Argumentative Essay: The Dangers Of Genetic Engineering

People nourish themselves by consuming three meals each day. Eating is essential for survival, but what is actually in food we eat? Many are oblivious to that. People should be very informed to what is actually going into their gastrointestinal system because it significantly impacts their health, and it can between life or death. Gone are the days when people saw every step of how their food was manufactured until it got onto their table to eat. With increased human population on Earth, consequently, mass production is ubiquitous. The commonality of mass production, has led to genetically modified foods. Genetically modified foods are foods that have been genetically engineered to produce effects that make them more desirable. It is also worth noting, that GMOs are not on food labeled when sold to the public. Many people are unaware of genetically modified foods as they have significant negative effects on humans in conjunction and the environment.

The last 150 years have seen the origin of—and rapid expansion in—human knowledge involving the nature and mechanisms of trait and disease inheritance in human beings. Advances in genetic research hold great promise for the future development of effective prevention and treatment strategies for a great many, often devastating, heritable conditions. However, these advances also raise a series of policy, legal and fundamentally ethical questions concerning what we should and should not do with the knowledge and technology we acquire. These questions are numerous and both imminently practical and speculative, ranging from the exhausted, yet still largely unresolved, question of the moral status of the human embryo to fears about slippery slopes into a Brave New World or Gattaca-style dystopic future characterized by designer children and a genetic underclass.

The human population is quickly rising. With the rise in the human population, the demand for food is also raising at an unprecedented rate. Our simple mom and pop farms are unable to naturally provide the worlds population the food needed. This may seem like a big issue, but humans came up with an ingenious solution; genetically modified organisms, commonly known as GMO’s. Genetically modified food as been able to offset the worlds steadily rising demand for food, and the food problem has been solved, or has it? I will use information from: Wendell Berry’s, Jon Entine and JoAnna Wendel’s, 2000+ reasons Why GMO’s Are Safe to Eat, and Robin Mather’s, The Threats from Genetically Modified Foods, along with references from Food Inc., to explain

Gene therapy is defined as the medical replacement of defective genes in living human cells; its aim is to replace the activity of a defective gene by activating a dormant gene which has a similar function (Wheale & McNally, 212). Under gene therapy comes the politically controversial Human Genome Project, a fifteen-year, $3 billion federally-funded biology program. The goal of the project is to isolate the defective gene on the chromosomes which comprise the human genome (Fletcher, 2). In this manner, the Human Genome Project may be able to rid the cancer-ridden genes from human DNA, thereby curing cancer permanently. The project has been the focus of much scientific and political controversy over the past few years for its possible ramifications are extensive to all of human existence.

whereas they do not have control over other countries governed laws. Allowing the United States to fall behind other countries technical and medical enhancements is not a wise decision. The United States would be taking a drastic step backwards by not saving lives, like this technology has done before(Farahany). Scientists have finally found a safer form of genetic modification and are not being allowed to perform these procedures because of safety regulations that no one can improve without funding to understand what exactly is the problem with this technology.

People always look for miracles in their life. What if there is a way to miracles? Genetic engineering can create miracles, by making impossibles to possibles. From the name genetic engineering we can define that is all about genetics. Haircolor, color skin, eye color, long or short all comes from genes that are inherited from the parents. What if we can create and customize our gene to have specific traits and actions? Genetic engineering is more beneficial than risky and has a huge effect on the today’s society because it plays a major role with treating human diseases, for pharmaceuticals and genetically modified foods for people and animals.

Human genetic engineering is the manipulation of human DNA to, ultimately, benefit the human body. In recent years, the debate on human genetic engineering has intensified. Human genetic engineering faces judgement from many scientists and the general public, but still receives some support. Nonetheless, this technology is no longer the plot of a strange science fiction novel. Human genetic engineering is happening today and as a result, we now have the power to control the evolutionary process. We have the power to design human beings based on what we want. I firmly believe that human genetic engineering regarding reproduction, or nonsexual reproduction, is a fundamental right. This gives humans control and options over when and how they have

Genetic enhancement can extend the lifespan of a living organism. According to Michael Shmith, a Canadian biochemist, genetic enhancement is advancing so much that it could potentially help a person live longer (Shmith 10). Since the 19th century , scientists have been researching and performing experiments to figure out how they could extend human life expectancy. They finally made a breakthrough when they discovered that they would need to alter the human DNA which was how genetic modification was first discovered. However, people are arguing that these modifications could cause someone to become more advanced than the normal human being. For example, Anton A. Niekerk states in “ Biomedical Enhancement and the Pursuit of Mastery and Perfection:

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

People have been eating genetically modified foods for decades without even realizing it. Now that people are aware of additives and chemicals, some are concerned about the safety, and an increase in food allergies has made people wary. However, there are advancements in engineered crops, such as increased nutrients. Furthermore, crop engineering is not the only area dealing with tension. Another part of the developing science that is viewed with apprehension is engineered humans. Advocates claim that stronger traits, and new improved medicines will be made as a result of genetic engineering, but critics argue that the exact opposite will occur, such as, ethics will

I would consider one of the strongest arguments against genetic engineering was the statement given by the European Parliament in Cass R. Sunstein’s argument, The Constitution and the Clone. The following is an excerpt from the text book given by the European Parliament “The cloning of human beings… cannot under any circumstance be justified or tolerated by any society, because it is serious violation of fundamental human rights and is contrary to the principle of equality of human beings as it permits a eugenic and racist selection of the human race, it offends against human dignity and requires experimentation on humans”. I believe that most of the world probably shares these same views and I agree with the statement wholeheartedly.

Genetic manipulation or modification is the process of scientists changing a person’s DNA before birth to help benefit that person’s life. This process is fairly new and inexperienced and many people believe that it is wrong and outlandish. The benefits of genetic manipulation outweigh the repercussions and the full extent of those benefits is yet to be seen. I believe that genetic manipulation needs to become a more widespread operation in order for doubters to see the benefits that come from the process. Also, in order for genetic manipulation to be considered normal to the common person, there needs to be more cases where genetic manipulation changed a person’s life for the better. There are only a handful of cases around the world, and according to Annabel Ferriman, “the scientists, from the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science at St Barnabas in New Jersey, said that 30 babies worldwide have been born as a result of this technique, known as ooplasmic transfer.” The world needs to know more about these cases of genetic manipulation in order to more fully understand it. People who disagree with genetic manipulation often say that it is not right to do to an unborn baby who does not have a say in the matter of being genetically manipulated. Opponents also say that it will limit the gene pool and that some may take it too far.

Why live a life with average abilities when we can enhance our abilities through genetic engineering on our DNA for the greater good? Genetic engineering is “the artificial manipulation, modification, and recombination of DNA or other nucleic acid molecules in order to modify an organism or population of organisms.” It is not exactly a science in a broad sense, but a branch of biotechnology, which uses methods of molecular and biology, virology, and genetics. Genetic engineering on the human genome should be approved because it has the potential to make lives and the world better. Genetic disorders could be permanently eliminated, certain genes could be reactivated for regrowth of necessary cells, eliminating many neurological disorders, and delaying ageing, which would expand scientific research in order to many world complications.

Genetic engineering is currently a growing field in which people are obsessing over. This is new and upcoming technology that combines genetic and Nanotechnological enhancements, which completes the direct manipulation of DNA to alter an organism’s characteristics in a particular way. In my opinion, it may very well be a great improvement, but it should only be used when necessary. If I were a parent of a child under 12 years of age, I would not sign up for the enhancement.