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Factors affecting sports performance
Genetic engineering human health
Human evolution and adaptation
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Recommended: Factors affecting sports performance
Talking about the possible difficulties of the technology is one perspective, but it is also worth taking about the potential benefits of human genetic engineering as a cure for medical ailments, or simply to make humans more physically capable. There are an incredible variety of diseases plaguing the world, but due to the impressive ability of organisms to adapt through evolutionary forces, particular genes develop to deal with specific ailments, although these genes often have not had sufficient time to spread through the population. For example, a certain mutation referred to as a CCR5 32 deletion bestows hosts with an immunity to HIV, and there are not any negatives to the deletion, so distributing the mutation could effectively function as an HIV vaccine (Theodorou et al.). In addition, while certain …show more content…
There is a lot to be said about working hard in a discipline to achieve as high a level of proficiency in a skill of choice, but ultimately, persistence alone can only help to a certain extent. In the realm of sports, the best athletes certainly put in incredible amounts of practice, but they also have inherent genetic advantages that allow them to outperform their competitors. Sprinters surely notice and appreciate the benefits of training to become faster, but however much they might try, only a handful in the whole world have the genetic potential to challenge Usain Bolt’s dominance. Basketball players in the NBA have an average height almost a foot higher than the average American male, and the odd players with only an average stature have to make up for their shortcomings with blistering speed and record-breaking jumping ability, just to have a sliver of a chance. Although many children dream of growing up to be astronauts, something as trivial as lousy eyesight could disqualify them from space
Many are now considering using this technology to change humans, such as developing methods that could be used to regenerate or repair faulty organs. It could be also used to find a cure for diseases such as cancer, eventually (Fitzgerald), or to repair genetic defects. Parents could choose the sex and height of their offspring and be able to have more intelligent, more athletic, and better looking children. Also, genetic engineering could also be used to clone humans (Kevles 354), a topic of much discussion of late.
One of the most necessary uses of genetic engineering is tackling diseases. As listed above, some of the deadliest diseases in the world that have yet to be conquered could ultimately be wiped out by the use of genetic engineering. Because there are a great deal of genetic mutations people suffer from it is impractical that we will ever be able to get rid of them unless we involve genetic engineering in future generations (pros and cons of genetic eng). The negative aspect to this is the possible chain reaction that can occur from gene alteration. While altering a gene to do one thing, like cure a disease, there is no way of knowing if a different reaction will occur at the cellular or genetic level because of it; causing another problem, possibly worse than the disease they started off with (5 pros and cons of gen. eng.). This technology has such a wide range of unknown, it is simply not safe for society to be condoning to. As well as safety concerns, this can also cause emotional trauma to people putting their hopes into genetic engineering curing their loved ones, when there is a possibility it could result in more damage in the
Every elite athlete makes it look easy. Splashing through the water or striding gracefully down the track making it look effortless. Some people assume they are “naturals,” that their perfect DNA sequence is what has brought them to this level. Others argue that hard work and drive is what has made the difference, separating the elite from the average. These thoughts are the ones that give rise to the age-old nature vs. nurture debate. Countless hours of studies and research has concluded: it’s both. High performance sports consultant Ross Tucker puts it this way, “The science of success is about the coming together of dozens, perhaps hundreds of factors” (1). The relationship of such factors, including genetics, types and lengths of training, and environment are interlaced in such a tightly woven web that it has proven to be extremely difficult to discern exactly how much effect each one has.
Genetic engineering depends on the location and analysis of genes on chromosomes and ultimately DNA sequencing. The early cartography of the genes used the principles of Mendelian genetics . It is assumed that alleles that are transmitted together side by side are located on the same chromosome : it is said that are connected or linkage . These genes form a bridging group - linkage group : are the same for gametes and are usually transmitted together , so they do not have independent distribution. Crossing-over occurring during meiosis may cause these alleles can be exchanged between the chromosomes of a homologous pair .
In the past 40 years, scientists have developed and applied genetic engineering to alter the genetic make-up of organisms by manipulating their DNA. Scientists can use restriction enzymes to slice up a piece of DNA from an organism with the characteristics they want and spliced (joint) to a DNA from another organism. DNA that contains pieces from different species is called recombinant DNA, and it now has different genetic material from its original. When this DNA inserted back into the organism, it changes the organism’s trait. This technique is known as gene-splicing (Farndon 19).
Genetic Engineering has recently become a contentious topic within medical and social circles. Controversial topics such as Sex Selection and Designer Babies are linked to Genetic engineering. They are destructive in every circumstance. Genetic Engineering is detrimental towards the individual and all posterity.
Over the past few decades, advances in technology have allowed scientists to actively manipulate the genetic sequence of an organism through a process called 'genetic engineering'. Many believe that this is a technique which we should exploit and take full advantage of as, after all, it may be the key to curing many hereditary diseases such as heart disease and cancer. It may very well be the solution to overcoming evolutionary barriers and allow us to breed new species. However, if you consider the unknown consequences we may have to face as a result of our futile experimenting, you would find that messing with a system as intricate as nature for curiosity's sake is hardly justifiable.
Some observers are concerned that genetic engineering allows humans to tamper with evolution in an unsafe way. Many think that God created man as he is, and we should not attempt to alter its form in any way. Others, however, argue that we as a society should do everything in our power to better our standards of living. It is hard to argue one way or another unless you know the facts about genetic
Biotechnology has helped our immune systems in fighting diseases, it has introduced interleukins, drugs that can help alter diseases–AIDS or malaria.–and has changed what we know about "life." Genetic engineering is complex field that only really benefits science and medicine, few, if any, negative impacts occur as a result of such technology. The future of genetic engineering is simply a more efficient and more widely implemented version of what is possible today. This technology may be changing what has occurred naturally, but it does so with positive intentions.
The term GM foods or GMO (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques (Whitman, 2000). These plants have been modified in the laboratory to offer desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. Also, genetic engineering techniques have been applied to create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and accurately. For example, this is done by the geneticist isolating the gene responsible for drought tolerance and inserts it into another plant. The new genetically-modified plant will now have gained drought tolerance as well.
With all factors put into place the potential benefits of perfecting human genetic engineering far outweigh the negatives. A world with genetic engineering is a world that would be advantageous to all who undergo the procedure to positively modify their DNA. A genetically engineered human race will be able to have defeated all genetic mutations and diseases, rid humans of possible illnesses in young and unborn children, create drastically longer lifespans, and provide generations with a high quality of life. Human genetic engineering has progressed more rapidly than projected; according to Stephen Hawking, when human genetic engineering is consummated he hypothesizes, “With genetic engineering, we will be able to increase the complexity of our DNA, and improve the human race. But it will be a slow process, because one will have to wait about 18 years to see the effect of changes to the genetic code.”(Hawking). The advancements that genetic engineering will provide for the human race is incredible and we will soon benefit from science and technology more than ever
Human genetic engineering can provide humanity with the capability to construct “designer babies” as well as cure multiple hereditary diseases. This can be accomplished by changing a human’s genotype to produce a desired phenotype. The outcome could cure both birth defects and hereditary diseases such as cancer and AIDS. Human genetic engineering can also allow mankind to permanently remove a mutated gene through embryo screening, as well as allow parents to choose the desired traits for their children. Negative outcomes of this technology may include the transmission of harmful diseases and the production of genetic mutations.
Although genetic engineering seems to be more harmful than helpful, when used correctly, it will help the society prosper. Considering the technology our society has currently developed, genetic engineering is a difficult topic to discuss and confirm. If the researchers confirm this process, it may become easier for the scientists and will help cure the diseases easily. The debate, however, will still be on the rise because of the issue in human morals and ethics.
What are the risks and what are the possible benefits? Currently, gene therapy is one of the only ways to change the genetic makeup of an animal or human. Also, the chance of gene therapy being successful in animals is fifty percent, while in humans it is five percent. Human Genetics Alert believes “Once we begin to consciously design ourselves, we will have entered a completely new era of human history, in which human subjects, rather than being accepted as they are, will become just another kind of object, shaped according to parental whims and market forces”. HGA provides background information on the currently available resources used in Genetic Engineering.
The first time that I was exposed to genetic engineering was when I was a rising junior in high school, and attended a summer Biomedical Sciences program at the University of Maryland. We learned about many aspects of genetics in the Biomedical research field that immediately piqued my interest. I was further exposed to genetics, the act of gene splicing, and altering genomes in a lab when we first hand inserted a plasmid from an organism into a culture of bacteria, causing the activity and resistance of the bacteria to become completely altered. With just a miniscule segment of DNA inserted into the bacteria, it was able to resist the antibiotics that would usually wipe them out! Unfortunately, the same could potentially happen if scientists