Genetic Engineering Case Study

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Chinese researchers have engineered the DNA of “non-viable human embryos” hoping to cure a life-threatening blood disorder. Only authorized for use over a 14 day period, these embryos are donated from couples receiving In-Vitro Fertilization which would have otherwise been destroyed2. The United Kingdom, the second country after China to allow genetic modifications of human embryos, is attempting to explain the cause of miscarriages and infertility through genetic engineering6. In 2015, an Israeli team from Ben-Gurion University placed first in an international genetic engineering competition in Boston. “The team won in the health category for its development of the "Boomerang" system, which is based on genetic engineering and is meant to destroy the development of cancer .” Mohammad Hossein Nasr Esfahani, Head of Royan Research Institute in Iran, explains that, with researchers from Australia and New Zealand, the institute has designed a quicker, simplified method of cloning, increasing the speed of cloning by “as much as 100 times”. Esfahani added later that “cloning is one of the …show more content…
While there are risks and dangers with every medical procedure, this is a way to possibly eradicate diseases and prevent viruses. However, no matter how strong or numbered the benefits are, there are still risks and dangers. There are questions as to whether or not developing countries will have access to this technology and that all depends on the price of the procedure, of which no one seems to be sure. “Designer babies,” only adding to the growing number of risks, are a major fear among scientists. However, the question of who gets the right to make these decisions must be asked. Eventually, someone will be appointed to finally make the final decision, either giving people the ability to create “designer babies” or denying healthcare to those who need

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