Crop and Animal Biotechnology - Ethics and Morality.

                        There are numerous useful functions of genetic engineering. Use of biotechnology means that smaller quantities of crops would be lost, as plants could be altered to be pest and disease resistant. It can make crops more nutritional, and it can also make the crops last longer. An advantage of cloning is that it will be possible to clone organs for transplants, meaning people will not have to wait for donors.                 Genetic engineering seems like progression, nevertheless, there are various disadvantages. One concern is the ethics of genetic engineering. People may disagree with it because it is unnatural. It seems, to some people, like the scientists are just ‘playing God’. People may also say that it is unethical to clone, as life is not something that should be interfered with. Another problem with genetic engineering is that there could be unexpected consequences. The long-term effects are unknown, therefore, it may be unsafe. After looking at these disadvantages, people may say that it is better off to use natural methods such as selective breeding and human donors for transplants. However, they are very time consuming procedures.                         There have been many attempts to evaluate genetic engineering by utilitarians in terms of risks and benefits. Huge benefits are predicted by some, particularly in the area of medical research, but these have to be weighed against potentially serious risks. The issue of animal welfare further complicates the ethical assessment. There is the question of whether certain levels of harm ought under no circumstances to be inflicted on an animal.                                          I believe that the advantages of genetic engineering do not outweigh the disadvantages. From the facts I have looked at, I can conclude that the risks form a stronger argument than the benefits. However, I do think that genetic engineering is acceptable to a certain extent, such as cloning an organ for donation or using animals for the production of human insulin, but not cloning an entire person. I believe that the study of genetics is acceptable, because scientists should improve their knowledge of the human body and crops. However, I think that as their knowledge improves on the subject, use of animal and crop biotechnology will be unavoidable, but we will benefit from the long-term effects.