Do the Benefits of Genetic Engineering Outweigh any Potential Hazards?

Genetic engineering is an umbrella term which can cover a wide range of ways of changing the genetic material - the DNA code - in a living organism. Individual genes are particular sections of this chain, spaced out along it, which determine the characteristics and functions of our body. Defects of individual genes can cause a malfunction in the metabolism of the body, and are the roots of many "genetic" diseases.

In commercial terms the reason for using genetically modified plants is simple- money. Today’s economic world is driven by the quest for bigger profits, lower production costs and lower production time, all to which genetic engineering provides a positive answer. Wheale, P(1988)

Other benefits also seem to exist. A plant programmed with resistance to locusts needs no pesticide against locusts. Some would hail this as wonderful because money is saved, as no pesticide is required. Although this seems like an immediate benefit we must look at the fact that a benefit to some is a danger to others. Due to the new plant a pesticide company may go out of business, making all its employees redundant. JOHN INNES CENTRE NORWICH

Advantages

Another novel product that is about to hit British supermarket shelves is the new ‘straight’ banana. As the name suggests this banana is not curved like the normal fruit but straight. The consumer may be surprised but there is a very good reason for the supermarkets to want these modified bananas. When curved bananas are packed they leave a lot of wasted space in the transport vessel. Bananas are also awkward to fit onto supermarket shelves but the straight bananas fit perfectly. As the transport cost per banana is reduced the banana should be cheaper for consumers. Levitt, M

The pesticides are poisons that are sprayed onto a farmer’s crop. When a predator such as a locust consumes part of the plant the locust dies due to the poison present in the pesticide, this stops the locust from causing further damage. The idea genetic engineering has put forward is that a plant could be reprogrammed to produce pesticide in its own cells. Naturally the pesticide would have to be safe for humans to eat. GENETICS FORUM (2001)

This is clearly beneficial in that the farmer does not have to buy expensive pesticides to spray on his crops. Environmental campaigners are also happy because pesticides do not poison the land and local waterways. The money saved by not using pesticides is ultimately passed onto the consumer. Indirect benefits also arise, an example is that no pesticide is used so local waterways are not polluted. This means the water companies have to waste less money purifying water. MONSANTO (2001)

There are parts of the world where one crop is the basis of the diet. In India rice is the staple diet of millions of peasants. To make sure people like these receive the proteins they require rice could be modified to contain them all. The process would be quite simple, Brazil nuts, which contain all the amino acids required by the body, have a gene which instructs it to produce the amino acids. This gene could be removed and added to rice, or any other crop, with the affect of improving nutritional quality. This would be a fairly good solution for the third world problem of malnutrition. Although it wouldn’t help those who receive little food, it would help those who receive only one type of food.

Dangers/disadvantages

One of the dangers of using genetically modified plants is that of the super weed problem. This involves either a genetically modified plant colonising the soil or a weed being created by genes being transferred. Kingman, S M. (1997)

The first case is a genetically modified plant with herbicide resistance naturally breeding with a wild weed, giving rise to a new strain of weed that was not affected by herbicide; such a weed could again colonise the countryside. The colonisation mentioned would destroy areas of natural beauty, replacing the natural foliage with weed.

Another possibility also exists, a worst case ...

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Dangers/disadvantages

Another possibility also exists, a worst case scenario. The weed would colonise all land making agriculture impossible. The ultimate problem would be that no food was available for consumption and there would be worldwide famine. Kingman, S M. (1997)

Another danger is the unknown effect genetically modified foods may have upon certain members of society. It can be said to be similar to the thalidomide tragedy in 1961. This was where thalidomide caused foetal abnormalities during pregnancy. Wheale, P(1988)

We must also consider an ethical viewpoint upon genetically modifying plants.

Religious groups such as the Sikhs and other conscious individuals are vegetarians. It may be improper for them to eat fruit and vegetables that have been modified to contain human or animal genes. Non-vegetarians may also object to having to eat human genes in their food. WATTON V AND HOBSON R (2000)

Some Christians object in principle to genetically modified food, as an unacceptable intervention in God's creation violating barriers in the natural world. Christians believe that all of God's creatures are much more than their genes. To change one or two genes wouldn't make an organism less than itself, unless the change itself caused a major disruption. Ethical problems may arise for certain types of gene, for example animal genes for a vegetarian or pig genes for a Jew or Muslim. BIOLOGY RESOURCES – GENETIC ENGINEERING (2001)

PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL DANGERS

All over the world when non-indigenous species have been introduced to new environments they have caused long term damage. It is known that changing one element of the environment can set of a domino effect of cascading changes throughout entire eco-systems. Yet industry maintains that the foreign species that it will release will not cause problems despite the fact that they have already had a series of situations, one problem that was foreseen by critics was the transfer of allergenic potential along with the transfer of genes from one organism to another. In one case it was found that engineered microbes did not behave as predicted. In 1989 a company called Biotechnica International wanted to test out a engineered micro organism which they hoped would show improved nitrogen fixation, thus improving soil fertility. Field tests were conducted for a year by planting soybeans coated with the modified microbes, at the end of the season the plants and seeds were incinerated, the field was then ploughed over and replanted The subsequent ploughing had also spread the microbes over a four acre area.

Gene Testing/Engineering in Humans

Gene testing already has dramatically improved lives. Some tests are used to clarify a diagnosis and direct a doctor toward appropriate treatments, while others allow families to avoid having children with devastating diseases or identify people at high risk for conditions that may be preventable. GENETICS FORUM (2001)

Ethical, Legal and Social Implications

Genetic information is being discovered at an increasingly remarkable pace. In some cases, however, not enough is known about the meaning of genetic information or how it is being interpreted and used. The risk of genetic discrimination grows as new disease susceptibility genes are identified. Carey GC. (2001)

The privacy and confidentiality of genetic information, including questions of ownership and control of genetic information, and consent to disclosure and use of genetic information, questions of the fair use of genetic information (e.g., insurance, employment, the criminal justice system, the educational system, adoption, and the military).

Some individuals are destined to lose. Although it is easy to negatively stereotype the lives of those born with genetic disabilities, ignoring the improved quality of life possible with adequate resources and support, few would deny that if the means to prevent certain disorders were available we should fully exploit them. Mae Wan Ho. (1998)

The use of genetic tests in diagnosing future disorders is based on identifying the presence of a particular gene or genes associated with certain genetic conditions. This can occur either as part of an ordinary diagnosis in which a condition or symptoms have already begun to manifest themselves — with the test being used to confirm a diagnosis — or to identify the likelihood of an individual developing a condition sometime in the future.

There are other potential benefits associated with testing. Some, like the Genetics Interest Group say yes because for some individuals it would banish the uncertainty surrounding their current condition (if they had already developed early symptoms) and enable them to plan their future in the light of realistic possibilities. They stress, however, that whilst they defend the individual's right to know in these circumstances, an individual's choice to be kept in ignorance must be equally respected.

However, do these accumulated benefits override the risks attached to testing when there is currently no legal means of preventing genetic information from being used to discriminate against individuals in the insurance and job markets. Might not many more individuals be socially disadvantaged by the abuse of genetic information than the few helped by its potential benefits? Hanak, J (1998)

The issue of genetic discrimination in insurance is an especially acute problem in the US where there is widespread reliance on private insurance schemes to cover health care costs. Despite this, there are no federal laws protecting individuals from genetic discrimination.

Genetic Engineering in Animals

Generally less controversial has been the novel idea of genetically engineering mammals so that in their milk they produce proteins of potential medical benefit as pharmaceutical products. The leading example of this is the production of alpha-1-antitrypsin in the milk of a sheep called Tracy and her progeny in Edinburgh. Sufferers from the lung disease emphysema have a deficiency of this protein, and this method is being developed as a convenient source of it in fairly large quantities, which appears to have no ill effects on the sheep and which has the prospect of being safe from the cross contamination which can arise if human blood is used as the source. The preliminary clinical trials are awaited. Other applications are being attempted using the same basic idea in Edinburgh and elsewhere.

Genetic Engineering of Bacteria, and Micro organisms

Genetic engineering, more formally known as recombinant DNA technology, allows scientists to pluck genes (segments of DNA) from one type of organism and combine them with genes of a second organism. In this way, relatively simple organisms such as bacteria or yeast, or even mammalian cells in culture and mammals such as goats and sheep, can be induced to make quantities of human proteins, including hormones such as insulin as well as lymphokines and monokines. Micro organisms can also be made to manufacture proteins from infectious agents such as the hepatitis virus or the AIDS virus, for use in vaccines. Thomas, C (1997)

Another facet of recombinant DNA technology involves gene therapy: replacing defective or missing genes with normal genes. The missing gene is introduced into a harmless virus, then mixed with progenitor cells from the patient's bone marrow. When the virus splices its genes into those of the bone marrow cells, it simultaneously inserts the gene for the missing enzyme. Injected back into the patient, the treated marrow cells produce the missing enzyme and revitalize the immune defences. ALLIANCE FOR BIOINTEGRITY 2000

The potential benefits of genetic engineering of bacteria and micro organisms are enormous; they would theoretically allow any product such as insulin to be created in unlimited amounts. There is very little contention about this branch of genetic engineering as the genes which are often incorporated into bacteria or other micro organisms are not released into the environment as they are only used to produce a product such as insulin. Providing this is thoroughly tested there is no reason to suggest that this is dangerous or proposes any potential hazard unless the genetically engineered organism is released into the environment.

What are the Dangers?

Fundamental Weaknesses of the Concept

Insects, birds, and wind can carry genetically altered seeds into neighbouring fields and beyond. Pollen from transgenic plants can cross-pollinate with genetically natural crops and wild relatives. All crops, organic and non-organic, are vulnerable to contamination from cross-pollinatation. Genetic engineering uses material from organisms that have never been part of the human food supply to change the fundamental nature of the food we eat. Without long-term testing no one knows if these foods are safe. Mae Wan Ho. (1998)

Conclusion

One of the benefits of genetic engineering would be the increase of crop production. The reason that I believe that this would be a benefit is because our population is constantly growing bigger. With the help of genetic engineering, plants won’t need as many herbicides or pesticides. These plants will be more disease resistant and able to tolerate cold and droughts. Nutrients can be added to these crops resulting in a decrease in malnutrition in third world countries. Rice, the main staple in their diet, lacks the adequate amount of necessary nutrients to prevent malnutrition. Through genetic engineering these nutrients can be added to the rice.

Through genetic engineering we would be able to grow organs for transplants. Therefore I believe that this would be beneficial because so many people are waiting for transplants and will never get them. By using genetic engineering as a way to grow organs no one has to wait for an organ, and someone won’t have to die in order for a transplant to take place.

By allowing research of genetic engineering to proceed, we will be able to learn more about the diseases that we have. Although I don’t believe we should cure all genetic diseases. Instead use the information we acquire through genetic engineering to find ways to treat the disease. By eliminating these diseases it would cause an increase in the population. Even with genetically modified foods to feed the extra people in the population we only have so many regions suitable for people to live. Thus by eliminating these diseases we may increase the problem of overpopulation.

I believe that the benefits of genetic engineering do outweigh the potential hazards but only in particular cases such as gene therapy. There does not seem a justification for genetically modified food as the benefits seem so small and the potential hazards are immeasurable, and cannot be quantified with any degree of confidence.

Bibliography

Mae Wan Ho. (1998) "Genetic Engineering – Dream or Nightmare" Gateway Books. pp.271
Kingman, S M. (1997) "An introduction to gene analysis and exploitation." in Blackwell pp 59-60
Wheale, P(1988) “Genetic Engineering – Catastrophe or Utopia” pp 142 Harvester
WATTON V AND HOBSON R (2000) “General Studies an AS and A Level Course Text” pp 38 Hodder and Stoughton
Levitt, M (1999) Biologist “Bioethics – Genes a la Carte” pp105 – 108 46 (3)
Hanak, J (1998) “Gene Therapy” pp 2-4 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES REVIEW March 1998
Thomas, C (1997) “Genetically Engineered Bacteria” pp 2-3 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES REVIEW September 1997
Carey GC. (2001) “Genetic Hazards” in American Journal of Medical Ethics. John Wiley and Sons 2001
GENETICS FORUM (2001)
www.geneticsforum.org.uk
MONSANTO (2001)
ALLIANCE FOR BIOINTEGRITY 2000
JOHN INNES CENTRE NORWICH
Ethics and Genetic Modification (1998)
ww.jic.bbsrc.ac.uk/exhibitions/bio-future/
BIOLOGY RESOURCES – GENETIC ENGINEERING (2001)
http://128.113.165.216/ms99/ausemat/bio/genetics