Genetic Engineering Manipulation Essay

“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.

Genetic engineering is the “altering of genetic material”, typically deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA (Parker 4). Human genetic engineering could advance today’s civilization, however, too many ethical dilemmas such as human testing associate with it. The future based World State in the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley uses human genetic engineering as the basis of their society and issues continue to appear, causing damage to their society like it would to this one.

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.

In discussions of Genetic Modification, one controversial issue has been can it improve human life span. On the one hand, parents argue the safety and results of genetic modification. On the other hand, scientists argue it can improve future technology. Others even maintain the idea this is another step to high-end technology. My own view is genetic modification has many unknown results.

Because of the positive results that genetic engineering in humans has brought up, it is just to say, human genetic engineering is both helpful and ethical. With this advanced technology, death in newborns will decrease and more lives will be saved. Just like everything, however, the power of human genetic engineering should be used moderately and smartly. With the use of modifying genes the people will live healthier lives.

Genetic engineering is one of the most significant advancements in scientific history. This discovery possesses the potential to eliminate hereditary diseases and to add more desirable traits to humans. Changing the human’s genes can lead to eugenics, a controversial subject explained below. People are for and against genetic engineering, and as long as it’s regulated by the government, it should be allowed to continue.

The largest concern pertaining to genetic engineering is the depletion of human iinteraction and the overall value of life. It has been argued that people will lose individuality and be treated more as objects than viable human beings.(Shapiro,1997) For this very reason a funding ban towards human cloning was implemented by President Clinton.

The ethical dilemma that arises with the concept of genetic engineering is the concern of if scientists are altering the human race to benefit or harm us.

Genetic Engineering has been exponentially growing over the years with the media unsure of whether they should support the advancement of genetic engineering or not. While the term genetic engineering is often used in mainstream media, much of the general population does not have a clear understanding of its meaning, current uses, and potential applications. This leads to misinterpretation of the information that the public's receive creating problems which worry them. Despite the risk and ethical concern, genetic engineering holds the potential to benefit and advance humanity by eliminating disease, improving medicine, and developing a better understanding of the human genome.

By definition a designer baby is an embryo that undergoes genetic manipulation prior to In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), which is done by combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory dish then transferring that embryo to a uterus. The genetic manipulation is done through processes of Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS). Drs. Molina B. Dayal and Ioanna Athanasiadis explain, “Preimplantation [diagnosis] refers specifically to when one or both genetic parents has a known genetic abnormality and testing is on an embryo to determine if it also carries a genetic abnormality”. PGS on the other hand, screens embryos from presumed chromosomally normal genetic parents for aneuploidy –a condition in which there is an extra or missing chromosome. (Dayal and Athanasiadis, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis). This advancement allows the prevention of inheritable genetic diseases and eliminates the dilemma of pregnancy termination

Science has brought us very far in the world. Included in this science is genetic modification. Genetic modification can be bad or good depending on the reaction. This topic of genetic modification has been debated about whether it should be used on people or not. For now, genetic modification is only being applied to non-reproductive cells.

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

Genetic engineering in the 21st century has evolved so much, that some say the world is on the edge of a scientific innovation that brings up one of the greatest controversial concepts of all time; the genetic engineering of human beings. I believe that genetic engineering of humans, or also known as eugenics, is morally wrong, hazardous, and will lead to many problems today.

Over the past few decades genetic engineering has caused plenty of controversy not only in politics, but as well as in science and the lives of everyday people. Controversy is not new to this subject, in fact it has a rich history of it, from cloning to patenting several types of DNA. Some scientist in this field even oppose this subject. While there are many cons in this subject such as people taking advantage over the technology, there are also a lot of pros that come out of it and has helped society such as creating cures for diseases that are not yet curable today. This paper will not only present the pros and cons of genetic engineering, but also part of the history and the basic principles and concepts behind it.

The process of genetic engineering employs viral vectors that carry functional genes inside the human body. No previous research has proven where the functional genes are being placed in the body, running the risk that the important genes would be replaced instead of mutated genes. Therefore this may lead to another health condition or disease to humans that is yet unknown. Also, as defective genes are replaced with a functional gene, then it is expected that there will be a reduction in genetic diversity. By replacing naturally occurring genes, human beings will begin to have identical genomes. If this occurs, then population as a whole will be more susceptible to viruses or any form of diseases because mutations in the genome will be reduced. Genetic engineering could also create unknown side effects that could ultimately be more harmful than helpful. Certain changes in a plant or animal could cause unpredicted allergic reactions in some people which, in its original form, did not occur. Other changes could result into the toxicity of an organism to humans or other organisms. Additionally, "Playing God" has become a prominent argument against genetic engineering. Several issues have also been raised in regards to the acceptance of this technology. As more human genes are utilized in non-human organisms to create new forms of life, they are genetically becoming part human. Therefore, new ethical questions are arising. For instance, the percentage of human genes an organism must have to contain before it can be considered human is questioned. Human genes are now being spliced into the genes of tomatoes and peppers to make them grow faster. It can be asked, how many human genes would a green pepper have to contain before it can be eaten without raising a moral issue? People are now suggesting that one can now be a vegetarian and a cannibal at the same time. For carnivores, the same question could