The Pros And Cons Of Genetic Engineering

You are probably familiar with GMO’s (genetically modified organism) and scientifically modified food that has had its DNA changes. There has been debate on GMO’s has been going on for a few decades, whether GMO are safe and even ethical. However, there is another debate that far surpasses GMOs and has a potential to radically shake society: the issue of genetically modifying humans. Changing our DNA could limit health issue or create a new Frankenstein’s monster among humans. Frankenstein had the wrong intent when he set out to create his monster. He only cared about himself and advancing his future. If Genetic engineering is sought after to just create something new there will be another monster. However, genetic can be safe and ethical if its intent and use is for medical purposes. We need to help the sick in society and one way to do that is with genetic engineering. With this purpose genetic engineering is not overstepping our authority like Frankenstein did.

United States genetic centers now offer DNA tests for over 30 or 40 of the more commonly inherited disorders. Those including cystic fibrosis, susceptibility to breast cancer, X syndrome, Huntington’s disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and many other various disorders (Golden). Also, with recent developments, couples are able to have a pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). This procedure allows the testing of genetic disorders before germination. It consists of “petri-dish” testing of sperm and egg cells donated by the soon to be parents. This procedure prevents the idea of abortion, for if genetic problems occur, you are not destroying a fetus, but simple flushing away embryo cells.

Parents wish for their children to be perfect and, more so, healthy. Through the advancement of modern technology and science, giving birth to a child of desired hair color, body type, and without any physical or mental ailments could be a reality for all parents, whether or not they are carriers of certain genes. Genetic modification, sometimes called “germline editing,” has the potential to allow for medical doctors and scientists to not only change certain characteristics of a human embryo, but to also alter the future of humanity itself. While this process has many proponents, the modification of the very essence of human life has some people worried. This is, in fact, uncharted territory in the scientific world, and the extent of the possible

The first reason why we should not pursue genetic engineering is that there is an inherent risk when tampering with the human genome. This worry is shared among several scientists, with Dr. David King stating that treating certain genetic diseases “Poses a relatively high risk that genes will be 'inadvertently ' altered in the reproductive cells of the foetus.” This could lead to a result similar to what a study cited by Stuart Newman states, that “Germline introduction of an improperly regulated normal gene into mice resulted in progeny with no obvious effects on development, but enhanced tumor incidence during adult life.”(10). This unpredictability is extremely hazardous and pose extreme risk to any humans involved in this process. Some avid advocates of genetic engineering say otherwise, stating that the benefits of genetic engineering far outweigh the risk. However, the majority of identified genetic disorders we are attempting to cure as of this

In the feature broadcast “Genetically Engineering Almost Anything,” the editors, Eleanor Nelson and Tim De Chant, reveal their opinion on genetically engineering genetics in mosquitoes containing Malaria. According to the broadcast, Malaria kills an average of two-hundred thousand humans and sickens over two million people per year. Editors indicate that Africa is the most affected by the disease. The broadcast claims that mosquitos have been studied since the late 1970’s, however, it wasn’t until the 1990’s that there were technological advances in the research of genetic engineered insects. While Mosquitoes are becoming resistant, Evolutionary Biologist are attempting to modify genetics in mosquitoes that contain Malaria,

What if it was possible to prevent certain lifelong diseases such as Huntington’s and even diabetes in the next generation? As medicine advances in the 21st century a very controversial topic, that is believed to do so is genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is considered anything where genetic material is modified in order to change its characteristics. This has been around for a long time, but prior to recent decades, most controversies over this topic was aimed towards crops rather than humans. However, now, with modern medicine, procedures such as in vitro fertilization have become the center of an ethical engineering worldwide debate. Many people struggle with the ethicality of genetically engineering people; however, what genetic engineering is

Some people with genetic diseases could benefit from genetic engineering to improve their offspring’s quality of living.

To genetically engineer offspring is to alter the whole meaning birth. To comprehend the future of a child and to select an infant's character traits may seem like an incredible thing. Genetic engineering has its pros and cons, and by examining the pros and cons of genetic engineering of offspring, should reveal a clear idea of the result of genetic engineering.

For example, some suggest that genetic engineering does not include superficially changing genes to what a parent may see as a more desirable trait for their offspring such as fair skin or green eyes. As stated in the Columbia Law Review, one of the world’s leading publications of legal knowledge,“Of clinics that offer Preimplantation genetic diagnosis, forty two percent have used the technology to allow couples to choose the sex of the child, twenty four percent have used it to select an embryo that is an immunological match with an existing sick child, and three percent have used it to select for a disability common to the parent, like deafness or dwarfism”. From this quote, it is evident that those who have the opportunity to modify their offspring’s genes do not do so in an attempt to get rid of life threatening diseases and illnesses, but rather for their personal

At first recognition, the concept of genetic engineering and “designer babies” seems like a process that could only be possible in futuristic, science-fiction films; however, it is an idea that has become more and more of a prominent issue since it was introduced to the human public. Choosing an embryo’s genetic makeup is a practice that allows potential parents to hold a large amount of power in the life of their child. But should that power be limited so that only necessary traits can be selected and deleted or should there be free reign? Many people are uninformed on this issue, so opinions and stances are fairly scattered and there are numerous different arguments presented. This essay serves to examine the process of creating a designer baby further, and to suggest that the practice of genetically engineering embryos should only be available in order to ensure that children will not possess traits for illnesses and/or diseases, and explain why.

Genetic engineering is the process whereby new DNA is added or existing DNA is altered in an organism 's genome. This may involve changing one base pair (A-T or C-G) or deleting entire sections of DNA or adding additional copies of a gene. This results in creating new traits that were not previously present in the organism’s genome. This is done to selectively breed desired traits or to create plants with increased resistance to pesticides and increased tolerance to herbicides. For example insulin is a protein that regulates sugar content in our blood and is produced normally in the pancreas. Genetic engineering is used to produce a form of insulin that is similar to yeast and bacterial cells. This genetically engineered insulin is called

Imagine a world where mankind can grow far more vegetables and fruits than ever before, where plants are immune to blight, and fruits are packed with more nutrients than ever thought possible. Imagine no longer, as science has made it possible through genetic modification. Genetic modification is fairly recent development which allows scientists to safely develop seeds which produce more produce than previously thought possible, it also allows farming to be easier by allowing farmers to use more methods and thus is a viable, and possibly superior, alternative to organic crops.

Agriculture has been based on genetic engineering for thousands of years; all that has changed in genetic mutation is the level of human involvement, now at the microscopic level

The debate over the human modification through the technology of genetic engineering has raised attention in the twenty-first century. Several professional and social groups have expressed their opinions regarding the idea of genetic engineering in human, however, there is not any firm policy formulated to regulate the same (Shiva, 2016). It is true that the genetic technology has been seen to be successful in plants and the general area of botany where large number world population have witnessed the benefits. However, when it comes to human beings, the aspect of genetic technology has received great resistance due to Christian doctrine which holds that, “Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked” (Ecclesiastes 7:13). Professionally, the best way which would give a solution over this technology is evaluating all the aspects of human life which includes, culture, economy, and religion among others, in order to have a convincing ideology on which direction to follow.

There are multiple negative perceptions associated with genetic engineering. A variety of people assume that all which is genetically engineered causes more harm than good. Because of these misconceptions, those who see them as harmful do not use them, limit their production, and do what they can to stop genetic engineering with anti-GMO movements (Clancy, C.A., 2016). This results in people not benefitting from the seemingly infinite array of positives that erupt from genetic engineering, specifically the genetic engineering of bacteria, also known as the genetic engineering of microorganisms or GEM.