Term paper on Genetic Engineering

Genetic Engineering Essays

While the free essays can give you inspiration for writing, they cannot be used 'as is' because they will not meet your assignment's requirements. If you are in a time crunch, then you need a custom written term paper on your subject (genetic engineering)
Here you can hire an independent writer/researcher to custom write you an authentic essay to your specifications that will pass any plagiarism test (e.g. Turnitin). Waste no more time!

Science is a creature that continues to evolve at an ever-increasing rate. The transformation from tree shrew, to ape, to human far exceeds the time for the transformation time from an analytical machine, to a calculator, to a computer. However, science, in the past, has always remained distant. Science has allowed advances in production, transportation, and even entertainment; but never in history will science have an affect on our lives, as genetic engineering will undoubtedly do. For the last decade, science has made vast improvements in genetics, monitored by the Human Genome Project. The goal of this organization is to identify and understand the entire genetic constitution. "They have the daunting task of identifying and mapping all of the eighty thousand genes, in human DNA, they are making new discoveries weekly" (Reuterlinkextra). With these discoveries comes many implications, In reviewing the literature genetic engineering needs to be banned because of the social, religious, ethical, and legal implications.

The first step to understanding genetic engineering is to know the start of its creation. Genetics achieved its first foothold on the secrets of nature's evolutionary process, when an Austrian Monk named Gregor Mendel developed the basics of how genetics work. Using this, scientist studied the characteristics of organisms for the next one hundred years following Mendel's discoveries. These early studies concluded that each organism has two sets of character determinants, genes (Stableford 16). For instance, in regards to eye color, a child could receive one set of genes from his or her father that were encoded one blue, the other brown. The same child could also receive from its mother two brown genes. The conclusion is that the child would have a three out of four chance of having brown eyes and a one out if four chance of having blue eyes (Stableford 16).

Inside every person is Deoxyribonucleic acid or more commonly known as DNA. DNA exist as two long, fine strands of DNA spiraling into the famous figure of the double helix. The discovery of DNA is attributed to three scientist, Francis Crik, Maurice Wilkins, and James Dewey. All were given the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine in 1962 (Lewin 1).

Each strand of DNA is composed of millions of the essential chemical building blocks of life, chemical bases. "There are four bases Adenine (A), Thiamin (T), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C). These bases can only be paired in certain order, (A) only with (T), (G) only with (C), and vice versa" (Barnes 180). The order of in which these bases occur determine the information available, much as specific letters combine to form words in a sentence.

DNA resides in the nucleus of all of our cells, except the red blood cells. In each nucleus, there are forty-six molecules of coiled, double stranded DNA. Each one of these molecules is housed in a structure called a chromosome. Inside each chromosome are genes. Genes are the chemical message of heredity. "Genes constitute a blueprint of our possibilities and limitations, the legacy of generations of our ancestors, our genes carry the key to our similarities and uniqueness" (Genetic). Genes are made up of the chemical bases Adenine, Thiamin, Guanine, and Cytosine. These base in a certain order makes up codes, these codes determine if you are short, tall, fat, skinny, and etc.

The sex cells are half of the forty-six chromosomes, twenty-three to be exact. In these cells, by random only certain genes are carried by the cells. When the sex cell from a man, sperm, and a sex cell from a woman, an egg, combine their genetic information and a new life is created with the traits from its parents.

Genetic engineering is isolating and removing a desired gene from a strand of DNA. In genetic engineering, many different apparatuses are used in removing the gene. One way DNA can be broken up is by ultra-high frequency sound waves, but this procedure is highly inaccurate way of isolating a desirable trait (Stableford 26). A more accurate way of obtaining the desired trait is the use of restriction enzymes. These enzymes chemically cut the DNA at a particular location on the strand. Now that the trait is cut out, it can be joined to another strand of DNA by using ligases, another enzyme that acts like glue, binding the two pieces together. The final step is making the DNA self replicating by placing it in a cell (Clarke 1).

The perils of genetic engineering are massive. "To unlock secrets hidden in the chromosomes of human cells is to open up a host of thorny legal, ethical, philosophical, and financial issues. From invasion of privacy and discrimination to the question of whom should play God with man's genes" (Edmen 70)!

Genetic engineering is full of financial constraints. As in many cases, the question is who will pay. "It is inevitable that the lack of financial resources will make it difficult for some patients to pursue genetic engineering. Stratification of patients by risk will increase the availability. The cost will be high because, most health insurance agencies will not cover the cost" (Jones 1537). Only a select few will have enough money to correct their genetic blemishes.

Having your genes screened has its downfalls. There are many psychological impacts. "First there are the emotions of one that is likely to develop...

Barnes-Svarney, Patricia. New York Public Library Science Desk Reference. New York: Stonesong Press Book Macmillian Inc.


Clarke, Brian. "Genetic Engineering." 1994 Microsoft Encarta. CD-ROM, Microsoft Inc. 1994.


Edmen-Dewitt,Philip. "The Perils of Treading on Heredity." Time Weekly News Magazine. Mar 20,1989 pg. 70.

"Genetics." 1995 Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. 1995 Compton's NewsMedia, Inc.


"Genetic Testing." Understanding Genetic Testing. Internet: http://www.gene.com/AE/Aepc/NIH/gene01.html. April 12,1999.


Greegad, Samuel. "Genetic Testing: Should You Be Afraid? Its No Joke. Workforce v. 76 n. 7 July 1997 pg. 38.


Jones,Valerie. "In The Same Boat." The Journal Of American Medical Association. v. 280 n. 17 Nov. 4,1998 pg. 1537.


Kighorn, Warren. "Indecision." The Journal Of The American Medical Association. v. 280 n. 17 Nov. 4,1998 pg. 1538.

.
Kinsley, Michael. "Oh My Aching Genes!" Time . v. 150 n 13 Sep. 1997 pg. 102.


Lewin, Seymour. "Nucleic Acids." 1994 Microsoft Encarta. CD-ROM, Microsoft Inc. 1994.


"Protein Synthesis." 1995 Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. 1995 Compton's NewsMedia, Inc.


Reuterlinkextra. "Genetic Testing." Internet: Http://foundationReuters.com/genetic.htm April 12,1999.


StableFord, Brian. Future Man. New York: Crown Publishers Inc. 1984. You should cite this paper as follows:

MLA Style
. EssayMania.com. Retrieved on 12 Feb, 2012 from
    <http://essaymania.com/10799/genetic-engineering>

More College Papers

genetic engineering
The Benefits and Risks of Genetic Engineering The arrival of genetic engineering presents Catholics with an interesting moral dilemma. Although it clearly brings with it immense benefits for the entire human race, certain aspects of it don't bide by Catholic moral teachings. If a doctor uses biote

Genetic Engineering in Medicine
Genetic Engineering in Medicine By Jonathan Winn by Jonathan Winn Genetic engineering and gene therapy are an essential part in today's medicine. They have led to the discovery of many new treatments for "untreatable" diseases. They have prov

Genetic Engineering Today: The Reinvention of Frankenstein’s Lab?
Sara J. Dassenko Ms. Sachs English 12- Written Expression 10 October 2000 Genetic Engineering Today: The Reinvention of Frankenstein’s Lab? “Ever since James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA three decades ago, scientists have been experimenting with altering the genetic