General advantages to genetic engineering are as follows:
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The diseases could be prevented by detecting people/plants/animals that are genetically prone to certain diseases, and preparing for the worst. Also, implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen can treat infectious diseases.
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Animals and plants can be 'tailor made' to show desired characteristics. Genes could also be manipulated in trees for example, to absorb more CO₂ and reduce the threat of global warming.
- Genetic Engineering could increase genetic range, and produce more variant alleles, which could be crossed over and implanted into other species.
There are many useful applications of genetic engineering as I mentioned briefly earlier. It is possible to insert human genes into sheep so they secrete alpha-1-antitrypsin in their milk, which helps to treat lung cancer. A DNA test has been designed which detects pigs that are carriers of a genetic mutation that causes Porcine Stress Syndrome, which affects the quality of the meat. There is also cloning, which is a branch of genetic engineering where the genetic material of an organism is duplicated. An advantage of cloning is that it will be possible to clone organs for transplants, meaning people will not have to wait for donors, and lessening the chance that the body will reject the organ (Guardian unlimited).
Alongside all these advantages, there are great downfalls to genetic engineering. 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 to the use of recombinant DNA in genetic engineering has been mixed. 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.
Environmentalists are concerned that the transgenic plants may interbreed with weeds, producing weeds with unwanted characteristics. They also argue that, due to natural selection, insects quickly develop resistance to plants that have been engineered to incorporate biological pesticides.
Animal rights groups have argued that the production of transgenic animals is harmful to animals. For example genetically engineered fish raise problems because of the aptitude of fish to swim away from their place of source. Some experts fear that this may change the characteristics of wild fish in unpredictable ways (Guardian unlimited).
Allergies are another possible problem of genetic engineering. Allergens can be transferred from one food crop to another through genetically engineered food crops. In an attempt to increase the nutritional value of soybeans, a genetic engineering firm transferred a Brazil nut gene producing a nutritious protein into the soybean plant. However, the study found that the genetically engineered soybeans caused an allergic reaction in people sensitive to Brazil nuts (Guardian unlimited).
Now 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 inferior. With this gene manipulation under human control how are we to be sure that we are not going to use it for unnecessary purposes such as choosing eye colour or hair colour of our children. 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.
Another point raised against genetic engineering is to do with discrimination. If insurance companies or employers got hold of someone’s genetic screening results they might use the information against them.
Looking at the circumstances now, genetic research is very expensive 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 itself and the results, will be the most advantaged. This would widen the bridge between those who are rich and 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 cause 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 our medical treatment; producing vaccines and useful drugs; and to help dispose of industrial wastes. There are great advantages to genetic engineering when used sensibly. Having said that there are possibilities that genetic engineering may be used for unnecessary purposes, which I strongly object to. For example, genetic engineering provides the ability to create an ‘improved’ human being with characteristics determined in accordance with a scientist’s particular preconceived notion. This could lead to the categorization of people, those that have desirable characteristics and those that have inferior ones. This could cause a lot of needless emotional damage. This is just one example of circumstances that could occur when using genetic engineering inappropriately.
I feel that in one sense that nature should take its natural course however I do believe that genetic engineering could be used to improve our quality of life i.e. in terms of health.
Bibliography:
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Baker, M., Indge, B. and Rowland, M. (2000). A New Introduction to Biology. Italy. Hodder and Stoughton Educational.
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Jones, G., Jones, M. (1997). Advanced Biology. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press.
- www.guardianunlimited.co.uk
- Microsoft Encarta Encyclopaedia 2000 cd-rom