Genetic Engineering Essays

Genetic Engineering Essays Genetic Engineering Essay Genetic Engineering Essay You see many things in science fiction books or movies that show mankind manipulating all sorts of things to make unholy or unnatural beings by tampering with God’s â€Å"design. † What if His design for the world was for humanity to, one day, permanently improve upon what He provided the foundation for? Genetic Engineering is what I’m referring to and it is an inspiring new way of curing many of the world’s worst ailments, abolishing world hunger, and improving the overall condition of humanity as a whole. Genetic Engineering has the capability to cure many of humanity’s defects, disorders, illnesses, and it can even cure cancer. According to an article in the NY Times, Patients with Alzheimer’s disease who have genetically modified tissue have shown† a reduction in the rate of cognitive decline and increased metabolic activity in their brain. † Having loved ones live with Alzheimer’s disease can be hell on earth for them. Imagine not remembering who your children are, or that you even have children. Genetic therapy uses genetic engineering to cure these things and greatly improve the life that those afflicted with Alzheimer’s can have. And for those with Cystic Fibrosis, an inherited disease that affects the lungs and digestive system, genetic therapy â€Å"offers the best hope for a life-saving treatment by tackling the root cause of CF, rather than only treating the symptoms. † Simply tackling the symptoms of CF is like coming across the Black Knight, from Monty Python’s Quest for the Holy Grail, and placing a Band-Aid on his â€Å"flesh wound,† meaning, it’s not very effective at all. : GE makes it possible to break through the breed barrier and mix information between totally different breeds. To avoid testing and adjustment In plants, GE Is done with viruses. Viruses as most people know, are very active. Almost nothing can stop them when they have attacked a new victim. Often, for no reason at all when a new gene is inserted into its new host It will only work for a short amount of time then close up. Unfortunately there Is no way to know in advance if this will occur. There are many things wrong with GE. While the issue of the morality of crossing species boundaries reflects differing world views and may be conceptually unclear, there are known risks associated with sensationalistic of transgenic cells or organs from animals to humans. (Concessionaire. Com) Studying genes in a test tube can only tell what the gene does and behaves in that test tube alone. It cannot tell us the reaction It will have when placed into a different breed. There are unpredictable side effects that will always come with GE. Ethics is following accepted rules of behavior: morally one believes are right or wrong, because everyone may have different views on ethics. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. (Luke 12:6) Many animals and even fish have already been genetically edified to try and increase their production of milk and meat further than their bodies can handle without damaging them. Some animals have died in experiments while others are born deformed. GE is animal abuse. Sometimes the claim is made that GE experiments on animals and mice are needed to cure cancer and other disease. The experiment may work on animals and mice, but they may have a totally different reaction to human bodies. Muff cannot mimic an entire human psyche in a mouse or a rat, says Jacqueline Crawler (Of Mice and Men) If scientist make one title mistake during GE of any animal it could possibly create pathogens, and could destroy the food chain. After GE experiments the animals are not completely organic anymore. In GE foods dangerous virus genes can be inserted into your own genes. Originally Genetically modified (MM) corn was meant only for pig feed, not for human consumption. GE soy can possibly cause long term allergy problems. In Genetically modified organisms (GUM) crop fields, pollen pollination and pollination by insects create problems for nearby non-GM or organic farmers crops. There is also a chance hat the insects could become resistance to the pesticides inserted into the crops. DNA does not always completely break down during digestion, so this means the bacteria in the GE foods could get into our intestines. Very little testing has been done to GM foods, and long term effects are unsure. Scientist did all these experiments so animals could eat less, grow faster, leave behind less damaging waste, and to be engineered so their organs could be transported into humans. GE offers the possibility to cure diseases and countless theories to improve daily life. Organic farming could feed the world. There is no need to waste millions of dollars on GE technology and industrial gag. Sooner or later GE is going to cause overpopulation, because people are getting new organs and new medicine to help them get better. Everything needs to die, but in a natural way. Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? (Ecclesiastic 7:13) GE has advanced extremely in the past decade and soon scientist will be able to make a designer baby. This gives the parents to chance to choose the gender of the baby, eye color, hair color, height, and make their bodies immune o diseases. Christian views may differ from others views on GE. In Christians eyes modifying life can be seen as playing God , because God created life and people in his own image of how he thought they needed to be. To modify what God has created would be like saying God made a mistake. Some Christians believe that scientist that are trying to change and improve life are attempting to replace God. Only God has the full right to mess with our genes. Muff shall keep My statutes. You shall not crossbreed two sorts of animals. You shall not sow your field with two sorts of seed. Nor shall a garment made of two sorts of mixed material come upon you. (Leviticus 19:19) Some things are so different genetically that it is unlikely for them to interbreed. For example fish and cats can not interbreed. Crossbreeding is forbidden in the bible, but if they are very close related like zebras and horses are able to yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard will be unholy. (Deuteron 22:9) GE is not benefiting anyone, even the farmers rarely benefit. Most American farmers who have turned to genetically engineered crops me to be getting yields no better than farmers who grow traditional varieties. They also appear to be using similar quantities of pesticides. (Kurt Klein, Field of dreams, New Scientist) We all must wake up and understand what is really going on around us. Scientist are not Just GE animals and plants, but also humans: designer baby. Doing further research on the highly debat ed subject is genetic engineering ethical or not is extremely important when making a claim. What genetic engineering really is and ethics, the risks and disadvantages of GE, and the biblical attendant on GE all need to be taken into consideration. Understanding what GE really is and how it works, and Ethics is following accepted rules of behavior : morally right and good. (Merriam Webster) There are always risks and disadvantages involved in everything you do, but does the risks and disadvantages outweigh the advantages involved in GE? Christians views are very different from non-Christians, because God created life and people in his own image of how he thought they needed to be. Scientist starting using GE in the hopes of improving everyday life, making animals more useful, helping crops last longer, better nutrition for humans, and drug and organ production. Scientists do not know what might trigger a gene, how it will react, or the long term effects. More testing and further research needs to be done on GE, or soon no animals will be organic, could possibly change natural genetic traits for offspring, kill innocent animals, disturb natural ecosystem, and cause long term health problems for anything consuming GM foods.