Genetic Engineering Essays (1414 words) - Biotechnology, Genetics

Genetic Engineering Gena Fawley Ethics Doug McKay 1 June, 2000 Genetic Engineering As we begin the twenty first century, many new technological advancements make themselves readily available to us. One such technological advancement is genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is the altering of human genes in order to perfect these genes, or change them completely. This new technology is very controversial, because it deals with things such as altering our own mortality and perhaps creating the ?perfect human race.? Some people however, feel that gene altering is a wonderful new prospect because it may allow us to prevent certain disease, and thus increase our life spans. Also, those that are for genetic engineering, believe that by choosing the genes we wish our children to have we will be able to correct certain birth defect and make everyone happy and healthy. The discovery of the ability to manipulate human genes first came with the development of the Human Genome Project. The Human Genome Project is a worldwide research setup to analyze the structure of human DNA, and also to locate all human genes, which in number are estimated to be as many as one hundred thousand (Intro to the World of Genome). The goal of this project is to locate the genome, or the complete set of instructions for making a human being. It is believed in the future that this process will be helpful in curing diseases. It was out of this project that the idea for gene manipulation arose, and the controversy over whether we, as mere human beings, had the right to manipulate the genes of the human body, to prevent genetic disorders and prolong life (Intro to the World of Genome). Advocates of gene altering feel that this new technology is beneficial to human life for two main reasons. First, these people feel that using the technology of gene altering to ?design their own children? is beneficial because they will be able to perfect their genes and prevent them from being handicap from disease and disorders (Golden). Through the use of gene manipulation, such diseases as Down Syndrome can be prevented. By choosing the genes that their children will have, parents can be sure that their children will not be born with genetic disease, thus the human race will be much healthier. Another reason that supporters of gene manipulation believe that it is a worthwhile technology, is because they feel that in the future, when all of the genomes are discovered that we will be able to cure such diseases as diabetes and cancer. They believe that through use of genetic screening and gene altering that we will not only be able to prevent these disease before birth, but also cure them at a later stage. By adding healthy genes from one organism to the unhealthy genes of another organism, it is believed that this process, called somatic cell therapy, will be able to correct hundreds of genetic disorders, ranging from heart disease to cancer (Frantz). It is believed by those in favor of this technology, that by correcting genes in postnatal (already born) organisms, we might be able to cure such deadly diseases and thus prolong life for the human race. While this may seem to present a bright new future to all of mankind, there are still several protests to this new technology. Many people feel that by manipulating genes, we are playing God, or taking over the role of Mother Nature. Critics feel that by manipulating genes, we are going against God, and his plan for each individual person. Opponents of this new technology feel that by manipulating a person's genes we are going against God, and his divine plan (Gardner). Another reason many people oppose genetic engineering is because they fear that someone will attempt to create a super race, by manipulating genes. Many people are still devastated by the actions of Adolph Hitler, and his attempt to create a superior human race of blond hair, blue-eyed children. With the new technology of genetic engineering, this could be possible. In the future, it is believed that we will be able to choose the hair, eye, and skin color of our children, if this is possible, then it would be completely logical to fear such a