Why Is Genetic Engineering Bad

Genetic engineering is a powerful and potentially very dangerous tool. I feel like this subject applies to two aspects of our culture which are spiritual and scientific.

The potential benefits of genetic engineering increase on a daily basis: · The most accepted form of genetic engineering is the engineering of crops that have increased resistance to disease or external damage. In America alone, hundreds of crops are destroyed due to unfavorable weather. Genetic engineering would allow a plant to develop a tolerance for this weather. The same applies for crops that are affected by micro-organisms, for example, the potato blight fungus that attacks the common potato. This would also provide a boost to the economy where

Funny enough, the appearance of the possibility of genetic engineering is the only thing, besides atomic warfare, that has sparked off awareness of the threats we pose to ourselves, and to the world in general. Other things, like the pollution caused by cars, and the destruction of our rain forests, raising the potential of global warming and then the melting of our ice caps, these have seemingly had no effect on our consciousness for the most part. Why is this? Is it that we take pollution for granted because it has been around for a while, whereas genetic engineering is a new concept. Genetic engineering is more of a mystery to us and so we reject it to be safe. This is ludicrous and unfair, but has been exemplified in the past. For example, when the car first appeared it was initially rejected by the pubic at large. It was given titles like the "Devils Chariot" because strange unexplained forces drove it. This rejection diminished as understanding of the cars' anatomy grew. Today nearly everybody drives a "Devils Chariot"! What we must take note of, however, is that the car was at first rejected because it was unexplained. The key to attaining the acceptance of new technologies lies in an extensive explanation of their purposes and how they work and, more importantly, how it will affect