The Morality Of Genetically Modified Animals For The Purpose Of Pharming And Xenotransplantation

DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic acid. Deoxyribonucleic corrosive is an atom that conveys a large portion of the hereditary guidelines utilized as a part of the improvement, working and propagation of all known living creatures and numerous infections. The National Institutes of Health and Welcome Trust from the London UK and Craig Vendor of Celera Genomics from Maryland USA at the same time exhibited the grouping of human DNA in June of 2000, finishing the first significant attempt of the Human Genome Project (HGP) (Ridley 2). As researchers connection human attributes to qualities fragments of DNA found on one or a greater amount of the 23 human

DNA are like legos, they work together to build the traits of living things. They are the building blocks of the body. Many scientists today have been figuring out different ways to manipulate, change, add, and subtract genes from the DNA in living things; this is process is called genetic engineering. Some of the living things being experimented on are live people, plants, and animals. Today scientists are debating on the morals of genetic engineering due to what the community thinks of it, because of the christian 's viewpoint of genetic engineering. To some christians it may pose a threat to their, but to others it may be a blessing or a gift. Genetic Engineering is a growing breakthrough in the science community. “Over the last 30 years, the field of genetic engineering has developed rapidly due to the greater understanding of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as the chemical double helix code from which genes are made. The term genetic engineering is used to describe the process by which the genetic makeup of an organism can be altered using “recombinant DNA technology.” This involves the use of laboratory tools to insert, alter, or cut out pieces of DNA that contain one or more genes of interest.”(Pocket K No. 17) Scientist have yet to unlock the full potential of genetic engineering, but the information and the use they have found for it today has reached farther than anyone 's expectations.

The dangers that arise from reproductive cloning are numerous, and are enough to validate the banning of human reproductive cloning altogether. During mammalian reproductive cloning, a large proportion of clones suffered from weakened immune systems, which greatly compromised the animal’s ability to fight off infection, disease, and other disorders. “Animal experiments in cloning all indicate that a cloned twin is at high risk of congenital defects, multiple health problems and perhaps a greatly shortened life span.” (Paulson) In addition, many of the offspring produced through cloning suffer massive abnormalities, such as missing or deformed organs. Approximately 30% of offspring are diagnosed with “large offspring syndrome” and other debilitating conditions. In fact, studies on reproductive cloning have shown that more than 90% of

Genetic Modification is often perceived as the answer to humanity’s faults because it will enhance human abilities, prevent the survival of incapacitating disabilities, and guide the innovation of the future. Sounds pretty good, right? That is not the reality. Genetic modification is not the solution to the ubiquitous problems of the human race, but rather infringes on individual rights, decreases diversity, permits too much power to the human race, and contributes to overpopulation.

Many animals that are cloned often have major problems later in their development. They often suffer from large offspring syndrome. Large offspring syndrome is a condition that is seen in assisted reproduction as well as normal reproduction. LOS starts with an abnormal placenta before it even develops into LOS. The abnormal placenta might be from a problem in the somatic cell nuclear transfer process. This causes animals to have fairly large organs. The effects of large offspring syndrome are problems with breathing, blood flow, suckling, and increased chance of sudden death. Although it doesn’t occur in all clones it is very common, and it is hard for scientists to predict whether it will happen in a clone or not.

Imagine the possibility of eliminating serious genetic diseases from the world. Imagine the idea of treating, preventing or even curing diseases that are yet to be cured. Imagine the feeling of being given improved health and a prolonged lifespan. This can all be accomplished with the aide of genetic engineering. Human genetic engineering refers to the process of directly manipulating human DNA to produce wanted results. DNA is a simple but very complex chemical that has the power to change the world and has begun to do so already. Many opponents to gene therapy fail to realize that genetic engineering has great potential to become very important in the biomedical industry. Though controversy exists regarding the ethics of human genetic engineering, it can produce numerous benefits, which outweigh its disadvantages and side effects; therefore, scientists should be able to manipulate the human genome for the purpose of helping people with serious medical conditions.

This gave many people suspicion that cloned animals aged prematurely. However, a daily anti-inflammatory treatment resolved the clinical signs within a few months. While Dolly was continuing to get better, in January of 2001, Cedric, one of the cloned sheep, died. Cedric died of Sheep Pulmonary Adenomatosis, which is caused by a virus that induces tumors to grow in the lungs of affected animals. The virus is infectious and spread to other sheep by close contact. Scientist immediately removed Dolly from the pen even though there was a good chance she was already infected. Dolly did die of SPA after many, many months of the other sheep deaths. While this may seem like a negative, it is actually a common disease of regular conceived sheep. This long and effective research experiment showed many people in the science world that cloning animals has a very bright future.(The Roslin Institute)

Xenotranplantation is the controversial procedure that involves the transplantation of an animal's live cells, tissues, body fluids, or organs

A concept that supports the foregoing claim is the fact that genetic engineering in humans can help diminish and forestall congenital conditions. Moreover, many illnesses give individuals the demand to receive organ transplants; with organ transplants, their well-being would then be reimposed. Over one hundred and sixty thousand individuals in the United States need to receive a specific type of organ transplant named xenotransplantation, or organ transplants from other animals (Siedler 20). However, the predicament that comes with the procedure is the body’s defense mechanisms toward the foreign tissues of the animals (Siedler 20). Genetic engineering would be the resolution to this dilemma - the cardinal gene that causes the resistance could be deleted, and more human

Is it right to modify animals just to get them to produce something humans desire? What if they suffer from the modification somehow and live a horrible, painful and short life? If done right, however, humans benefit from the modification and the animals suffer no ill effects, sometimes they even benefit from the modification. As time goes by, the methods are developing and being researched, making the creation of GM animals easier, cheaper, faster and

Cloned animals usually have more issues during pregnancy and birth, giving a higher toward miscarriages and death to the host mother. Scientists have noticed serious physical issues in cloned animals such as weirdly shaped heads, immune issues, diabetes kidney failure, heart and lung disease and many more. According to a data gathered in 2007, cloning success rates are lower than

Many Americans do not understand how risky it will be to clone a human, not to mention how hard it is to clone an animal. Many news article and publications offer this information to the public, because many scientists will not address the media with the real facts. In an article titled, “Creator of cloned sheep, Dolly, says he wouldn’t want to make copies of humans”, Dr. Wilmut stresses that only 1-5% of those embryos used in cloning result in live animals, and survivors are plagued with obesity, kidney problems and other troubles, and even Dolly is suffering from arthritis (1). Most cloned animals, like cows, pigs, goats, sheep, die during embryonic development, and others are stillborn with monstrous abnormalities. Bloated mothers have laborious miscarriages, and occasionally die themselves. The clones usually struggle for air in intensive care units, only to have to be euthanized, the process of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, according to an MSNBC article titled, “Much confusion over cloning” (1). The risks and uncertainties associated with the current technological state of cloning are the basis for why

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.

A very large scientific breakthrough occurred when a ewe named Dolly was successfully cloned being the first mammal to ever be cloned. Unfortunately, Dolly died at a younger age than normal from a prematurely development of arthritis, usually found in older sheep. This raised the suspicion that cloning may or may not be connected with certain diseases that may be abnormal to mammals in a young stage in their life. After the successful cloning of Dolly, scientists have attempted to clone other mammals such as dogs, pigs, cows, and cats. Recent study has brought the discussion on whether or not our science is advanced enough to clone human beings. Although cloning human beings can lead to medical discoveries and breakthroughs, does it also increase the risks of health problems for the ones being cloned?

With the more recent advances in genetic engineering, that allow us to modify the genetic makeup of animals, the medical community is taking another look at xenotransplantation. Animals are genetically engineered to express human genes and scientists hope that this will make the animal organs more humanlike and reduce the body’s response of rejecting them (Natural Life 23). In 1995, the FDA permitted the Duke University Medical Center to test genetically altered pig livers in patients with end-stage liver disease. The pig livers were genetically manipulated to contain three human genes that would produce human proteins to counter the body’s rejection response