The Pros And Cons Of Genetic Engineering

Improved Essays
Genetic engineering, also called biotechnology, is a science in which genetic material is altered, transformed, and modified in various ways in order to manipulate certain characteristics of certain organisms or populations of organisms. Emerging in the 1970’s, this new technology is a study of genetics, heredity, and can be applied to plants, animals, and humans. Stated by Stephen P. Stich in Genetic Engineering: Opposing viewpoints: (p.74) “Genetic Engineering poses moral and social dilemmas every bit as daunting as the rewards are enticing.” Genetic Engineering involves the manipulation of certain genes in organisms to meet the desired expressed traits and qualities in any given offspring. It is the collection of techniques used to isolate …show more content…
Questions such as limitations on studies, funding, long term effects, short term effects, unintended social and cultural consequences, and health risks or benefits arise. Since this field of study is so unknown and highly overseen by government agencies, the answer to these questions are underdeveloped and immature because proper studies cannot be fully carried out. In basic terms, genetic engineering is considered controversial because it is viewed as unnatural, and something that is completely incompatible with Mother Nature. Yet, genetic engineering is not all that unnatural, for years humans have cross bred species in hopes of creating an organism with …show more content…
Ranging from feeding the world to creating a sick free society, these benefits are seen as worth the risk and encourage human, animal, and plant trials to be tested. The elimination of childhood diseases and adulthood diseases is a possibility. Some of the most deadly and incurable diseases could potentially be wiped out. For instance, Cystic Fibrosis could be completely cured with the use of genetic engineering. Food products, designed to withstand harsher conditions, such as cold or hot temperatures, and may also have more medical value such as the integration of edible vaccines, which could easily be accessible to everyone. Farm animals; produced at higher more efficient rates. Cows, for example, can be engineered to produce more milk, meat and product in general because of the ability to grow them to larger sizes (Do the pros outweigh the cons? Genetic Engineering). The pros of Genetic Engineering do not come without risk. Scientists still aren’t fully aware of health repercussions from genetically modified organisms, but, many believe that with research, genetic engineering could essentially solve health mysteries, food shortage crises, and expand society’s knowledge on the complexity of genetic

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Scientists want to be able to control what the next generation is like so they can make the future successful. Genetically engineering offspring contradicts nature . Therefore, it will have more setbacks than advantages.…

    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Brilliant Essays

    Another environmental benefit, GM foods are said to greatly enhance the flavor and nutritional value of the current foods we, all while being more economic to produce. III. Human Benefits – How can we benefit? D. We can create larger and stronger livestock, such as chickens and cows that can feed more people; utilizing less resources in the process. E. Biotech companies are also developing crops that have higher vitamins and minerals, as well as enhanced antioxidant content and protein, which may help prevent chronic diseases.…

    • 1068 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Brilliant Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Cell Structures-DBQ Genetic engineering is the changing of genetics for different reasons. Some reasons might be changing the genes for the better, Some not so much. Genetic engineering is a good thing in some conditions. Don’t create a half turnip, half trout, half human. I do think that you should help to cure diseases through genetic engineering.…

    • 313 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Genetic modification in both animals and plants for the purpose of faster and voluptuous growth rate is rapidly increasing. The three articles that were located, all revolve around the aspect of genetic modification in the food we consume. Genetically modified food are food derived from organisms that have undergone changes in their DNA through the processes of genetic engineering. It takes many steps to modify the genetics of an organism and they include isolating a particular gene and duplicating it several times. Additionally, there are a vast amount of benefits and concerns of genetic modification in food.…

    • 525 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Genetic Engineering DBQ

    • 370 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Genetic engineering used to be the thing the scientists experimented on plants and animals but now humans. I dont think its right to change the way people live life just to either look a little better or be a little smarter. It's okay in some situations, for instance when someone has really bad pain and it is never ending. We need something to fix it that is not pain killers. Instead we should just have surgery and never feel that amount of pain again but just enough pain to the point where we don't hurt yourself without knowing it (Doc 2).…

    • 370 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Deciding Actively Listening for the Public Voice, by Robert Cook-Deegan and Jane Maienschein, discusses the issue of genetic engineering and the ethical dilemma and how the United States, government, and people are interacting in the struggle of the ethics behind genetic engineering. The authors present the facts that genetic engineering has laid in the grey area ever since it was first brought to in lab, and still continues to sit in that grey area. Genetic Engineering will occasionally pop up in the news and the argument will be reignited but quickly fizzle out till the next breakthrough appears on media. Cook-Deegan and Maienschein stats some of the most recent breakthroughs in genetic engineering which brings into perspective the relevance,…

    • 904 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The main argument of the paper defended the safety of genetically modified organisms to the health of animals and people. Like many things, genetic modification may have the potential to cause harm, but evaluations and testing prevent any dangerous foods from going on the market. Genetic modification could also bring many benefits. These include the creation of healthier and cheaper crops. Overall, the use of GM foods has the same amount of risk involved as that of conventionally grown foods.…

    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Galvanism is animating a dead corps by electrocution throughout the body. Luigi Galvani was not the first person to think of pulsing electricity through the body, but he was the person who determined that electricity was present within the body itself. The electricity animates the dead body and causes it to move through muscle movement. Luigi Galvani founded this idea in 1791. Genetic engineering is a variety of techniques that cut up and combine different genetic material to create or change a characteristic.…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Imagine this; a world where no one has lifelong infections or medical conditions. This might be made possible soon; however, some are afraid that parents will take it too far. With enough money, they could transform their babies to be intelligent and good looking. In my opinion, genetic engineering should be allowed, but restrictions should be in place to stop parents from making super babies. Genetic engineering is the purposeful changing of an organism's DNA.…

    • 486 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “There is a huge risk that we may produce physical changes, or even change the child’s personality” (Bionet). The fact is that humanity does not have enough information to properly disclose the potential harms of genetic engineering on our children. “Animal studies have shown that this type of genetic engineering is unpredictable” (Bionet). This raises the ethical question of if we really know what we are doing or could potentially do to the next generation. Genetic engineering threatens a child’s rights of individuality, independence and decisions in their later life.…

    • 1129 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In today's society we are continuously advancing in our technology. Genetic engineering is the fastests way towards evolution for mankind. The movie Gattaca by Andrew Niccol gives us an example on how genetic engineering is used more commonly in the future. Now with the technology, we are given the opportunity to control our babies genetic and physical attributes. Genetic engineering is also creating a major concern on what we should or should not do while modifying our genes.…

    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Should We Allow Genetic Engineering of Humans? Genetic engineering is a burgeoning technology that has been surging in development and popularity within the last few years. Genetic engineering is the altercation of genes in an organism. Humans have been doing this for millennia through process of selective breeding since the dawn of agriculture. In modern times, we have made a lot of headway on the development of technologies that make the process easier.…

    • 865 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    On Tuesday, our small groups discussed the ethical dilemmas that revolved around genetic engineering and whether or not it should be banned. This topic fascinated me since it is a new emerging technology that could greatly affect the human population. Although this technology is only in its infancy, it has lots of controversy. When I first thought about this topic I wondered why anyone wouldn’t want this technology to advance: there is the potential for unprecedented positive effects like eliminating diseases such as cancer, hiv, and alzheimer's. Although there is potential for greatness, a lot of people don’t like the fact that humans are playing “God” or that it could lead to people abusing the powers of genetical engineering.…

    • 526 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Cloning Debate

    • 1531 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Over time, the concept of genetic science and cloning has evolved into something much more than it once was. To some of the public, genetic engineering has caused quite an uproar. Others, however, have never heard about it. The definition found in The Cloning Debate says, “Genetic Engineering: Changing an organism's genetic makeup in order to strengthen desired qualities or remove undesired ones. Also, taking genetic…

    • 1531 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The twenty-first century truly is an age of rapidly expanding technology that has reached into the field of genetics. When it comes to genetic engineering, a relatively new field, more and more new methods of modification are being discovered that will lead to better, safer, and/or easier genetic engineering. With the advancements that continually take place, it no longer seems far fetched to manipulate a species to any specification, or possibly creating a completely new one all together. Many have diversified opinions over genetic engineering, which has resulted in the field becoming such a controversial social issue.…

    • 1403 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays