preview

The Pros And Cons Of Genetic Engineering

Decent Essays

Technological and medical advances are occurring at a rapid pace. Genetic engineering is one of the up-and-coming technologies that arouses passions, both in favor of and against the practice. While food has been genetically altered for many years, technology is now approaching the point where human DNA can be altered as well, which has required the implementation of new healthcare policies and ethical guidelines.
What is Genetic Engineering? According to yourgenome.com, a general description for genetic engineering (or genetic modification) is the “process of altering the DNA in an organism’s genome” (“What is Genetic Engineering”, 2017). Currently, there are different types of genetic modifications, and each has different procedures and consequences. The least controversial is gene therapy, which is intended to overcome genetic diseases in one particular individual by changing cells other than the gamete (Arnold, 2012). In this process, the altered DNA is not passed to subsequent generations. On the other hand, germ-line therapy involves changing the gamete and is intended to change the genetic material that may subsequently be passed down to other generations (O’Reilly, 2017). Recently scientists “[changed] the DNA of a large number of one-cell embryos with the gene editing technique CRISPR” (Connor, 2017). According to the National Institute of Health, “Because of these ethical concerns, the U.S. Government does not allow federal funds to be used for research on

Get Access