The plants tissue culture is the cultivation of plant tissues on specially formulated nutrients enriched media. They can grow at room temperature in very small places. The genetic engineering is useful to produce vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes etc which can retain their quality and taste for a longer period of time. (ref no 6)
The mapping of chromosomes would be a great achievement for identifying the precise location of every gene and will develop new gene therapy treatments (ref no 2) and most likely the hospitals will not need so many medicines used today. The genetic engineering may produce several enzymes prepared in the human body and may be useful for use in the deficiency of these enzyme needed by the human body such as insulin very use full for the human body. (ref no 5)
The main disadvantages of the gene technology may be the mutation of transgressive bacteria or the viruses escaping from the genetically modified crops, such as weeds etc. The setting up of evolutionary process of the transgressive organisms that could harm the enviroment population of transgenic organisms could upset the balance of nature, objections to specific transgressive organisms by religious groups and the gene screening could lead to the discrimination against individuals.(ref no 2)
The moral and ethical issues of recombinant technology worry a lot about tampering with genes. We have the power to create the new life forms with genetic engineering but we don’t know what the hidden costs of interfering with evolution might be, so far no harm seems to have come from releasing genetically manipulated organisms (gmo’s) into the enviroment. These have been mainly microbes designed to protect plants from diseases and forests from damage. Gmo’s have marker gene engineered in their genome so their spread can easily be tackled. This idea was given by aldridge. (ref no 1)
But however safe Gmo’s turn out to be there are still difficult ethical problems to be faced. The product of genetic engineering is new life forms but no one is really sure that they can or should be patented. The first patented life form was the oncomouse produced at Harvard University. Patenting the Harvard mouse has caused the storm of controversy and confusion in Europe, which is causing investors to hold back from biotechnology. The attempt by some USA scientists to patent human genes the result of their work on human genomes has led to similar difficulties Many people say that the whole issue of patenting gives the genetic engineering a poor public image and undermines human dignity.(ref no 1)
There is also an issue of gene plunder to be considered. Once the genes of useful plants are taken from the developing countries these could be cloned in the cells and products made in western countries. This could damage the income from the cash crops such as coffee in the countries where these plants were originated. (ref no 1)
Now a days the pigs heart are transplanted into humans that can cause different genetic diseases in humans from the pigs and could have very dangerous effects on the human society. (ref no 7)
It is interesting to discuss the ethics of reproductive human cloning. The first cloned child would be human experiment. They would be biological experiments with grave risks of physical and mental genetic deformity. They would be experiments on human identity, they would be experiments in genetic programming and design, and they would be experiments in family and social life confusing the relationships with in the family and between the generations. A cloned child will be at risk of psychic and social harm. He may suffer confusion of social identity in society and may become dangerous for the human society. (ref no 3)
The history of eugenics is interesting as this movement began in late 1800 ‘s the eugenic movement can be revived due to genetic inventions and can be very dangerous to the nation so called inferior genes and may cause a disaster for the future of human civilisation. (ref no 4)
The progress in the science of genetic technology can be used for better living of human beings against most of the diseases and may be called a blessing for humans. on the other hand gene technology can also be used as a powerful weapon to eradicate less powerful ethnic groups in several ways therefore it is very important that all the universities and colleges and educational institutes of the world must especially teach moral and ethical values to the scientists to use genetic technology as a blessing rather than disguise.
REFERENCE NO 1 ,
ALDRIGE, S (1994) BIOCHEMISTRY FOR ADVANCED BIOLOGY CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS , 156 PAGES
REFERANCE PAGES 113,125,126
REFERENCE NO 2 ,
INDGE,B ROWLAND,M AND BAKER,M.(2000) A NEW INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY, PUBLISHED IN ITALY FOR HODDER AND STOUGHTON EDUCATIONAL AND 338 EASTERN ROAD LONDON NWIBBH BY PRINTER TRENTO 240 PAGES
REFERANCE PAGES 163,164,165,166,167,168
REFERENCE NO 3,
RUSS O,E AND COVE,D(1995). GENETIC ENGINEERING, DREAMS AND NIGHTMARES , WH FREEMAN AND COMPANY OXFORD, NEWYORK, HEIDELBERG, 243 PAGES PRINTED BY BATH PRESS AVON
REFERANCE PAGE NO 100
REFERENCE NO 4,
AND DIFFERENT LINKS FROM HERE AND
REFERENCE NO 5,
MOVIE GENITIC ENGINEERING DREAMS AND NIGHTMARES
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS, MEDIA SERVICES, WOOD HOUSE LANE
REFERANCE NO 6,
SKY NEWS ABOUT PIGS HEART TRANSPLANT INTO HUMANS
