Genetic Engineering Essay

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Science has allowed for advances in production, transportation and even entertainment, but never in history will science be able to effect our lives, as genetic engineering will undoubtedly do. By understanding genetic engineering and its history, discovering its possibilities and answering the moral and safety questions it brings forth, perhaps scientists will be able to create a world where gene defects, bacterial diseases and even aging, will be a thing of the past. Genetic engineering was first achieved when an Austrian Monk named Gregor Mendel developed the first 'laws of hereditary. (See Jallen, 1997) Using these 'laws', scientists studied the characteristics of organisms for the next 100 years following Mendel's discovery.

These early studies showed scientists that each organism has at least two sets of character determinants, or genes. For example, his/her parents determine a child's eye color. Genes are transmitted through chromosomes, which reside in the nucleus of every living organism cells. Each chromosome is made up of fine strands of deoxyribonucleic acids, or DNA. DNA determines the shape, form and function of the organism offspring. Three scientists, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins and James Dewey Watson made the discovery of DNA in 1951. They were all later accredited with the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine in 1962. (see Rissler, 1996 : 1) "The new science of genetic engineering aims to take a dramatic short cut in the slow process of evolution." (Hindmarsh, 1995: 1) Scientists aim is to remove one gene from organisms DNA, and place it into the DNA of another organism.

This would create a new DNA strand that would have taken nature millions of years of natural selection to develop. The possibilities for genetic engineering are endless. Once scientists master the ability to control DNA, anything can be accomplished, for example: "disease resistant crops can be produced, formulating milk from cows already containing pharmaceutical compounds, generating vaccines, and altering livestock traits." (Bruce1992: 42) Researchers have found important uses for genetic engineering in fields such as medicine, industry, and agriculture. Many new uses are also predicted for the future. Many people suffer from genetic diseases ranging from thousands of different types of cancers, to blood, liver and lung disorders. Perhaps in time to come, all of these diseases will be able to be treated by genetic engineering, specifically gene therapy. "Gene therapy is used to supply a functional gene to cells lacking that particular function, this in turn, corrects the genetic disorder, or disease." (University of Pennsylvania, 1997: 1-3-6) There are two main categories of gene therapy: germ line therapy, or altering of sperm and egg cells, and somatic cell therapy, which is like an organ transplant. "Germ line therapy results in a permanent change for the entire organism, and its future offspring." (AGST, 1998: 1-2-3) Unfortunately germ line therapy is not readily in use on humans for ethical and safety reasons. However, this genetic method could, in the future, solve many genetic birth defects such as downs syndrome. Somatic cell therapy deals with the direct treatment of living tissues.

Agriculture has benefited greatly from genetic engineering, cotton plants have been genetically engineered to resist insect pests, special genes have been engineered into tomato plants to produce tomatoes that have increased flavor, and last longer. (See AGST, 1998: 2) Once scientists have found answers to the moral and safety questions genetic engineering brings forth, then perhaps in the not so distant future, genetic engineering will become a main source in eliminating genetic, bacterial and viral diseases, along with controlling aging, and providing replacements for humans, such as arms, legs and organs. Throughout the...

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