“The Moral, Ethical, Social and Legal Issues Surrounding Genetic Engineering”.

Use of genetically modified foods could increase plants resistance to pesticides and herbicides so decreasing the need for these pollutant chemicals and allow plants to manufacture their own pesticides to ward off insects. Therefore increase the yields of many staple crops and thus ward off starvation in many areas of the world and allow plants to grow under adverse weather conditions or in poor soil, thereby increasing the amount of arable land.

However, despite these benefits, genetically engineered crops might transmit their novel genes to wild populations, possible creating organisms against which humans have no defence. Other argument could also be that genetic diversity of plant populations could decrease, thus making crops more susceptible to decimation by as-yet-unknown pathogens.

However, one of the most controversial aspects of genetic engineering is the process of cloning, where the genetic material of an organism is duplicated.

Proponents of cloning argue that it is no more unnatural than binary fission, the process by which bacteria replicate to produce identical copies of themselves. In addition they state that cloning is no more unethical than growing a plant from a cutting or giving birth to identical twins. In this view, cloning is just another scientific subject and those who wish to research cloning should not be stopped. The advantages would be that it would solve the problem of infertility and also it will be possible to clone organs for transplants. [Ref: 4]

But then the whole issue of designer babies arises, where the parents can choose the characteristics they would like for their child. The disadvantages of allowing cloning to take place is that slowly but surely the human race would begin to lose its diversity. Also the fact that the entire human race, being genetically identical, would be at great risk from a single pathogen. Not only would cloning be a disaster in terms of viral disaster, but also another negative effect of it would be inbreeding. If everyone had the same genotype, and we lost the ability to clone, to keep reproducing within ourselves would lead us to our own extinction.

Furthermore one of the common arguments against genetic engineering and in particular gene splicing. When Recombination DNA was introduced, there was a possibility and still is that genetically altered bacteria may escape from the laboratories and multiply causing erratic results.

Public reaction concerning the use of recombinant DNA in genetic engineering has varied. The production of medicines using genetic engineering has generally been welcomed. However, critics of recombinant DNA fear that disease producing organisms used in some experiments might develop extremely infectious forms that could cause worldwide problems.

All religious groups may argue that genetic engineering is unnatural, and the scientists are 'playing God'. [Ref: 5]

Another significant aspect of genetic engineering is its medical purposes. For instance cystic fibrosis maybe cured if a gene can somehow enter the cells that line the lungs, it will begin producing the critical proteins that cystic fibrosis patients lack. Scientists are working on this right now and some patients receiving this treatment have already been able to produce this protein in small quantities. Genetic engineering and the knowledge concerning the effects of DNA variation among individuals can lead to different, easier new ways to treat and even prevent many of disorders that affect us. [Ref: 6]

Concentrating on ethical and moral issues in particular the ability to alter our genetic make-up may mean we can improve society however in the past eugenic programmes set up to do just this, have involved the selection of certain favoured human physical/mental characteristics and the intentional demolition of those considered substandard. [Ref: 2] With this gene manipulation under human control how can one be certain that these techniques will not be used for unnecessary purposes such as choosing eye colour or hair colour. Alongside that, the ability to recognize the sex and or possible abnormalities in a foetus may mean that some parents may abort the foetus just to have that perfect child.

Genetic research is very costly and has a tendency to be carried out by considerably large multinational companies, which in one sense would hold the results of their research giving them very powerful dominion. Richer countries, which can afford both genetic research and the results, will be the most advantaged. This would widen the bridge between the rich and the poor. Also the cost of genetic treatment could mean the division of the society into those who could afford to improve their progeny and those who could well be referred to as inferior. This could lead to a lot of emotional damage.

Some argue that all human genetic engineering is 'tampering with nature.' Others say genetic engineering is a breach of the belief of 'letting nature take its course.'

Genetic engineering is used for various aspects of our life such as increasing plant/animal food production, diagnosing diseases, improving medical treatment, producing vaccines, useful drugs and to help dispose of industrial wastes. There are great advantages to genetic engineering when used prudently. Although there are possibilities that genetic engineering may be used for unnecessary objectives. For example, genetic engineering provides the ability to create an improved human being with desired characteristics, which could lead to the categorization of people. This could cause a lot of needless emotional crisis. This is just one example of circumstances that could occur when using genetic engineering inappropriately.

In one sense nature should take its natural course however I do believe that genetic engineering could be used to improve quality of life in terms of health.

REFERENCES

* Ref 1: Jones, G., Jones, M. (1997). Advanced Biology. Cambridge. Cambridge

University Press.

* Ref 2: Baker, M., Indge, B. and Rowland, M. (2000). A New Introduction to Biology. Italy. Hodder and Stoughton Educational.

* Ref 3: Encyclopaedia Britannica 2003 cd-rom

* Ref 4: Guardian Unlimited 2001

* Ref 5: www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/gn301/Supplements/GeneticEngineering.html

* Ref 6: BBC - Horizon Video 2001 'Is genetic modification safe'

OMAR PERVEZ