Andi the Genetically Modified Rhesus Monkey
October can be a month of festivity. Usually birthdays are revered and holidays are celebrated. In the October of 2000, however, an unusual birthday was commemorated. In that month, “Andi,” a transgenic animal, was born. The reason why his birth should be regarded with great esteem is not only that he was a genetically modified rhesus monkey, but that he is the first. The news was monumental for several reasons; namely, Andi is a close genetic cousin to humans. The experiment was a lengthy one and the outcome is a product well worth the effort on behalf of the scientific and global community. The experiment is a beneficial one, for an understatement is to deem it one of frivolity. Andi’s genesis marks a new chapter in the history of the planet. The key part in this chapter is the ability of humans to manipulate creation. The issue now is whether Andi is a great destructive force or a conglomeration of human intelligence. In the near future, the world will eventually feel the brunt of an explosion catalyzed by genetic manipulation and Andi is part of a lit fuse.
“Andi” is a backward acronym for “inserted DNA” that describes the method used by scientists at the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center (ORPRC) in Beaverton. The lead scientists Gerald P. Schatten and Anthony W.S. Chan, along with their team, placed copies of the green fluorescent protein (GFP), found in jellyfish, in specialized viri: retroviri. Their main goal was to create a monkey with a new gene introduced in a laboratory, thus a transgenic monkey. The significance of the GFP gene was to provide quick, detectable, and vivid evidence of whether the experiment was successful. These “replication-defe...
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...oach such a topic. Humans are on the verge of something looming in the distance and must wait for it to slowly engulf their livelihood.
Bibliography:
Chan, Anthony. “Transgenic Monkeys Produced by Retroviral Gene Transfer into Mature Oocytes” Science. Vol. 291 (2001): p.309-312
“First Ever Genetically Modified Monkey Created”
Reuters Health 2
http://news.lycos.com/headlin.../article.asp?docid=RTHEALTH-MONKEY&date=2001011
“First Genetically Modified Primate Could Help Human Disease Research”
CNN
http://cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/01/11/modified.monkey.ap./index.html
“Scientists Create First Genetically Altered Monkey”
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49318-2001Jan11.html
“Scientists Genetically Engineer a Monkey”
Reuters Health 1
http://news.lycos.com/hea.../article.asp?docid=RTSCIENCE-MONKEY-DC&date=2001011
We all have curious questions and speculations about what is going to happen on Earth in the next few centuries. We all wonder what is going to be affected and how much of it is going to be affected by the rising speed of global warming. In this book, “The Long Emergency,” by James Howard Kunstler, he discusses what he thinks about “what is happening, what will happen, or what is likely to happen,” rather than what he wishes would happen in the future. He discusses his extreme concerns about the “modern” way of living, in which it may result in a depression for the economy. Kunstler negatively exaggerates many factors that can lead to what many people may usually think to be the “end of the world,” or an apocalypse. The book is mainly centered on the struggles of the cheap-oil age ending, and rebuilding our society with other energy sources for a sustainable way of living. After each argument, it seems that the foundation Kunstler constantly refers back to is that cheap oil is running out.
Technological advancement drives human society to change as it itself expands through research into the unknown. Often, new ideas exhibit a threat to the ancient fundamentals of society, leading to a protest of many remarkable innovations. In the study of biology, theorists have begun to propose change at a microscopic level, which will have a profound effect on society: genetically modifying the human species. Gregory Stock addresses the future of this concept in his book, Redesigning Humans. Using metaphor to enhance the journey into the future, substance to present the immense possibilities biological modification will introduce, and appeal to pathos to create fear and excitement, Stock argues that the rebirth of humanity is certain and the world should accept the change.
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This year, Researchers introduced Americans to the first gene-modified rhesus monkey named ANDi. Andi, which stands for “inserted DNA” spelled backwards, was born at Oregon Regional Primate Research Center at Oregon Health Sciences University. For the first time, scientists have modified the DNA of a primate species, whose genetic coding varies from people by only slightly more than 1 percent (Onion 1). ANDi was endowed with a gene for fluorescence. The fluorescence gene was extracted from a jellyfish and inserted into the embryonic material that eventually gave rise to ANDi (Jelliffe 1). Numerous Americans are not familiar with the topic of Andi because many sources of the media such as the news, the paper, and even magazines have only briefly touched base on such an issue that should be well known to Americans and could really have an impact on the world of science and medicine.
Cloning is a recent innovative technique the National Institute of Health defines as a process employed to produce genetically identical copies of a biological entity. Depending on the purpose for the clone, human health or even human life can be improved or designed respectively. “Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is the most common cloning technique. SCNT involves putting the nucleus of a body cell into an egg from which the nucleus has been removed."^1 From this technique, an embryonic cell is activated to produce an animal that is genetically identical to the donor. Today, human cloning still remains as a vision, but because of the success of Dolly, the lamb, researchers are becoming more confident in the ability to produce a genuine
“To achieve global peace we must not only stop fighting each other, but also stop destroying the natural world.” These words came from the mouth of Jane Goodall, an 83 year primatologist most commonly known for her extensive research on chimpanzees in Africa. Her ground breaking observations (one in particular) made the scientific world step back and, in the words of Louis Leakey, a famous anthropologist and Jane’s superviser at the time, “Now we must redefine ‘tool,’ redefine ‘man.’ Or accept chimpanzees as humans.” Jane’s love started from a young age when she received a stuffed monkey as a gift. She grew up idolizing Doctor Dolittle and dreaming of Africa. She first started her research in the early 1960’s when she was sent to an Anthropological
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Global warming, international conflict, nuclear warfare, alien invasions…etc. etc. etc. Seriously? From articles, to novels, and even blockbuster films, it seems we’ve resigned ourselves to the horrid notion, that the future is, amongst everything it could possibly be, a threat, and I’ve had enough!
Lynas, Mark. "We Must Stop Trying to Engineer Nature." Genetic Engineering, edited by Noël Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,
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