Revised HOMEWORK 1
(a) Genetic engineering (genetic modification) is a process by which an organism’s genome can be modified using various biotechnology techniques. The process involves manipulating the DNA of an organism or transferring genes into an organism to create a new and improved version. DNA sequences of certain organisms are inserted into different organisms or within the same organism to help us obtain favorable outcomes. Genetic engineering can be used to increase the disease resistance of organism, help animals produce extra hormones, etc. the list is endless. This method of reproduction is different than the usual selective breeding. Selective breeding includes the genes that are originally present in the organisms. Hence, the off springs still have the same genes as their parents and are still the same species. But, in genetic engineering, there is a modification of genes. The off springs can have a whole new set of genes and can no longer be called the same species. Genetically modified organisms can also have some prominent extra characters than their previous generations.
(b) The media reports seem to revolve around the topics like whether the GE salmon safe for the environment or if the salmon harmless for human health. Some media reports also revolve around the topic of why the FDA has approved the GE salmon and why the FDA has not made the labelling of these genetically modified salmons mandatory. The primary concerns regarding the GE salmon are mostly
According to the article Is GE food safe? “The reason that genetically engineered food could be dangerous is because there has been no adequate testing to ensure that extracting genes that perform an apparently useful function as part of that plant or animal is going to have the same effects if inserted into a totally unrelated species,” (Shah). These concerns don’t only warn people about genetically modified foods, but also about genetically modified human beings because this technique changes all the cells of the human baby and would be passed down to future generations. Experts fear these consequences due to the lack of safety testing which is very important because it can detect any unintended side effects from GE foods and babies.
During the past years there has been a rise on the division between ethnical groups, religious groups, and social classes, all because they deem each other unfit for each other. This mere ideal has at times brought havoc to major cities and scared the lives of many, if genetic modification is allowed it will open a gateway that will allow the upper classes to actually make themselves physically superior to their
Consumer groups such as Consumers Union, Food and Water Watch, and Center for Food Safety have created a petition in which they are claiming that genetically modifying the salmon changes the nutritional value and alters the composition of the fish, therefore making the fish a food additive (Barret, 2012). If GM salmon are considered to be a food addictive, then the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will have to place the GM salmon under extensive testing to make sure that it is safe for consumption (Barret, 2012). Other concerns are based on the consequences of these GM fish escaping into the wild and reproducing with other non GM fish (Barret, 2010).
Genetically modified salmon is currently categorized as a new animal drug. One of the major concerns over genetically modified salmon, and genetically modified food in general, is whether it is safe to eat. So far, the answer remains a unknown, though the latest studies suggest that genetically modified foods are safe to eat in general. However, the concerns over genetically modified salmon aren’t only based on the health effects. Concerns over the environmental effects dominate many conversations about genetically modified organisms (Genetically Modified Salmon , 2012). In the past it was found that in the fishing industry, the success of farm-raised Atlantic salmon made some people who worked in the commercial wild salmon fishing industry especially sensitive to potential impacts of GE salmon. Fishermen had concerns related to further increases in salmon aquaculture production and environmental harm to wild stocks. The salmon
I am writing to you to explain the problems concerning genetic modification in humans. The field of genetics has come so far in the past decade, and there are currently efforts being made to correct autosomal recessive diseases, such as Hemophilia B.1 I agree that being able to cure diseases, like Hemophilia, is important, but it also means that scientists would be able to create “designer humans.” The concept of “designer genes” in human modification reinforces the idea that there is an ideal human which is both ableist and catered strictly to upper class individuals. In this letter, I am expressing my opinion that while advances in genetic engineering are being made, it is important to remember that science should not progress to the point that we are removing all imperfections.
It should remain illegal in most cases for genetic manipulation to be used in choosing a baby’s gender.
On the most surface level, human genetic engineering and human genetic modification are a new and rapidly developing field of science that deals with directly altering the DNA (genetic makeup) of a living human cell. From early science fiction to the present day, taking control of humans’ gen es and directing the flow of evolution has been a subject of debate for many people. Human genetic engineering or HGE tends to bring up thoughts of dystopian futures where altering DNA has unexpectedly resulted in horrible mutant humans that can’t survive and thus the human race perishes, but this is not necessarily the outcome. Since genetic engineering is an emerging field of science, there are still many moral and ethical issues that need to be addressed before continuing research. Atheists and theists both have valid reasons to support / resist the continuation of this field of science. For the purpose of this paper, it will be assumed the reader has a reasonable understanding of the terms atheism, theism, DNA, genes, genome, and how a persons DNA (their genotype) essentially dictates the physical appearance and abilities that person portrays (their phenotype).
Genetic engineering has to do with manipulating organisms and DNA to create body characteristics. The practice of genetic DNA has shown an increasing amount over the past years. The process of genetic enhancement involves manipulating organisms by using biotechnologies. The technique is by removing a DNA from one life form and transferring it to another set of traits or organism. Certain barriers are conquered, and the procedure involves changing a form of cells, resulting from an improvement or developed organism. GMO which is a (Genetic Modified Organisms) is the operation done in a laboratory where DNA genetic from one particular species or animals is directly forced into another gene from an unrelated subject of plants or even animals.
Genetically Modified Food also known as GMO’s are foods that had specific changes in their DNA. They use genetic engineering to change the DNA anytime they want to. According to who.int “About 80% of the U.S. food is processed and has an ingredient that comes from an age crop. Some of the food characteristics can be altered either in a negative or positive way”. Consumers say that traditional foods are safe to eat. Genetically modified food connects to a lot of health concerns.
Genetic engineering is the act of purposely altering genes or the DNA sequence. Specifically, the process of genetic engineering in humans has a lot of potential in regards to creating a healthier, more disease free society. Imagine living in a world where you wouldn’t have to fear that your offspring would be born with a life threatening disease, because scientists and medical professionals would have the capability to work together in order to manipulate the particular gene responsible for causing the disease. Such a world would also have the ability to reverse or stop certain disease processes that may show up later in life. This leaves a very large group of people that genetic engineering could potentially help… the group being practically everyone in the world that possesses genes that indicate a disease. Clearly, there are bound to be some dangers with this concept since it is still so new and unknown. However, by learning more about this concept and setting limits to genetic engineering, many lives could be saved, as long as those limits are not passed. An article written on the website Popular Science by Claire Maldarelli goes into further detail about the techniques by which scientists can modify human genes, as well as the many successes and potential successes associated with it. The Harvard University website explains the the CRISPR genetic engineering tool stands for “Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat,” which is basically a tool that
Genetics is the foundation that controls the diversity and natural selection of the world we live in now. Each organism ranging from the smallest bacteria to the largest of animals all have genes that make up their own personal identity. Without these genes designating these identities, there would never be such things as “organisms” but rather just one organism. Genetics is vital to the world because no matter what boundaries or challenges an organism is presented with, there will always be that one organism that is genetically modified with mutations to survive and reproduce. With the technology and research we are now presented, we now have the ability to create genetically modified organisms.
Societies debate against each other on whether or not genetic engineering in humans should be used in humans. When using this type of research and technology in humans, it means modifying the type of organism(in this case humans) by manipulating the genes to the standards society thinks is the best. Scientists think humans should use genetic engineering towards curing diseases while other scientists think humans should use this new technology towards creating new babies and modifying the child to societal standards. Using this technology and new ways of life has positive and negative effects towards the human population. With this new technology societies are able to cure diseases, create better medicines, create better transplants, and have the ability to live longer.
What is Genetic Engineering? “It is the group of applied techniques of genetics and biotechnology used to cut up and join together genetic material and especially DNA from one or more species of organism and to introduce the result in an organism in order to change one or more of its characteristics[.]” (Webster, 2015) The persons who discovered the structure of the DNA began with James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. (DNAi, 2003) Since the discovery of the double helix strand many scientists began researching the DNA from all organisms. Thus, trying to reveal all secrets of all forms of life on Earth. Many blooms with different discoveries of the DNA and some were able to change its original function. Which as today it is known as
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 a process where an organism’s genetic material is altered by introducing a new DNA. It is where a gene is artificially removed from one organism and transmitted into another using biotechnology. Its goal is to provide with one or more traits that are not found in recipient organism, giving it the ability to perform a certain action, which the organism in nature cannot. DNA and proteins are very important aspects in order to understand genetic engineering. DNA is the genetic material that is found in every organism. It is located in the nucleus of every cell. It is made up of four complimentary bases, Adenine to Thymine and Guanine to Cytosine. These four bases help make the genetic code by providing information for the cell and essential proteins that an organism requires in order to survive. Some proteins act as enzymes that can help speed up the reaction. The genetic code is similar in every organism which benefits in the process of genetic engineering. When a gene is transmitted into the “recipient” organism through the means of transformation, the similarity of the code allows the “recipient’ organism to express the specific trait. Some bacteria use transformation by acquiring the naked DNA from the environment and alter their genes by attaining new traits.