Genetic Engineering is the Future Panacea
Science is developing every day to benefit mankind. In the nineteenth century, biotechnology ensures to find solutions for a lot of problem that mankind is facing in many departments such as agriculture, and medical. One of the most significant department that biotechnology is developing at is genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is a natural way that was used in the past to modified crops and livestock genetically. The people used to mate the plants and animal that had good qualities to yield new one with better qualities. For example, they would breed the livestock that was strong or fast together to yield new one that has both so they can use it in transportation. Over the years genetic science has been developing not only to improve dynasty for animal and plants, but also for human in order to help them to cure genetic diseases and vaccine to other. Genetic engineering progress promises the mankind with cure for all diseases if the scientist were able to read all the genetic sequence in the DNA. Moreover, the people will be able to modify their descendants genetically to neglect genetic diseases and improve the human being ability such as intelligent and strength.
A lot of question has been asked about this new technology that will change the world whether it is right or wrong to manipulate with genetic structure for a creature. Will it benefit the people? Are there any damages that might affect the human, animal, or plant that is modified genetically? Is it ethical to use this kind of enhancement on people? Does not that violate the human rights? Do parents have the right to genetically engineer their children?
First of all, the main reasons that this technology is found so it can help people, so there is no doubt that it is right. Anything benefit the human is right to be used. People around the world vaccinate themselves with viruses in order to protect themselves from disease. Obvious example is vaccines which are actually weakened or killed virus that is vaccinated so it protects people from diseases. Genetic engineering serves the same purpose. A lot of genetic disease that have been epidemic and there is no cure for them. One of this diseases that has been epidemic in Africa for about 3,000 years is Sickle cell anemia (Conger,2007). Sickle cell is a genetic disease that has no cure yet. The only solution to have healthy children from parents who already carry this gene in their DNA is by neglecting the gene using genetic enhancement. As a result, using genetic engineering is great medical improvement to cure disease, and using it is absolutely right.
Another example for genetic disease that doesn’t have cure is Erythrocytic Glucose 6 Phosphate known as G6PD. According to Luzzatto and Metha 400 million people worldwide infected with G6PD deficiency (1995).The disease is common in Africa, India , and south eastern Asia. Most of the G6PD victims are males. According to Ranjit (2008), in [“Molecular Variants of G6PD Deficiency among Certain Tribal Communities of Orissa, India”] G6PD were found in 223 male out of 3480.The only caused for this disease are the genes, so the best method to deal with it is by using genetic engineering.
Genetic Engineering researches prove that there are a lot of benefits for plants, animals, and human if we modified them genetically. For a start we find that genetic engineering has great effects on agriculture. In the article, ”Crossing the Species Boundary: Genetic Engineering as Conscious Evolution ” Coke r (2012) writes according to National Academies of Science report that genetic engineering develops agriculture in many place even though it might not improve it everywhere. That means the agriculture in places that used crops which are modified genetically improves. However, this result might not apply everywhere.
One of the best application for genetically engineered crops is done on Hawaii’s papayas to increase its defense to Ringspot virus after it destroyed all Hawaii’s papayas in the 1980s and 1990s. Due to this problem Cornaell University engineered more resistance tree and used it to bred with other type of papayas trees to increase the defense of their breed. As a result more than 80% of Hawaiian papaya trees are protected from Ringspot. (Coker,2012)
Furthermore, according to Coker a research for Colorado State University genetically engineered a plant that can changed its color when pollutions or explosion is nearby or going to Accor. This technology can be used to warn people from terrorist attack or industrial pollutions.(2010)
Not only genetic enhancement develops crops, it also improves animals which people eat. As a result, these animals will breed and grow quickly. According to Pollack(2010), the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) approved that genetically modified salmon that was engineered to grow quickly is safe. This application on animal is another evidence that prove the power of genetic engineering.
Moreover, genetic engineering is power tool to develop drugs and vaccines for diseases. “The first drug produced by genetic engineering was insulin, approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1982. Before then, people with insulin-dependent diabetes had to inject themselves with insulin from cows or pigs. Although effective , cow and pig insulin increased the chance of allergic reduction” ( “Crossing the Species Boundary: Genetic Engineering as Conscious Evolution” 46).
Another example for genetic engineering application on drug is vaccine to fight cancer. According to Coker (2012), the companies around the world are using genetic engineering to develop vaccine to fight cervical cancer which kills a lot of women each year. Eventually, using genetic engineering will help develop a lot of drugs and cure for many disease.
The goal of all the genetic research is to enhance human genetically, especially if they carry genetic disease or genetic disability in their genes. For instance, In University of Pennsylvania, Children hospital of Philadelphia, and University College London genetic engineering were used to treat children with server blindness to regain their sight. (Coker, 2012)
According to Baird Charlie Whitaker from England is a child who had a Diamond Blackfan Anemia since he was born. His body can’t make red blood cell by his own, and every three weeks he needed transfusions in addition to a drug infusion every night. In order to solve this problem his doctor used genetic engineering to make a brother with a perfect tissue match, so he can be a donor to Charlie. Jamie was born with healthy tissue and he saved his brother life after three months. (2007).
Genetic engineering must be supported, it solve a lot of problems, and help people to live better life. Although the researches and experiment prove the power of genetic engineering, there are a lot of people who does not support it and believe it should be banish because of moral and religious issue.
First reason, one of the opponent might argue about is religion. They assume that genetic engineering is playing God; however, if they thought of it why does God put religion in the first place? There is no doubt that religion were found to help people and support their needs. And genetic engineering studies and researches have the same purpose. It was found to improve agriculture, make drugs and vaccines to treat people, cure genetic diseases, and develop human life in every passable way.
Second reason, they argued that genetic engineering violates human rights. But is it human right that some people are born with genetic disease they can’t treat using drug? Is it right for parents to have disable childe just because they carry disability genes from their ancestors? Clearly banning these researches will violate human right, because a lot of people will not be cure from disease because there is no alternative way.
Thirdly, some people argue that the only rich people will be able to afford this type of treatment, and they will give their children the advantage of genetic enmeshments to make them more intelligent, and healthy. However, Is not this always the case when it comes to medical treatment? rich people have the advantage of better health insurance, and heath care. Moreover, most medical treatments and cures cost a lot when they are first discovered, but they become cheaper after that so many people can afford them.
Lastly, sciences always face the same problem when new discovery is found. However, the people are subjected to it because there is no other way to solve their problem without it. Test-tube baby has proved that. In Baird research “Designer Babies: Eugenics Repackaged or Consumer Options?” he said” According to Stock, on July 25, 1978, Louis Brown, the first “test-tube baby” was born. The world’s first “test-tube” baby arrived aimed a storm protest and hand-warning about science gone amok, human-animal hybrids, and the rebirth of eugenics. But the voices of those opposed to the procedure were silenced when Brown was born, she was a happy, healthy infant, and her parents were thrilled, the doctors who helped to create her, Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards, cold not have been more pleased. She was the first person ever created outside a women’s body and was as natural a baby as had ever entered the world. Today in vitro fertilization (IVF) if often the unremarkable choice of tens of thousands of infertile couples whose only complaint is that the procedure is too difficult, uncertain, and expensive. What was once so disturbing now seems to many people just another part of the modern world. ” What was not acceptable in the past is now acceptable. In the past test-tube baby was unacceptable but now it is. As a result, when the people see how genetic engineering can help them and save their lives they will absolutely accept it as a part of their modern life.
Genetic engineering researches should be supported, because our future depends on it. Genetic engineering is our solution to a lot of problem in agriculture to improve the crops we eat, in medical to find cure to disease, and in our social life to make human being more intelligent and more immune to disease. It support human rights and give us the choice to live better life. In addition, the consequents that might accord if we band it will not be good.
References
1. Baird, Stephen L. “Designer Babies: Eugenics Repackaged Or Consumer Options? (Cover Story).” Technology Teacher 66.7 (2007): 12-16. Academic Search Premier. Web. 4 May 2012.
2. Coker, Jeffrey Scott. “Crossing The Species Boundary: Genetic Engineering As Conscious Evolution.” Futurist 46.1 (2012): 23-27. Academic Search Premier. Web. 4 May 2012.
3. Conger, Krista . “Parents Should Be Free to Use ‘Designer Baby’ Technologies” Reproductive Technologies (2007): Gale Opposing Viewpoints in context. Rpt. Web. 23 April. 2012.
4. M. R. Ranjit, et al. “Molecular Variants Of G6PD Deficiency Among Certain Tribal Communities Of Orissa, India.” Annals Of Human Biology 35.3 (2008): 355-361. Academic Search Premier. Web. 4 May 2012.
5. Pollack, Andrew.” Genetically Altered Salmon Get Closer to the Table”, The New York Times. 25 June 2010. Article Web. 1 May 2012.
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