1. Introduction Genetic modification is currently at the forefront of modern science and is being utilised in various fields such as medicine, agriculture and industry. Genetically Modified or transgenic organisms are organisms that have been genetically altered in a specific way for a particular purpose. It is now possible for scientists to exchange genes from one species of organism to another. This process is performed when certain characteristics of one organism are desired in another organism of a different species. For example a pig could be genetically engineered so that it will produce human insulin for those suffering from diabetes. Also, it is seen that it could be possible to cure certain allergies or diseases by replacing the genes responsible for causing the allergy or disease in one organism with that of a gene belonging to an organism that has a resistance to the specific allergen. Great medical discoveries pertaining to genetic modification are being made regularly and scientists are discovering new ways in which genetic engineering could be used to update certain medical procedures in the future. Complicated procedures such as organ transplantation have been made more successful with the use of genetic modification. Lab-grown bladders, windpipes, blood vessels and skin are some examples of organic matter that have been successfully grown with human cells and transplanted into human patients. The demand that the human population has on donor organs far exceeds the number of organs available for transplant. Genetic modification is the solution to this problem, in that, the advances being made in therapeutic medicine will save millions of lives in the future. Now that it is possible to alter the genes of an organis... ... middle of paper ... ...causes of human deaths. By using this method to stop the transmission of mosquito to human, the human death count will decrease considerably. Even though this article is short, it offers a large amount of useful information that will be valuable in assessing the benefits that this type of genetic modification will have for the advancement of therapeutic medicine. This article is both valid and reliable as the information it provides is relevant to my research topic. The article is found on the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute’s website, this is a highly reliable source as Johns Hopkins is a world renowned research institute who’s authors are widely published and are scientifically correct. This article is also is recent as it was only published in 2012, this proves that this research is up-to-date and has great relevance in the scientific research sector.
Genetic engineering is defined as the direct manipulation of genes for practical purposes (citation). It is modifying an organism’s genome using biotechnology (citation). An example of genetic engineering is recombinant DNA technology, which is using DNA from two different sources (citation). This means you can insert the DNA from one species into another in order to make useful proteins. This technology can be used to develop useful human proteins. Some proteins that have been made from recombinant DNA technology are insulin, HGH, Ce...
Human characteristics have evolved all throughout history and have been manipulated on a global scale through the use of science and technology. Genetic modification is one such process in which contemporary biotechnology techniques are employed to develop specific human characteristics. Despite this, there are a countless number of negative issues related with genetic modification including discrimination, ethical issues and corruption. Hence, genetic modification should not be used to enhance human characteristics.
However, genetic engineering is perhaps more closely associate with medicine than the other three. In medicine, genetic engineering has been utilized for solving health problems. With genetic engineering, scientists are able to produce large quantities of insulin, interferon, tissue plasminogen activator, urokinase, human growth hormones, follistim (for treating infertility), human albumin, monoclonal antibodies, antihemophilic factors, vaccines, and many other drugs (Applications of Genetic Engineering). The medical advances due to genetic engineering has saved many
Gene therapy, a relatively new innovention, is becoming popular across the country. Gene therapy modifies a part of an organism, whereas cloning creates an entirely recreated organism. This technique can be conducted in vivo in either somatic or germ cells. The process is essentially aimed at fixing a genetic disorder or disease by inserting a functional gene to replace the faulty one (Houdebine 2003). Many methods to conduct a gene transfer have been tested. The two types are in vivo and in vitro. Transferring genes in vivo means placing the functional genes directly into the target tissue; while vitro transfers creates the genes outside of the body, in Petri dishes. Vitro is an expensive process that r...
Genetic engineering is now being used to create new medicines and therapies for many disorders and diseases, and also to improve agricultural plants and animals to produce bigger yields or enhanced nutrient composition and food quality. In Gene therapy, copies of healthy human genes produced in bacteria can be inserted into human cells with defective or missing genes, to fix the problem. Gene therapy is promising because it can use to treat genetic
Genetic Engineering has recently become a contentious topic within medical and social circles. Controversial topics such as Sex Selection and Designer Babies are linked to Genetic engineering. They are destructive in every circumstance. Genetic Engineering is detrimental towards the individual and all posterity.
"The aim is to decrease the fear of a brave new world and to encourage people to be more proactive about their health. It [Gene therapy] will help humans become better physically and even mentally and extend human life. It is the future” (Hulbert). Dr. Hulbert, a genetic engineer, couldn’t be anymore right; more time, money, and research needs to be put into gene therapy and genetic engineering, since it can cure certain illness and diseases that are incurable with modern medicine, has fewer side-effects than conventional drugs or surgery, and allows humans to be stronger physically and mentally at birth. Gene therapy or genetic engineering is the development and application of scientific methods, procedures, and technologies that permit direct manipulation of genetic material in order to alter the hereditary traits of a cell, organism, or population (NIH). It essentially means that we can change DNA to make an organism better. Genetic engineering is used with animals and plants every day; for example with genetic...
The quantity of organs available for transplantation is already far less than the demand, and the demand may grow substantially in close to future. For this reason, we have to think how organ function might be replaced in the future. The obstacles to applying new technologies and now those obstacles might be overcome in the developing of new approach for organ replacement. the obstacles of organ replacement might be addressed if various technologies could be pieced together in a way that exploits the advantages of each technology. Thus, nuclear cloning (the transfer of a nuclei from somatic cells of the individual to be treated into primitive enucleated cells (SCNT), allowing the reprogramming of DNA) could be used to generate embryonic stem
Although humans have altered the genomes of species for thousands of years through artificial selection and other non-scientific means, the field of genetic engineering as we now know it did not begin until 1944 when DNA was first identified as the carrier of genetic information by Oswald Avery Colin McLeod and Maclyn McCarty (Stem Cell Research). In the following decades two more important discoveries occurred, first the 1953 discovery of the structure of DNA, by Watson and Crick, and next the 1973 discovery by Cohen and Boyer of a recombinant DNA technique which allowed the successful transfer of DNA into another organism. A year later Rudolf Jaenisch created the world’s first transgenic animal by introducing foreign DNA into a mouse embryo, an experiment that would set the stage for modern genetic engineering (Stem Cell Research). The commercialization of genetic engineering began largely in 1976 wh...
Genetic engineering, sometimes called genetic modification, is the process to alter the structure and nature of genes in humans, plants, and animals (what is genetic engineering). Because DNA is a code that is universal, genes can be manipulated
The Genetic Update Conference was surprisingly interesting and fascinating. There were many thought-provoking topics of discussion at the Conference. One of those main topics was Cancer and Genes. This topic was very informative and helped further educate others about the role of Genetics on Cancer. According to Sam Rhine, tumor can be best defined as diseases in which a single cell acquires the ability to proliferate abnormally, resulting in an accumulation of progeny.
Genetically modifying human beings has the possibility of greatly reducing/completely eradicating disease and could allow for longer lifespans within the near future. However, there are many issues associated with genetic engineering including being misused for ulterior motives and ethical problems. While there is good that can come from genetic engineering, the many detriments associated with it far outweigh the few positive outcomes. In his novel Brave New World, Aldous Huxley’s idea of genetic modification is far more extreme and unethical than any current real world technologies, but if the technology continues to rapidly grow, Huxley’s future may not be that far off from the truth.
Human genetic modification is the process through which medical personnel and scientist alter the genetic makeup or the DNA of a person (Clapper 1). This modification is achieved either through the addition of some genes or removal of others. The addition of genes is achieved through a carrier which can be a virus. The addition can either be to the somatic cells or to the germ cells. In somatic cells, added genes alter the genetic makeup of the body while in germ cells, alteration is to the reproductive cells. Genetic modifications have been widely exercised in plants. However, the exercise is limited in humans due to ethical issues. With genetic modification, the evolution of new beings that are stronger and disease-free can be enhanced. However, one concern surrounding the practice is that it would upset the balance of life. Genetic modification should not be carried out, as it violates the ethics of humans.
In simpler terms, genetic engineering is the manipulation of an organism’s genetic material in a lab with the insertion of one or more new pieces of DNA, changing the genetic code. In other words, the lab genetically engineering DNA literally transfers genes from related and/or totally unrelated organisms, modifying the information in a gene. This technique is called “gene editing,” where the scientist or technician moves, deletes or multiplies genes within a living organism and splices together pieces of existing genes, or constructs new ones. (Anoniou, Fagan, and Robinson, 20-21). Anoniou, Fagan, and Robinson further
Although genetic engineering seems to be more harmful than helpful, when used correctly, it will help the society prosper. Considering the technology our society has currently developed, genetic engineering is a difficult topic to discuss and confirm. If the researchers confirm this process, it may become easier for the scientists and will help cure the diseases easily. The debate, however, will still be on the rise because of the issue in human morals and ethics.