Genetic engineering can be used to solve many problems in the world, but some people feel that the dangers out weigh the advantages. Discuss the use to genetic engineering today and the moral, ethical and economic implications of the technique.

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Genetic engineering can be used to solve many problems in the world, but some people feel that the dangers out weigh the advantages. Discuss the use to genetic engineering today and the moral, ethical and economic implications of the technique.

There has been a lot of press coverage about the recent advances in gene technology. This new technology can be used in a variety of ways, from curing genetic diseases to keeping our tomatoes red. All genetic modification involves isolating a specific gene and modifying or replacing it, so to make it work differently.

Gene Therapy can, in theory be used to cure genetic diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis. In Cystic Fibrosis the faulty gene is the one that produces the CFTR protein. Gene therapy can take a ‘normal’ gene, insert it into the cells surrounding the lungs and hopefully these cells will adopt the new gene and start using that to produce the protein, instead of using the faulty one. This technique has been used but only with limited success. With more research into this area is could be used more widespread to treat genetic diseases.

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Both animals and bacteria can be modified to produce substances that can be used to help treat those people who cannot produce the substance naturally themselves. You can make transgenic organisms by inserting a gene from one organism into another to make it produce a new substance. Bacteria can be modified to produce insulin. But often, prokaryotic cells are too simple to be able to produce complex mammalian proteins, so other animals, for example sheep have to be used. While still an embryo, Tracey the Sheep was injected with the gene that produces the AAT protein. Once born Tracey ...

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