DNA and Technology Can Only Benefit Human Kind. Discuss.

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Amandeep Dhanota                                                                        05/03/02

DNA TECHNOLOGY CAN ONLY BENEFIT HUMAN KIND………DISCUSS

Recombinant DNA technology is the “process in which chromosomes or DNA molecules are broken, and the fragments are rejoined in new combinations.”

Recombinant DNA is a DNA molecule, which is artificially made from different sources. The different sections are then combined into a single molecule. Recombinant DNA is created in vitro, or in a test tube, instead of in a living organism, or in vivo. In order for a cell to accept a recombinant molecule, the piece of recombinant DNA must be included with a vector, or a carrier. Recombinant DNA is made using a molecule called a restriction enzyme. Restriction enzymes are enzymes that cut specific parts of a DNA strand. These enzymes are found in bacteria and are sometimes called restriction endonucleases. Each restriction enzyme can position only a specific portion of the DNA and cut along the relevant nucleotides. Once a restriction enzyme cuts a DNA strand, it can leave the strand with either a sticky end or a blunt end. Sticky ends are the most useful in creating recombinant DNA because they can be combined with any other sticky end with the complementary base pairing. Once the sticky ends have combined, they can be permanently combined using another enzyme called DNA ligase. The DNA ligase forms a bond between the two complementary strands, therefore resulting into a recombinant DNA molecule.

Genetic manipulation can also be used to produce organs by animals that are used for people who need organ transplantation. This is done by implanting human genes into animals. This allows these animals to produce organs that can be used in the human body. Genes can also be implanted into organisms to allow for these organisms to produce some drugs that are not available, or ones that cannot be produced in laboratory. This would save a lot of time and money.

Organisms can also be changed so that they can live under certain circumstances. For example, soybeans are manipulated to make them immune to all destructive pesticides called Roundup. This would prevent the Soya beans from being destroyed but instead kill the weeds.

Human kind can benefit greatly from DNA technology. It has many advantages, but with it brings many disadvantages as well. Some people argue that it should be allowed more generally, where as on the other hand some people argue that DNA technology should only partly be allowed.

The advantages for using DNA technology to benefit human kind are very obvious. The most used example of the benefits is the production of insulin for the treatment of diabetes. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, it controls sugar metabolism. Diabetes is a result of the body failing to produce this hormone; therefore daily injections of insulin allow diabetics to manage their disease. They would need to control their diet and also exercise in order for them not to suffer. This process is safe to the user since the hormone is the human form and not from a pig or a cow. It is also less costly and more efficient. If genetic engineering were not allowed, the insulin would have to be isolated from the pancreas of pigs and cows. This would be both costly and inefficient. It could also cause an allergic reaction in humans.

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The gene has been cloned; the insulin may be produced by bacteria in cultures. Instead of having to extract the insulin from cows or pigs the hormone is produced in laboratories and extracted from bacteria. This is a much easier process and it allows for the insulin to be produced in mass quantities.

It also enables better and more efficient food production. If genetic manipulation were allowed, our food would become healthier. For example by improving the quality of plants, by cloning the best ones. Genes could also be implanted into plants to help them produce new things or help ...

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