A Summary Of Genetic Engineering In Daniel Keyes Flowers For Algeron

Before the operation, Charlie Gordon, from Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes, is happy. He may have a simple, pitiful existence, but he thinks his friends like him, and enjoys being with them and Miss Kinnian at the Learning Center for Slow Adults. However, Charlie wants to be smart, the one dark cloud in his sunny sky of life. Because of this, Charlie volunteers for an operation to triple his IQ of 68. With a high IQ comes awareness of the world around him, so Charlie suddenly becomes conscious of his previously pitiful existence which leads to a slew of feelings such as embarrassment, shame, and superiority. Charlie thinks that becoming smart will make him happy and well-liked, but the operation works the opposite effect. Charlie starts to look down on everyone, and cannot socialize with others because of his IQ. As a result, Charlie becomes almost depressed. His depression deepens when Charlie discovers that his intelligence will not be permanent. Soon, Charlie regresses to his former childlike mentality. Although at the end of the novel, Charlie does not find himself any worse off after the operation, the few months he spent smarter are not terribly enjoyable for him, and his changing mentality negatively impacts those he is close to, namely Miss Kinnian. Because the effects are not permanent, Charlie would be far better off without the operation.

Dan W. Brock makes a few interesting points in defending genetic engineering, while being observant of the possible downfalls and negative views of the science. Brock starts of his commentary by addressing how the limits to our genes can not "confidently predict the rate at which that understanding [of genetic engineering] will be achieved in the future nor the ultimate limits on it" (pg. 615). Also, the author states how genetic engineering could help parents ensure their children the abilities to live healthy lives, create new treatments for disease, and produce stronger immune systems.

Usually we don’t forget what we learn. But in the book “Flowers For Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, things are different.It is about how a mentally challenged man named Charlie Gordon has an operation to gain an extremely large amount of intelligence. The operation succeeds, and Charlie is a genius, but he then starts to lose his friends, and later on his intelligence as well. In the end of this book, Charlie decides to leave New York and everyone he was friends with. So there are more costs than benefits to Charlie’s operation to gain intelligence.

Charlie in the story now was using better spelling and bigger words. You could see him getting smarter every time he wrote a progress report. Charlie started to talk a lot different when he read his progress reports he just acted really smart. Charlie though started to get smarter than people ,and couldn’t even talk to people they just couldn’t understand him. Charlie started to be smarter than the doctors that gave him the surgery. He started to read more and write less because he was so into his research about the Algernon,gordon effect. He found out that he will only stay smart for a little bit longer ,but he will have some side effects. ‘’The algernon-gordon effect: A study of Structure and Function of Increased intelligence,’’which I would like to have you read and have published.’’June 4,progress report

This development has made the speculation of genetic engineering a reality, raising the question of whether or not it should be allowed. This is also just the beginning of what will be possible with genetic engineering of a human. Eventually, whole diseases could be eradicated, diseases such as alzheimer's or down syndrome. But as the technology would advance, it would make genetic engineering cheaper, and more available to the public, which raises the issue of people using the technology to create a

Introduction: Why would anyone want to get sick? Why would anyone want to be born with a low IQ? Why would anyone want to be born with undesirable looks? Genetic modification on the surface seems to be an easy fix to those problems. Everyone can design their own babies and know exactly what they will be good at and what they will look like in 20 years. This is the world of the future. But not the future I want to live in. A future with genetic modification is quite scary due to our lack of knowledge of the long-term effects of genetic modification on humans. Additionally, as per the course of history, genetic modification will be monetized by large companies and only available for the wealthy few. Finally, modifying human genetics in order

This hotly debated topic of whether it is dangerous “playing God” has caused many religious, political, scientific, and public figures to express their concerns in heated debates (Hogarth para 9). Ever since the beginning of gene therapy, there has been constant dispute and friction over the direction of its future; of whether gene therapy will evolve into a therapeutic science or lead to horrible consequences as the eugenics movement did in the 20th century. The ethics of gene therapy have been based on, not only the beliefs, but also the fallbacks and advantages gained in experimental trials, which has inevitably lead to the progression of the future of gene therapy.

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.

Bostrom argues that society can adapt to see the worth in modified, “posthuman” people, allotting them dignity and rights as humans even though they are modified (Bostrom 3). Sade looks at genetic modification through a much more practical lens, observing real, immediate benefits and drawbacks of genetic modification rather than overarching philosophy. There are undoubtedly many dangers and problems that will arise from mainstream genetic modification, some that may even shake the foundation of the society and culture of today. However, countless benefits come with gene therapy as well. Concrete improvements to the human race, from increased intelligence, athleticism, and height, to immunization from major diseases to perhaps eventually immortality. These benefits largely outweigh the ethical drawbacks that society will surely adapt to as the years go on. Many groundbreaking technologies have changed the structure of society in the past, like the cotton gin, assembly line, and internet. Each time, humans have successfully adapted to take full advantage of the benefits while manage the dangers and drawbacks, concrete and cultural. Whether people like it or not, mainstream genetic modification is inevitable as technology keeps increasing, and society should find solutions to manage it rather than cower from it. The future is coming, and humans should be ready for the

Can you even imagine that you can get a operation and you will be smart. Well in the story flowers for Algernon by Daniel keyes this is what happened to the protagonist Charlie Gordon.charlie was a very unintelligent man, so one day he found out that he could a operation to be smart. He got smart but it was not permanent. He regressed and became unintelligent again.charlie was better after the operation because he learned the truth about his friends and is aware of his surroundings.

This essay will inform readers about Genetic engineering using scholarly journal articles to define Genetic engineering and give reasons for and against in order to convince readers why G.E. should not be legal on humans. Although it is said that there are benefits to Genetic Engineering, the numerous risks and complications greatly outweigh the benefits. Genetic engineering is not approved by the FDA in the US, not only because it is unsafe to our health, but also to our society. Genetic engineering will lead to future complications such genetic inequality, countless health risks, and eugenics.

Many researchers believe genetic engineering will change our human nature and the way we perceive the world. Gene selection, stem cell therapy, and gender selection all have their advantages, but these advantages will most likely come with a price to our generation if genetic engineering is not controlled. If genetic engineering is not controlled, it could cause mass chaos and divide the population economically and socially. Humans who could afford genetic engineering would be more superior from the advantages over the humans who could not afford it. Genetic engineering could make miracles happen; for example, sickle cell could have been eradicated before Walter Noel was conceived allowing him to be born disease free. The people of this generation will choose whether we benefit greatly from genetic engineering or destroy everything over power and

There is group from Great Britain called the Human Genetic Alert who is standing up for the same things that Bill McKibben describes. They believe in all the benefits of genetic engineering but they think that the commercialization of genetics and the technology has advanced too quickly for us to consider any ethical or social consequences. There is much research proving, that with some work we will be able to able to prevent most diseases that have plagued human race for years. Picture a world where we would not have to worry about cancer or heart disease at all because we would be have the vulnerability in our system fixed. The HGA is determined to make people aware of what the problems are. The article posted by the group on their website describes ways that genetic engineering benefits us through gene therapy, and used as preventative medicine. They

"The characteristics of genetic engineering have substantial behavior towards the good and the bad” (Powell 13). Although we do not recognize the true meaning of this quote at first glance, these words actually posses the key to mankind. Even though genetic engineering supports an exciting opportunity for the humanity, many red flags have been raised related to problems with safety, the availability, and most of all the epidemic itself. It has been portrayed throughout the years that genetic engineering not only induces a strong risks to children, Ladies, and gentleman, but also produces a new threat to the environment. Yes, genetic engineering has the chance to have a number of medical advancements, but in reality it is a devastating experiment for the development between technology and mankind.

Today we begin to think if technology is even here to help anymore or if it’s here to manipulate the minds and the moral intensions of today’s people. Genetically engineered (GE) plants, animals, and humans have become too personal because we eat genetically modified foods everyday and although scientists may think they’re curing us, they don’t think of possible effects that may harm us. When society and our environment starts to get affected by it, we wonder if this specific technology should be available to any and everyone.