Genes are, basically, the blueprints of our body which are passed down from generation to generation. Through the exploration of these inherited materials, scientists have ventured into the recent, and rather controversial, field of genetic engineering. It is described as the "artificial modification of the genetic code of a living organism", and involves the "manipulation and alteration of inborn characteristics" by humans (Lanza). Like many other issues, genetic engineering has sparked a heated debate. Some people believe that it has the potential to become the new "miracle tool" of medicine. To others, this new technology borders on the realm of immorality, and is an omen of the danger to come, and are firmly convinced that this human intervention into nature is unethical, and will bring about the destruction of mankind (Lanza). Although humans have altered the genomes of species for thousands of years through artificial selection and other non-scientific means, the field of genetic engineering as we now know it did not begin until 1944 when DNA was first identified as the carrier of genetic information by Oswald Avery Colin McLeod and Maclyn McCarty (Stem Cell Research). In the following decades two more important discoveries occurred, first the 1953 discovery of the structure of DNA, by Watson and Crick, and next the 1973 discovery by Cohen and Boyer of a recombinant DNA technique which allowed the successful transfer of DNA into another organism. A year later Rudolf Jaenisch created the world’s first transgenic animal by introducing foreign DNA into a mouse embryo, an experiment that would set the stage for modern genetic engineering (Stem Cell Research). The commercialization of genetic engineering began largely in 1976 wh... ... middle of paper ... ...ould hold and how it could possibly change our very existence in just a matter of years. Works Cited Anderson, Ryan. "Stem Cells: A Political History." First Things. First Things, November, 2008. Web. 10 Feb 2012. "Eugenics, Genetic Engineering Lite." The Future of Human Evolution. Humans Future, 2010. Web. 14 Feb 2012. Lanza, Tyler. "The Stem Cell Research Controversy." Stem Cell History. N.p., January 5, 2011. Web. 16 Feb 2012. Martin, Jonathan. "Obama reverses Bush stem cell ban." Politico. Capitol News Company, March 9, 2009. Web. 13 Feb 2012. Sandel, M. J. The case against perfection, ethics in the age of genetic engineering. Belknap Press, 2007. Print. "Stem Cell Research Timeline." Stem Cell History. N.p., February 1, 2011. Web. 16 Feb 2012. Wekesser, C. Genetic engineering: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Print.
"Obama on Lifting the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ban - Obama Orders Lifting the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ban." About.com US Liberal Politics. US Liberals, May-June 2009. Web. 04 May 2014.
“The problem with eugenics and genetic engineering is that they represent the one-sided triumph of willfulness over giftedness, of dominion over reverence, of molding over beholding” (Sandel, 2004, p.59).
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Monroe, Kristen, et al., eds. Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical and Political Issues. Los Angeles/Berkley: University of California Press, 2008. Print
Those who are opposed to embryonic stem cell research reject it based on a moral issue. Some object to stem cell research on the basis that it involves the elimination of the most basic form of human life (Issitt). Former President George W. Bush strongly believed in the right to life and his polices during his terms displayed this. In 2005 and 2007, President Bush vetoed two bills for the federal funding embryonic stem cell research (Issitt). In addition to the moral issue, many cite the pitfalls...
Throughout modern day society, many people have thought about or have come in contact with the issue of genetically modified human engineering, and whether or not this topic is justifiable. There are many disadvantages to the practice of altering human genes. Genetically modifying human genes would invoke conditional love from the parents of the child and could potentially instill a mentality of unhealthy perfectionism, as well as consumerism. If the alteration of human genetic data was acceptable, then parents who would choose their children’s genes would set unrealistic expectations on their child’s performance. Genetically modifying human genes would also attribute to the erosion of social and civil
The stem cell research controversy is one of the major headlines in bioscience and has been discussed and debated numerous times throughout the last decade or so.
A form of biotechnology is genetic engineering. This process consists of geneticists manipulating DNA to produce new organisms and this is usually done by putting in or taking away genes. This innovative technology has been developed with uses such as production of ‘designer babies’ and changing genes to ensure health. Even though this technology is possible and been trialled successfully, it is illegal and has not yet been implemented in our society because of its ethical implications. This process of genetically manipulating the DNA of a human embryo to create a ‘designer baby’ is morally questioned by many for issues such as denying life and challenging natural processes, but some find it as a lifesaving breakthrough in biotechnology . ‘Designer
Evans, J. H. Playing god: Human genetic engineering and the rationalization of public bioethical debate. Chicago: The University of Chicago, 2002. Print.
Paoletti, R. A., Ed., Selected readings: genetic engineering and bioethics, (New York, MSS Information Corp, 1972)