Genetic Engineering in Humans Andrew Pickard English 122, Semester 1 Mrs. D. Seymour December 19, 2014 Genetic Engineering in Humans I. Insecurity and Disappointments A. Identity Crisis B. The Injury C. Elite Development Program / Re-injury II. Royal Canadian Leadership Camp A. Application B. Black Sheep C. Inspiring Words III. Volunteer Experiences / Inspiring Events A. Steve Nash Youth Basketball B. We Day C. Literacy Mentor Pickard 1 Andrew Pickard Mrs. D. Seymour English 122 19 December 2014 Genetic Engineering in Humans For thousands of years, humanity has selectively bred plants and animals to produce the most favourable results from the fruitful species around us. It has only been a very recent event in our history, however, that we have invented a systematic procedure to ensure the best results in these species. This procedure is called genetic engineering, and has sparked multiple debates among both academics and the public about the ethics behind controlling the outcome of a species. Among all the altercation regarding this relatively new technology, no other topic has brought about more controversy than the use of genetic engineering in humans. Proponents of genetic engineering envision a future where disease, crime, suffering, and infertility have been eliminated - replaced by an enhanced human race better suited to our environment. Opponents fear a nightmarish world where biodiversity and the human genome have been corrupted through
Nowadays, people will claim that the world is on the verge of scientific revolution that leads to the most controversial idea; genetic engineering of humans. When science technology grows exponentially faster than moral understanding, therein lies the argument between these two aspects. One can argue that genetic engineering is some sort of vast achievement in technology especially in this modern era whereby people live in full of access. However, if we look closely at the impact of this technology towards human beings, genetic engineering has many flaws and ramifications that can be debated thoroughly. Arguments and points of view are explained by Michael J. Sandel, the author of “The Case Against Perfection” and Nicholas Agar, the author of “Liberal Eugenics”.
Engineering, edited by David M. Haugen and Susan Musser, Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010138265/OVIC?u=j170902014&xid=541f199b. Accessed 24 Feb. 2017. Originally published as "The Threat of Human Genetic Engineering," www.hgalert.org/topics/hge/threat.htm.
Although having a “designer baby” is not provided as a public possibility yet, the choice is in the near future. A designer baby is defined as a child whose genes were altered or selected to make sure a specific gene is attendant. Lee M. Silver, Princeton University microbiologist, predicts that the future will hold two human species, naturals and the gene-enriched (Preface to 'Genetic Enhancement of Human Abilities' n.p.). The gene-enriched refers to people with designer genes chosen by parents who have had the same done to them. This technology will first prevent birth defects and later diabetes and heart disease. As artificial genes develop to be common, the technology may be used to prevent drug and alcohol addictions, mental diseases, and eventually to create humans with synthetic characteristics (Preface to 'Genetic Enhancement of Human Abilities' n.p.). Parents will walk into a fertility clinic, choose the desired traits, and pay for the procedure. The fertility procedure to merge three people’s genetic material is currently being contemplated by The Food and Drug Administration (Smith 6).
Who would have ever thought we could live in a world that can make genetically modified humans; some think the idea of genetically modified food is absurd. According to the encyclopedia, “Eugenics is the conviction and practice of enhancing the hereditary nature of the human population”. In our modern world, eugenics has become a center of conversation because of its numerous progressive usages, but also its probable consequences. Some believe it is the future of our world, some believe it will do more harm than good. With this proclamation, there is no uncertainty that it will be tremendously helpful in the use of preventing diseases such as cancer and countless more, before we are even outside the womb. However this idea can also be mistreated
Genetic engineering is a powerful tool that can be used to accomplish a multitude of tasks. From species population control to ensuring certain traits in a human baby, there isn’t a lot that genetic engineering can’t do. It is becoming more and more acceptable to genetically engineer organisms as our knowledge on the subject grows. There have been experiments manipulating entire ecosystems by introducing a genetically modified organism into it. It’s even possible to change tiny details all the way down to the color eyes a child has. However these developments are not without controversy. Many people claim that changing the genetic make-up of a living being is playing God, and are against it. The works of Kiera Butler, John J. Conley, Ronald Bailey, and Simon Wallace speak on the controversy as well as utility value of genetic engineering.
Genetic Engineering, for most individuals not knowledgeable on the topic, conjures visions of sci-fi movies and humans being grown in a lab far off in the future. What more and more individuals in the early 21st century are coming to realize is that Genetic Engineering has already exceeded our wildest imaginations in a dark corner of a lab, outside of the view of the main stream public. Indeed, in 2017, genetic engineering is in full swing on both plant and animal life. Only from hearing major news stories such as Dolly the world 's first cloned sheep or GMOs already being a major part of North America 's corn production, have the masses been made aware of the sweeping advances that science has been able to make. Now that we as a
Genetically modified organisms are created through high tech transfers of selected genetic material from one organism to another. The goal of this genetic engineering process is to create new varieties of plants and animals with chosen characteristics. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are becoming more and more prominent in today’s marketplace, so it is important to understand what they are and some of the issues they raise. The question facing society, therefore, is “how” biotechnology and genetic engineering will be used. Observers continue to ask whether biotechnology will ease human suffering by curing diseases and eradicating hunger, or whether it will unleash a storm of moral and ethical transgressions.
Genetic engineering has become increasingly normalized in today’s society, and people are exposed to this technology now more than ever before. Most people are aware that food companies practice genetic engineering on their plants in order to design the most profitable crops, but it isn’t generally known that this same technology can be applied to humans. The concept of picking certain traits and characteristics of a human may appear desirable, but many risks and potential side effects may follow considering that it is unknown what genetic engineering could affect in future generations. Francis Fukuyama, an accomplished and distinguished professor of political economy and philosopher, conveys his concern that genetic engineering is developing at a surprisingly rapid rate. Within his book, Our Posthuman Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution, he claims that genetic engineering not only will potentially be detrimental for the human race, but due to the change in nature of human beings, such engineering will also result in significantly impacting government and politics. Although genetic engineering can be seen as a huge technological advancement that could potentially help millions, there are drastic negative effects and reasons for disapproving genetic engineering that are too important to be overlooked.
Ever wish you could eat pizza and have the same nutrients as fruits or vegetables? Food is something that affects every person on this planet, in more ways than we think. Recent discoveries show that we may be able to eat that slice of pizza and maintain our health. A concept known as genetic engineering has the ability to make foods taste better, increase their nutritional value, and even help solve some of the deadliest health issues. As we continue to dwell deeper and deeper into genetic engineering we begin to realize the possibilities are endless. As science continues to advance we begin to realize that this is the future, with the ability to change life as we know it. As stated by bioethicist David Resnick genetic engineering is, when we speak of "genetic modification" we mean the process of intentionally altering human genes for the purpose of producing offspring with those genetic changes(Genetic Determinism, 2)” Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct manipulation of an organism 's genome using biotechnology.” This process can help us eradicate health issues, make our food healthier, and even change our physical appearance. Unfortunately, there are many ethical issues behind the use of genetic engineering.
Modern genetics-related headlines will likely be found arguing for or against GMOs. However, I suggest it is time to move on. Life sciences will soon be overtaken by something much more sensational: genetic enhancement. Such technologies offer the ability to customize the genetic code we unraveled over thirteen years ago. This practice is littered with a host of ethical and practical questions. Our legislative bodies must be prepared for the impending
Thousands of years ago, humans were pushing the limits of technology through agriculture in ways such as domesticating animals or making the wheel. Today our dedication to understanding and trying to control the world is leading us to engage in controversial topics and ethical debates. Curiosity is one of our race 's greatest gifts but, it is also a curse on the human population. The classic story of Frankenstein by Mary Shelly showed a scientist 's curiosity leading to a monstrous creation. This story was science fiction in the past, but in modern times it is closer to becoming a reality. Advances in technology are creating new possibilities in science, including the idea of manipulating human genes through the process of genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is revolutionizing and reshaping modern medicine and agriculture. While genetic engineering is leading to many innovations and discoveries in science, there are still questions in society regarding the ethics of testing and manipulating humans.
Genetic engineering is a recent development that has gained tremendous commercial appeal. The potential benefits of genetic engineering have captivated the general public and clouded their moral values. The ultimate goal of genetic engineering is to create a utopian society where problems such as disease and world hunger no longer exist. Genetically engineering humans to be ideal beings may eventually lead to the creation of a “super race.” A super race is a race of strong, healthy, and highly intelligent individuals who contribute to the advancement of society. Despite the attractive potential benefits of the creation of a super race, there are several potential negative consequences that may not all be foreseen by humans. Tenzin Gyatso, the world’s fourteenth Dalai Lama, chimes in on the discussion of genetic engineering in his article, “Ethics and the New Genetics.” He, too, sees the “obvious and wonderful benefits” (Gyatso 132) of genetic engineering; however, he warns his readers of the social, political, and ethical ramifications that may result from genetic engineering. Gyatso reminds humans of the great responsibility that comes with new knowledge and power. In Brian G. Henning’s review of “The Case Against Perfection,” Henning discusses the dangers that may result when humans try to perfect nature. In order to move forward with the technology available, the world needs ethical considerations in regulation of development. In order to make decisions in the area of
Modern genetic engineering technologies are advancing, and genetically modifying a genome is becoming a reality. The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated system (CAS9) genome editing system is the most advanced in use. CRISPR can edit a genome more accurately and with higher precision than any other system. The intended use of the CRISPR/CAS9 system is to insert a gene, delete a gene, or silence a gene, leading to powerful applications (Christensen and Choy 2017a). For example, scientists plan to use this technology to change the genome and resulting phenotype in the efforts to eliminate potentially lethal diseases. One such disease is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired
In 1989, the year Japanese company Showa Denko attempted to produce tryptophan, a food supplement, more efficiently by genetically modifying a natural bacteria. Unexpectedly, a toxic substance inside the tryptophan formed, causing five thousand people to became ill, fifteen hundred to become permanently disabled, and thirty-seven to die. This tragic event is one of many issues that sparks the continuous debate on genetic modification, which concerns the purposes, benefits, and dangers of modifying an organism’s DNA . While advocates for the increased production of disease-resistant crops and advocates for immunizations by engineered genes consider genetic engineering as advantageous, many individuals believe that such technology poses a lot more physiological harm than it does benefits. It is important for scientists to consider all the benefits risks of modifying an agricultural crop’s DNA or a human embryo’s, and that the government, health organizations, and agribusinesses regulate such processes and manage the distribution of genetically modified (i.e. GM) crops.
Genetic engineering is using molecular biology methods to modify the genetic information of an organism. Its aims include learning about the biology of an organism and generating new or improved commercial products. Plant biotechnology is manipulating plants specifically to improve agricultural needs. GMOs or genetically modified organisms are organisms modified by genetic engineering to express desirable traits. DNA fragments containing said desirable traits and a means of introducing the DNA to the host plants is required for genetic engineering. Some common methods of introducing DNA fragments to plants include the use of viruses, chemicals, some means of physical insertion, or the use of agrobacterium.