Mariel Sofia S.

Pulbosa

8-Gauss

Genetic engineering is the manipulation of genetic material by either molecular

biological techniques or by selective breeding. While selective breeding has been

practiced for thousands of years (domestication of the dog; farming corn; brewer's

yeast) the manipulation of genetic material in vitro was developed in the 1970s. The

DNA is manipulated within a test tube and subsequently introduced back into a cell in

order to change the processes of a cell or organism. In its simplest conception a

molecular biologist can combine molecules of DNA from different organisms encoding

different properties. Most typically manipulating DNA in vitrorequires first, isolating DNA

from cells, cleaving the DNA with sequence specific restriction endonucleases, mixing

two independently isolated DNAs and joining the DNA molecules with DNA ligase.

Lastly, reintroducing the DNA into cells and identifying the cells which carry the newly

joined DNA molecules. For example, an antibiotic resistance gene is isolated from one

bacteria and combined in vitro with a plasmid (vector) that is capable of replicating in

another bacteria. This engineered plasmid is introduced into the bacterium where it

confers the antibiotic resistance to the newly transformed bacteria.

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 Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering
‘Genetic engineering’ is the process to alter the structure and nature of genes in human
beings, animals or foods using techniques like molecular cloning and transformation. In
other words, it is the process of adding or modifying DNA in an organism to bring about
great deal of transformation.

‘Genetic engineering’ was thought to be a real problem just a few short years ago. We
feared that soon we would be interfering with nature, trying to play God and cheat him
out of his chance to decide whether we were blonde or dark haired, whether we had
blue or bright green eyes or even how intelligent we were. The queries and concerns
that we have regarding such an intriguing part of science are still alive and well,
although they are less talked about nowadays than they were those few years ago.

However, this does not mean that they are any less relevant. In fact, they are as relevant
today as they ever were. There are a number of very real and very troubling concerns
surrounding genetic engineering, although there are also some very real benefits to
further genetic engineering and genetic research, too. It seems, therefore, as though
genetic engineering is both a blessing and a curse, as though we stand to benefit as well
as lose from developing this area of science even further.

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.
–STEPHEN HAWKING
Pros of Genetic Engineering
Although at first the pros of genetic engineering may not be as apparent as the cons,
upon further inspection, there are a number of benefits that we can only get if scientists
consider to study and advance this particular branch of study. Here are just a few of the
benefits:

1. Tackling and Defeating Diseases

Some of the most deadly and difficult diseases in the world, that have so resisted
destruction, could be wiped out by the use of genetic engineering. There are a number
of genetic mutations that humans can suffer from that will probably never be ended
unless we actively intervene and genetically engineer the next generation to withstand
these problems.

For instance, Cystic Fibrosis, a progressive and dangerous disease for which there is no
known cure, could be completely cured with the help of selective genetic engineering.
2. Getting Rid of All Illnesses in Young and Unborn Children

There are very many problems that we can detect even before children are born. In the
womb, doctors can tell whether your baby is going to suffer from sickle cell anemia, for
instance, or from Down ’s syndrome. In fact, the date by which you can have an abortion
has been pushed back relatively late just so that people can decide whether or not to
abort a baby if it has one or more of these sorts of issues.

However, with genetic engineering, we would no longer have to worry. One of the main
benefit of genetic engineering is that it can help cure and diseases and illness in unborn
children. All children would be able to be born healthy and strong with no diseases or
illnesses present at birth. Genetic engineering can also be used to help people who risk
passing on terribly degenerative diseases to their children.

For instance, if you have Huntington’s there is a 50% chance that your children with
inherit the disease and, even if they do not, they are likely to be carriers of the disease.
You cannot simply stop people from having children if they suffer from a disease like
this, therefore genetic engineering can help to ensure that their children live long and
healthy lives from either the disease itself or from carrying the disease to pass on to
younger generations.

3. Potential to Live Longer

Although humans are already living longer and longer – in fact, our lifespan has shot up
by a number of years in a very short amount of time – because of the advances of
modern medical science, genetic engineering could make our time on Earth even
longer. There are specific, common illnesses and diseases that can take hold later in life
and can end up killing us earlier than necessary.
With genetic engineering, on the other hand, we could reverse some of the most basic
reasons for the body’s natural decline on a cellular level, drastically improving both the
span of our lives and the quality of life later on. It could also help humans adapt to the
growing problems of, for instance, global warming in the world.

If the places we live in become either a lot hotter or colder, we are going to need to
adapt, but evolution takes many thousands of years, so genetic engineering can help us
adapt quicker and better.

4. Produce New Foods

Genetic engineering is not just good for people. With genetic engineering we can
design foods that are better able to withstand harsh temperatures – such as the very hot
or very cold, for instance – and that are packed full of all the right nutrients that humans
and animals need to survive. We may also be able to make our foods have a better
medicinal value, thus introducing edible vaccines readily available to people all over the
world

Cons of Genetic Engineering

Perhaps more obvious than the pros of genetic engineering, there are a number of
disadvantages to allowing scientists to break down barriers that perhaps are better left
untouched. Here are just a few of those disadvantages:

1. Is it ‘Right’?

When genetic engineering first became possible, peoples’ first reactions were to
immediately question whether it was ‘right’? Many religions believe that genetic
engineering, after all, is tantamount to playing God, and expressly forbid that it is
performed on their children, for instance.
Besides the religious arguments, however, there are a number of ethic objections. These
diseases, after all, exist for a reason and have persisted throughout history for a reason.
Whilst we should be fighting against them, we do need at least a few illnesses, otherwise
we would soon become overpopulated. In fact, living longer is already causing social
problems in the world today, so to artificially extend everybody’s time on Earth might
cause even more problems further down the line, problems that we cannot possibly
predict.

2. May Lead to Genetic Defects

Another real problem with genetic engineering is the question about the safety of
making changes at the cellular level. Scientists do not yet know absolutely everything
about the way that the human body works (although they do, of course, have a very
good idea). How can they possibly understand the ramifications of slight changes made
at the smallest level?

What if we manage to wipe out one disease only to introduce something brand new
and even more dangerous? Additionally, if scientists genetically engineer babies still in
the womb, there is a very real and present danger that this could lead to complications,
including miscarriage (early on), premature birth or even stillbirth, all of which are
unthinkable.

The success rate of genetic experiments leaves a lot to be desired, after all. The human
body is so complicated that scientists have to be able to predict what sort of affects
their actions will have, and they simply cannot account for everything that could go
wrong.

3. Limits Genetic Diversity

We need diversity in all species of animals. By genetically engineering our species,
however, we will be having a detrimental effect on our genetic diversity in the same way
as something like cloning would. Gene therapy is available only to the very rich and
elite, which means that traits that tend to make people earn less money would
eventually die out.

4. Can it Go Too Far?

One pressing question and issue with genetic engineering that has been around for
years and years is whether it could end up going too far. There are many thousands of
genetic scientists with honest intentions who want to bring an end to the worst diseases
and illnesses of the current century and who are trying to do so by using genetic
engineering.

However, what is to stop just a handful of people taking the research too far? What if we
start demanding ‘designer babies’, children whose hair color, eye color, height and
intelligence we ourselves dictate? What if we end up engineering the sex of the baby,
for instance in China, where is it much more preferable to have a boy? Is that right? Is it
fair? The problems with genetic engineering going too far are and ever present worry in
a world in which genetic engineering is progressing further and further every day.

Genetic engineering is one of the topic that causes a lot of controversy. Altering the
DNA of organisms has certainly raised a few eyebrows. It may work wonders but who
knows if playing with the nature is “really safe”? Making yourself aware of all aspects of
genetic engineering can help you to form your own opinion.

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Insights:

Ever since genetic engineering was introduced, it had made changes in different
sectors. Genetic engeneering is also known as “genetic manipulation”, it can be
inferred from its name that it is the manipulation of one organism’s gene. Before,
it was said to be a problem since people believed that we are changing what God
gave us. Scientists, such as Stephen Hawking had known the potential of genetic
engineering. However, genetic engineering have its own pros and of course, cons.
One pro of genetic engineering is that it can help in defeating various diseases
such as cystic fibrosis that doesn’t have a known cure but it can be cured by
selective genetic engineering. One disadvantage of genetic engineering is it is not
100% safe and if it doesn’t go well then it could cause more trouble