Rebal Darwish
Genetic Engineering
Should it go on?
Grade: 11 A
Date: 2nd of April, 2015
Teacher: Mr. Klement
English Term Paper
Thesis Statement: In a changing and developing world, technological advancements have led to the sprouting of several new sciences, amongst them is genetic engineering. Despite its numerous successes in eliminating crucial conflicts humanity has encountered, certain factions and types of people today seek to put an end to it. However, genetic engineering is a means of developing our world, and claims of its immorality must be taken into consideration up to a humanitarian level.
Outline:
1) What is Genetic Engineering?
a. Defining genetic engineering
b. Its types and different field
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Researchers have converted microorganisms into disease-fighting creations through genetic engineering. These microbes now target and attack the most thought-deadly viruses and medical calamities within the human body (including HIV and cancerous cells in tumors) [3]. Exceedingly common diseases caused by genetic mutation in human cells have also been dealt with the help of genetic engineering; examples of such diseases include Huntington's disease, ALS, cystic fibrosis, as well as Down syndrome. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an average of 21 people die every day while they test their luck on the waiting list for an organ transplant operation [2]. However, this has been avoided in recent years due to humanity's deeper understanding in this innovative science, and organs have become artificially engineered to suit every patient's demand [3]. Pregnant woman now accept screening their fetuses for genetic defectiveness in the intent of amending any faults [4]. Some parents also desire to coax the fetus into what they desire to be their offspring; however, this is regarded as unethical and immoral by many …show more content…
Therefore, this science has brought humanity an uncountable measure of breakthroughs that have contributed to its development. Not only that, but it has also broadened humanity's capabilities in reaching out into the unknown and setting a new record to what is now impossible to our civilization. This can be most evidently seen in our competence of increasing a crop's lifetime, our ability in yielding the human DNA, and our proficiency in creating new foods and materials that are not known to our world –all in thanks to genetic engineering [11]. Upon the pursuing of this controversial science, humanity is to continue to achieve unimaginable discoveries. Acceptance of the science and its popularity continue to increase with time at a gradual rate; however, those who oppose it are to forever remain insistent on their points of views. Future plans of implementing genetic engineering include the manufacturing of bacterium capable of clearing out our environment from all sorts of air and water pollution. Professor Norell Hadzimichalis also states that in the near future, doctors will be able to modify the human genome while it still remains within the mother's uterus
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.
Picture a young couple in a waiting room looking through a catalogue together. This catalogue is a little different from what you might expect. In this catalogue, specific traits for babies are being sold to couples to help them create the "perfect baby." This may seem like a bizarre scenario, but it may not be too far off in the future. Designing babies using genetic enhancement is an issue that is gaining more and more attention in the news. This controversial issue, once thought to be only possible in the realm of science-fiction, is causing people to discuss the moral issues surrounding genetic enhancement and germ line engineering. Though genetic research can prove beneficial to learning how to prevent hereditary diseases, the genetic enhancement of human embryos is unethical when used to create "designer babies" with enhanced appearance, athletic ability, and intelligence.
The controversy of these issues stems from the immense potential in genetic sciences for both positive use and harmful misuse. Though the questions and fears of critics reflect the wisdom of caution, the potentially unlimited benefits mandate that we pursue these technologies.
Science and technology are rapidly advancing everyday; in some ways for the better, and in some, for worse. One extremely controversial advance is genetic engineering. As this technology has high potential to do great things, I believe the power genetic engineering is growing out of control. Although society wants to see this concept used to fight disease and illness, enhance people 's lives, and make agriculture more sustainable, there needs to be a point where a line is drawn.
CONTENTION 1: Human genetic engineering can cure disease when other methods may not exist. For example, at the Geron Corporation, a biotech firm in Menlo Park California, scientists have discovered how to make healthy cells will divide indefinitely. They are now working on a project that will result in...
Genetic engineering has been around for many years and is widely used all over the planet. Many people don’t realize that genetic engineering is part of their daily lives and diet. Today, almost 70 percent of processed foods from a grocery store were genetically engineered. Genetic engineering can be in plants, foods, animals, and even humans. Although debates about genetic engineering still exist, many people have accepted due to the health benefits of gene therapy. The lack of knowledge has always tricked people because they only focused on the negative perspective of genetic engineering and not the positive perspective. In this paper, I will be talking about how Genetic engineering is connected to Brave New World, how the history of genetic engineering impacts the world, how genetic engineering works, how people opinions are influenced, how the side effects can be devastating, how the genetic engineering can be beneficial for the society and also how the ethical issues affect people’s perspective.
Shortly after the groundbreaking discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953, the scientific world was essentially given the ability to alter the genetic sequence of any living organism using a process known as 'genetic engineering'. By definition, genetic engineering is 'the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material', it is quite simply an unnatural process which defies the ordinary course of nature. As of yet, no devastating or permanent damage has been done. However, the unpredictable nature and unknown consequences genetic engineering holds is more than enough reason to be cautious, as one mistake could have irreversible and catastrophic effects.
Morality plays a huge role in the health care field. This principle of right and wrong behavior is significant to every doctor when evaluating the merits and difficulties of many medical procedures. One may find the advancement of medical technologies hard to endure, however, this increase in medical technology serves as a solution to our human imperfections. For example, using in-vitro fertilization to pick and choose embryos regarding an ideal genetic baby or human cloning. If we screen an embryo for a tissue type, we can then allow certain physical traits for the baby. We can choose their eye color, type of intelligence, athleticism, and talent that could suggest our babies nonetheless, perfect
Sandel, M. J. The case against perfection, ethics in the age of genetic engineering. Belknap Press, 2007. Print.
Genetic Engineering is the deliberate alteration of an organism's genetic information (Lee 1). The outcome scientists refer to as successful entitles the living thing’s ability to produce new substances or perform new functions (Lee 1). In the early 1970’s, direct manipulation of the genetic material deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) became possible and led to the rapid advancement of modern biotechnology (Lee 1).
Human Genetic Engineering: Designing the Future As the rate of advancements in technology and science continue to grow, ideas that were once viewed as science fiction are now becoming reality. As we collectively advance as a society, ethical dilemmas arise pertaining to scientific advancement, specifically concerning the controversial topic of genetic engineering in humans.
Pray, Leslie A., Ph.D. “Embryo Screening and the Ethics of Human Genetic Engineering.” Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, 2008. Web. The Web.
The Problem Genetic engineering has been around since the 1960’s, although major experiments have not been really noticed until the 1990’s. Science comes in different forms, the two major being cloning and genetic reconstruction. Cloning is the duplicating of one organism and making an exact copy. For example, in 1996 the creation of the clone sheep named Dolly, the first mammal to be cloned, which was a great achievement. The other form, genetic reconstruction, is used to replace genes within humans to help or enhance the life of an unborn child for a medical reason or just for the preference of a parent.
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.
Genetic engineering seems decades away, but through modern technology, it has recently entered the human realm. Some believe genetic engineering will bring forth great advancements in the human brain and body, but instead some believe one mistake creates a world where every child will be genetically engineered just to keep up with the rest of society. Many times, the media plays a very strong role in the image of this issue, and masks the true identity of this social injustice. However, what forms of genetic engineering can be done in humans today? What is in store for the future?