Term paper on Genetic Engineering Today The Reinvention Of Frankenstein S Lab
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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 makeup of living matter to transform plants, animals, and microscopic organisms. There is no end to the positive things genetic engineering can accomplish” (McAuliffe 16). But are there more negative entities to genetic engineering than positive? This essay will examine the question “What is genetic engineering?”, the moral issues concerning genetic engineering, and finally relate these topics to the formation of “the creature” in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
“Genetic engineering is a term applied to techniques that alter the genes (heredity material) or combination of genes in an organism” (World Book 85). Every living organism contains genes. All genes carry information pertaining to the organism’s characteristics. By changing a gene in an organism, scientists can produce different traits in an organism and/or its descendants (World Book 85). Researchers have found many important uses for genetic engineering in such fields as medicine, industry and agriculture. Many new uses are predicted for the future (World Book 87).
“With the arrival of human genetic engineering, humanity approaches a crossroads in its own technological history. It will soon be possible to engineer and produce human beings by the same technological design principles as we now employ in our industrial processes” (Rifkin 12). In other words, the final goal of genetic engineering is to perfect the human race. Although
genetic engineering has many benefits such as gene splicing (combining genes) to cure genetic disorders, it causes concern among many people. Some people oppose genetic engineering because they fear that harmful, uncontrollable bacteria might be produced accidentally. Others worry about possible environmental damage by the deliberate introduction of organisms whose heredity has been altered. In addition, many people question the morality of manipulating the genetic material of living creatures (World Book 86). Whom do we designate to play God? It is very likely that in attempting to “perfect” the human species we will succeed in engineering our own extinction. Eliminating so-called “bad genes” will lead to a dangerous narrowing of diversity in the gene pool. Since part of the strength of our gene pool consists in its diversity, including defective genes, tampering with it might ultimately lead to extinction of the human race (Rifkin 14). Whom do we entrust with the ultimate authority to decide which are good genes that should be engineered into the human gene pool and which are the bad genes that should be...
McAuliffe, Kathleen & Sharon McAuliffe. “Genetic Engineering Will Revolutionize Society.”Biomedical Ethics. Ed. Julie Bach. St. Paul: Greenhaven Press, 1987. 16-22.
Rifkin, Jeremy. “Genetic Engineering May Threaten Humanity.” Biomedical Ethics. Ed. Julie
Bach. St. Paul: Greenhaven Press, 1987. 23-29.
---. “Whom Do We Designate to Play God?” Manipulating Life: Debating the
Genetic Revolution. Ed. Gary McCuen. Hudson: McCuen Publishing, 1985, 11-16.
Rubenstein, Irwin. “Genetic Engineering.” World Book Encyclopedia. 1990 ed.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Bantam Books, 1991.
Steinbrecher, Ricarda. What is Genetic Engineering? July 1998. Women’s Environmental
Network (WEN) Trust. 1 October 2000
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