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 them to become more productive. It could soon be possible to produce tomatoes that contain medicine against headache. It could provide us with a daily dose of vitamin-C. This would bring many benefits, for example it is good for the economy. As this would increase the rate of yield and therefore profits would also grow. The first genetically engineered product was the tomato. The new tomato could be shipped vine-ripped without rotting rapidly, and still was as safe as other commercial tomatoes. The problem is that tomatoes need warm climates to grow, to survive their journey, tomatoes have to be picked when they are still green, which is a good way of avoiding brushing, but it results in the tomato having the wrong consistency. If the tomatoes are picked when ripe they will rot quickly. So to solve the problem an “antisense” gene was inserted. It encodes the enzyme that results in the tomato spoilage. It allows the tomato to stay ripe but not rot. It lasted like this for up to ten days, so it was used to be shipped and sold.
Another advantage includes, cloning cows that produce more meat and less fat. This would decrease the prices of meat and the turnover of the farmers could rise. This would be an advantage for consumers and for the government, as this would stimulate the demand for jobs, as a result decreases the unemployment figures. This would e beneficial to many people, and because prices for food will decrease people would have more freedom in spending their money. Once this ’super cow’ is produced, cloning would make it possible to produce large quantities. These cows will produce much more and farms will grow. As a result, profit will increase and more taxes can be paid, and society would benefit largely.
It is also possible to improve the environment with genetic manipulation. This could be done by cloning endangered species or by creating organisms that prevent pollution. By cloning bacteria that is already in the environment that has helped against water pollution, could released in National Parks or in large rivers to prevent pollution. Another way of improving the environment is by cloning endangered species like elephants or pandas. This would prevent the species from being extinct. This is a good application, although environmental organisations are against cloning.
If allowed to experiment with genetic engineering, it would become possible to start all kinds of research related to DNA. We would learn a lot about life. Knowledge gained this way can be applied to the advantage of individuals and the society as a whole.
There are also many disadvantages to using recombinant DNA technology. In the discussion about the ethic acceptability about genetic manipulation the opponents use the following arguments: the first argument is about the use and abuse of genetic data. There can be problems when deciding who should use an organ that is available, when both patients are desperate however DNA – tests have shown that one of the patients is not going to live long. From the test it is obvious that this patient will not receive the organ, as there may not be any point. There is no confidentiality. It is not even decided whether or not the patient is allowed to know.
Danger to the environment is also a disadvantage. Genetically manipulated organisms could cross with the other organisms. This could cause unpredictable and irreversible changes to the ecosystem. However nobody will know what will happen. This is the reason way many people have an opinion that genetic manipulation should be forbidden.
There is also a risk of uncontrollable security, “all tools needed for the production of bio technical weapons are freely available and sale is not registered. With just a fraction of the money needed for the development of nuclear weapons crazy terrorists can produce ill- making organisms or viruses and threaten mankind with them. It is impossible to defend oneself against this with conventional methods. A harmonious integrated world conscious man is the best protection against any threat to the integrity of life.”
This just means that with genetic manipulation anyone can start to mess with all organisms. They could start cloning with strange creators. The consequences of this would be totally unknown.
Nobody really knows the long-term effects. We don’t really know what would happen to mankind if we start to apply genetic manipulation at a large scale. It is not known how long this can go well, and what the effects on mankind are. This is because genetic manipulation has only recently bee discovered. In many countries it is not allowed to develop any further, and from practical experiences, it is hard to tell what the consequences could be.
Some people believe that animals have their own nature and mankind should respect this. They believe that genetic manipulation of animals should be restricted as much as possible. If all pigs were genetically changed the uniqueness of the pig disappears. Characteristics of the pig will be changed and the pigs would loose their self-esteem. A lot of new species will then be introduces, this would lead to everything being badly arranged.
However, if this manipulation of genes carries on, only animals with an economical interest will survive. If pigs that are genetically manipulated produce more meat than those that are not, the farmers of these pigs will become bankrupt, as they can no longer compete. This would result in these pigs being extinct. Farmers will become less free to determine which animals they will use to stay alive in the competition for their market share. This will be the same for plants as well.
All in all both arguments are balanced. Nature is not stationary, but it is a constant evolution. Animals and plant species therefore can change overtime. Some people see this as a positive development. Some people believe that the original nature of animals needs to be respected. However it is difficult to understand what their original nature is. A lot has changed over time and by the acts of mankind during evolution. Opponents say, “animals adapt to circumstances and that is why they changed overtime”. However people in favour of recombinant DNA technology believe that man has influenced these situations.
In January European and United Nation organisations pleaded for a legal ban on cloning of animals and plants. Not everyone was in support of such a ban. When president Clinton found out that a sheep in Scotland was successfully cloned he banned the use of government money for the cloning of man. A national committee on bio- ethics proposed to ban the cloning of man by law, this is because of the moral dilemmas and the medical risks.
Most people believe that recombinant DNA technology should be allowed if certain rules set by the government are respected. We are hesitant to allow the use of gene-passport. We believe this to be intrusion of privacy. However people should be more informed about DNA/genetic manipulation. It should be possible to have genes examined; nevertheless the resulting information should be kept private.
We are in favour of genetic manipulation for use in industry. Many useful products can be produced this way, however the application should be done carefully.
In health care we believe that this process is very useful. The organ transplantation problem can be solved, production of insulin is much more cheaper.
On the whole we believe that DNA technology should be permitted in general. As it benefits human kind in many ways. However should be kept under control. This can be done if the government licences a policy. The negative reactions of people can be blamed on the complexity of recombinant DNA techniques. The technology is difficult to understand so there is a fear of the unknown.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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TEXT BOOK – Advanced Biology 1
By Richard Allan & Tracy Greenwood
Dated 2001
This textbook came in very useful when trying to understand the method of recombinant DNA technology. It also provided many advantages and disadvantages to support the argument. I feel that the information is very reliable as it is factual.
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MAGAZINE – New Scientist
Dated 21 August 1999
This magazine provided both moral and ethical issues of gene manipulation. It also showed views and ideas given by the general public. It is a recent issue of the magazine, which that it is valid and can be relied on.
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MAGAZINE – Scientific American
Dated January 2002
There were many articles in this magazine that provided useful information, however one in particular highlighted many ethical and moral issues and showed many opinions given by the public. There was also some good visual evidence, illustrated by photographs and diagrams.
4. INTERNET – Search engines e.g.
I found that these websites provided me with the most useful information. They helped me come to a reasonable conclusion. The dates shown on the websites were also very recent; therefore I feel I can rely on the validity of it.
5. TEXT BOOK – The Dorling Kindersley Science Encyclopaedia
Dated 1999
This textbook showed the basic process of gene manipulation. It also outlined some advantages and disadvantages. The information is very reliable as it is factual and was published recently.