The Controversial Developments Of Genetic Engineering

Technology is advancing at a rate today that would leave people from as recently as one decade ago in awe. Among the groundbreaking developments is genetic engineering, which is when scientists modify the genetic makeup of an organism, whether it be altering an animal, plant, or other living thing. Genetic engineering can do many wondrous things for today’s society, such as make crops grow in more adverse conditions, and rid humans of certain malformations and medical conditions. According to Sam VanOrman, another modification that should be added to that list is genetically modified mosquitos; however, I respectfully disagree. VanOrman employs several high-quality reasons as to why mosquitos should be released into the wild, the first of which is that all genetically modified organisms â€Å"should be considered individually, rather than as a whole,† and that each case should be looked at with all of its variables. To look at them as a whole would, quite simply, be sil ly. Every situation with genetic modification in differing organisms needs to be examined because each organism has a different role, and therefore a different impact on the environment, as would the modification. His second reason is that â€Å"Mosquitoes and the reasons behind the genetic modification of the organisms are much more beneficial than harmful,† and backs this up with facts listed on the infographic, such as the fact that it could rid the world of mosquitoes as a whole, as well as three very deadlyShow MoreRelatedThe Genetic Engineering Debate Essay1411 Words   |  6 PagesIn recent discussions of genetic engineering, a controversial issue has been whether genetic engineering is ethical or not. In â€Å"The Person, the Soul, and Genetic Engineering,† JC Polkinghorne discusses about the moral status of the very early embryo and therapeutic cloning. J. H. Brooke’s article â€Å"Commentary on: The Person, the Soul, and Genetic Engineering† co mments and state opinions that counter Polkinghorne’s article. On the other hand John Harris’s â€Å"â€Å"Goodbye Dolly?† The Ethics of Human Cloning†Read MoreBenefits Of Genetically Engineered Food1240 Words   |  5 Pagesand animal genetic codes for the ultimate purpose of increasing food abundance is an increasingly popular, yet controversial practice in the 21st century. Genetic engineering of food is done for a number of reasons, the biggest of which is increasing food supplies in the world, especially for the third world countries. However, there are arguments and even activist movements against genetic engineering of food, which begs the question â€Å"why is genetically engineered food so controversial?† The proRead MoreExamples of Genetically Engineered Foods632 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Example 1: Genetically engineering fish to have fluorescent glows One of the most disturbing scientific findings of recent years was the extent of the influence upon the endocrine system of various common chemicals, industrial products, and common pharmaceuticals such as birth control pills. To track the presence of endocrine disruptors within the bodies of fish, which have been shown to be particularly vulnerable to the changes caused by such products in the environment, scientists genetically-engineeredRead More`` Let s Play God ! Gene Drives Could Be A Powerful New Tool892 Words   |  4 PagesGenetic engineering is a powerful tool that can be used to accomplish a multitude of tasks. From species population control to ensuring certain traits in a human baby, there isn’t a lot that genetic engineering can’t do. It is becoming more and more acceptable to genetically engineer organisms as our knowledge on the subject grows. There have been experiments manipulating entire ecosystems by introducing a genetically modified organism into it. It’s even possible to change tiny details allRead MoreGenetic Engineering: Good or Bad?899 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction With the dawn of modern genetic technology, new problems and possibilities arise. The ability to modify the genes of living organisms is a very controversial subject, spawning many debates about its uses, ethics, and dangers. On one hand, the possibility of modifying livestock and plants to produce more food and useful products is tempting. Medical uses for genetic modification are also abundant, and can change medicine for the better. On the other hand, problems about the ethicalityRead MoreGenetic Engineering : Defining Our Children s Traits912 Words   |  4 PagesGenetic Engineering: Defining Our Children’s Traits is an article that explains the concept of altering genes and the advances we have had with genetics. The article starts out by explaining the genetic makeup of humans. Just like we learned in class diploid babies have one alleles from mom and one alleles’ from the father. The articles states how our DNA have genes that are about equal portion from our m other and father. It then goes on to talk about how we are made from the code that our genesRead MoreEssay about Should Genetic Engineering Be Controlled by Law?992 Words   |  4 PagesShould Genetic Engineering Be Controlled by Law? â€Å"Just as the success of a corporate body in making money need not set the human condition ahead, neither does every scientific advance automatically make our lives more meaningful† ( Professor George Wald, Noble Prize winning biologist, The Dangers of Genetic Engineeering 1976, p.45) . Genetic engineering is the direct manipulation of an organism’s genes. It uses the techniques of molecular cloning and transformation to alter theRead MoreGenetic Engineering And Immunotherapy Of Cancer1394 Words   |  6 PagesGenetic Engineering and Immunotherapy of Cancer Genetic engineering is a highly controversial but incredibly powerful and significant branch of biotechnology that will heavily impact the future of human life, if we choose to utilize it. Humans have utilized the engineering of life for thousands of years through selective breeding, which has strengthened the traits in plants and animals that are helpful to humans. Even though we as a species have employed this for ages, it was not until recently thatRead MoreTrials. Genetic Engineering Is Commonly Found In Agriculture897 Words   |  4 Pages Trials Genetic engineering is commonly found in agriculture and within the past few years scientists began animal experimentation, but this technology is now touching upon human embryos. â€Å"The first field experiments of food crops that had been genetically modified using recombinant DNA technology began in 1987† (Range, Gabriel).The trial consisted of extending the shelf life of tomatoes. Animals are the next trial class â€Å"animals that have been safely genetically engineered (GE) include cattleRead MoreThe Issues Of Gene Technology867 Words   |  4 Pages Legislation mainly focuses on HIPAA and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). They protect information and prohibit genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment, respectively (â€Å"Genetic Discrimination†). The flaw in legislation is that it doesn’t apply to the nation as a whole. I would revise the GINA to get it to be a federal law and apply to everyone. Introduction Gene technology relates to gene expression, genetic variation, and modifying genes to new hosts. Scientists