benefit that this technology could also hold the promise of preventing genetic abnormalities that may be passed on to future generation^6.