Rhetorical Analysis Paper Genome engineering is a technology that has the potential to change the world as we know it. Recent developments have changed the face of genetic engineering and have opened up many new possibilities that simply did not exist in the past. One of these possibilities is precision medicine or the ability to treat a medical condition by taking into account genetics, environment and behaviors. Precision medicine has huge potential to change lives for the better. However, the technology used to provide precision medicine could prove to be a “slippery slope” (par. 6) that plummets from benefitting humankind to creating unanticipated outcomes or even sinister applications. “A Prudent Path Forward for Genomic Engineering …show more content…
As a result of the discussions, there should be an implementation of steps to guide decisions relating to genome engineering. The simplicity of CRISPR-Cas9 has “revolutionized the field of genetics and molecular biology” (par. 2) thus allowing anyone with a “knowledge of molecular biology to modify genomes” (par. 3). Before this technology became available, this was a very difficult or impossible task. For example, using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, it is now possible to replace mutated genes that underlie liver-based metabolic disease in mice. Stem cells can be cultured to produce specific tissues such as heart muscle cells or neurons. CRISPR-Cas9 technology can also replicate the genetic basis for human diseases, which gives scientists insights into previously difficult to comprehend disorders. Along with its potential to change the world of medicine, there is the potential that this new technology may have unintended effects and could create unknown risks to human health and well-being. The authors point out that even straightforward medical scenarios raise concern over the possibility of unintended consequences because there are limits to the scientist’s knowledge of genetics, gene-environment interactions and the pathways of disease. Also, some of these genetic changes are heritable, raising significant concern for problems that could be passed to the next generation. All of these scenarios and examples show the urgent need for establishing guidelines for the implementation of genome engineering. In order to keep public trust in science, there must be transparency and open discussion regarding all decisions. Implementing these guidelines and decisions early in the process will ensure that these new technologies will benefit
The article I have chosen for my rhetorical analysis is #Gamergate Trolls Aren’t Ethics Crusaders; They’re a hate group because it seemed interesting. The reason I was drawn to this article was because of the title, I was interested to know what it meant. This article, written by Jennifer Allaway, is about gamergate, an online gaming community, and the hate they show towards others. Jennifer does research on sexism in videogames and how it correlates to the gamers that play these games. She was collecting data from different organizations by using a questionnaire that gathered information on diversity in the videogame community. When some gamergate members
... fight the disease. It is crucial that regulation be a necessary component of gene therapy research and applications. In hopes that the government can regulate and can receive this treatment, not restricting it to people that has serious genetic diseases. Gene therapy will change the field of medicine from what it is today. As scientist discovers more genes and their functions, the potential of this treatment is limitless. Though gene therapy is an auspicious treatment choice for numerous diseases (including inherited disorders, some types of cancer, and certain viral infections), the procedure remains precarious and is still under study to make sure that it will be safe and effective. Thus government regulators and scientist must take a lead role in adopting a practical approach to address these issues and determining the correct procedures for dealing with them.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are taken over a huge portion of today’s society. It is a pretty difficult task in determining the difference between whether a food product is a part of the GMO family or if it is a regular food product that has not been scientifically worked on. “When a gene from one organism is purposely moved to improve or change another organism in a laboratory, it results in the process of genetically modified organisms” (Chien, n.d., para.1). A few products that are typically GMO are cotton seeds, jatropha (used in feeding livestock), rice, soy, sugar beets, yeast, alfalfa (source of nitrogen for the soil), artificial additives, preservatives, sweeteners, tomatoes, salmon, and the list continues on (Top 20 Foods and Products that have been Genetically Modified, n.d., p.1 ). Speaking of “Genetically Modified Organisms, the author of “Spinning Spider Webs from Goat’s Milk-The Magic of Genetic Science” explains how GMO is used to create spider silk. In the author’s writing she targets to those who do not have much knowledge of GMOs. To target to those, she brakes in down into terms the audience can understand. To propose her writing, Thersea Bilbao uses the rhetorical structure to guide the reader
In September 14, 1990, an operation, which is called gene therapy, was performed successfully at the National Institutes of Health in the United States. The operation was only a temporary success because many problems have emerged since then. Gene therapy is a remedy that introduces genes to target cells and replaces defective genes in order to cure the diseases which cannot be cured by traditional medicines. Although gene therapy gives someone who is born with a genetic disease or who suffers cancer a permanent chance of being cured, it is high-risk and sometimes unethical because the failure rate is extremely high and issues like how “good” and “bad” uses of gene therapy can be distinguished still haven’t been answered satisfactorily.
Stem cell research has been a heated and highly controversial debate for over a decade, which explains why there have been so many articles on the issue. Like all debates, the issue is based on two different arguments: the scientific evolution and the political war against that evolution. The debate proves itself to be so controversial that is both supported and opposed by many different people, organizations, and religions. There are many “emotional images [that] have been wielded” in an attempt to persuade one side to convert to the other (Hirsen). The stem cell research debate, accompanied by different rhetoric used to argue dissimilar points, comes to life in two articles and a speech: “Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? Yes, Don’t Impede Medical Progress” by Virginia Postrel; “Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? No, It’s a Moral Monstrosity” by Eric Cohen and William Kristol; and “Remarks by Ron Reagan, Jr., to the 2004 Democratic National Convention” by Ron Reagan, Jr. Ethos, pathos, and logos are the main categories differentiating the two arguments.
The age of genetic technology has arrived. Thanks to genetic technological advancements, medical practitioners, with the help of genetic profiling, will be able to better diagnose patients and design individual tailored treatments; doctors will be able to discern which medications and treatments will be most beneficial and produce the fewest adverse side effects. Rationally designed vaccines have been created to provide optimal protection against infections. Food scientists have hopes of genetically altering crops to increase food production, and therefore mitigate global hunger. Law enforcement officers find that their job is made easier through the advancement of forensics; forensics is yet another contribution of genetic technology. Doctors have the ability to identify “high-risk” babies before they are born, which enables them to be better prepared in the delivery room. Additionally, oncologists are able to improve survival rates of cancer patients by administering genetically engineered changes in malignant tumors; these changes result in an increased immune response by the individual. With more than fifty years of research, and billions of dollars, scientists have uncovered methods to improve and prolong human life and the possibilities offered by gene therapy and genetic technology are increasing daily.
Manipulation of language can be a weapon of mind control and abuse of power. The story Animal Farm by George Orwell is all about manipulation, and the major way manipulation is used in this novel is by the use of words. The character in this book named Squealer employs ethos, pathos, and logos in order to manipulate the other animals and maintain control.
Finally, some opponents of germline genome editing argue that it should not be allowed in clinical practice because it is unnatural. However, this argument is predicated on the incorrect assumption that “natural” is synonymous with “good”. These opponents should consider that birth defects and other genetic diseases and disorders are also natural. If society advocated for a totally natural existence, the medical system would not exist. Medicine exists primarily for people’s desire to defy nature and live as long and as healthily as we possibly can. This opportunity should also be afforded to future people, especially now that there are more technologically advanced ways of accomplishing it.
Many scientists and innovators alike are asking “What would it be like to have a baby? Or even a baby that you designed? This baby having no diseases and to cure your diseases in addition, all with the same process.” Well this can all be yours with the likely unavoidable side effects of this DNA cutting and insertion. Although, while this new and groundbreaking technology, known as CRISPR/Cas has only been used widely for three years. During, this short span of wide use it has gained overwhelming traction and controversy. The audience that this technology draws can be strongly attributed to this topic’s controversial core and its possibilities for the future.
“The pen is mightier than the sword.” This is a popular saying that explains that, sometimes, in order to persuade or convince people, one should not use force but words. In Animal Farm, by George Orwell, animals overthrow the human leader and start a new life, but some animals want to become the new leaders. To make the other animals obey the pigs, they first have to persuade the farm’s population. Squealer is the best pig for this job because he effectively convinces the animals to follow Napoleon by using different rhetorical devices and methods of persuasion.
“UC Berkeley researchers have made a major improvement in CRISPR-Cas9 technology that achieves an unprecedented success rate of 60 percent when replacing a short stretch of DNA with another”(Antonio Carusillo, PhD Candidate in Genetic Engineering (Marie Curie) at University of Freiburg (2018-present). This statistic shows that there is more of a chance to success but there is a chance to fail 40 percent but overall it will succeed which is why people are lenient about will it actually work or not, but as technology get better so will treatments to cure hard to pinpoint disease such as cancer, zika, or leukemia. Genome editing (also called gene editing) is a group of technologies that give scientists the ability to change an organism's DNA.
Human genetic engineering can provide humanity with the capability to construct “designer babies” as well as cure multiple hereditary diseases. This can be accomplished by changing a human’s genotype to produce a desired phenotype. The outcome could cure both birth defects and hereditary diseases such as cancer and AIDS. Human genetic engineering can also allow mankind to permanently remove a mutated gene through embryo screening as well as allow parents to choose the desired traits for their children. Negative outcomes of this technology may include the transmission of harmful diseases and the production of genetic mutations. The benefits of human genetic engineering outweigh the risks by providing mankind with cures to multiple deadly diseases.
Scientists and researchers around the world have recently obtained the opportunity to edit human genes with a new gene editing technology known as CRISPR. With high rates of efficiency, geneticists can now genetically alter the genes of animals, insects, vegetables and last but not least, humans. Genetically modified organisms or GMO for short, is a term that is used in our society to label and identify foods that have been created and genetically modified by scientists. Foods that are genetically modified are not something that surprise or astonish the American people. However, the idea of the existence of genetically modified human beings is something that has definitely triggered the awareness of a
Scientists and the general population favor genetic engineering because of the effects it has for the future generation; the advanced technology has helped our society to freely perform any improvements. Genetic engineering is currently an effective yet dangerous way to make this statement tangible. Though it may sound easy and harmless to change one’s genetic code, the conflicts do not only involve the scientific possibilities but also the human morals and ethics. When the scientists first used mice to practice this experiment, they “improved learning and memory” but showed an “increased sensitivity to pain.” The experiment has proven that while the result are favorable, there is a low percentage of success rate. Therefore, scientists have concluded that the resources they currently own will not allow an approval from the society to continually code new genes. While coding a new set of genes for people may be a benefitting idea, some people oppose this idea.
The procedures that will be the future of modern medicine currently fall into the realms of taboo and fictional. These procedures encompass every aspect of medical science, from exploration of the human body, curing diseases, to improving a person’s quality of life. Many of these procedures are not very well known, while a few have been in the spotlight. These procedures include cloning, nano-robotics, retro-viruses, and genetic manipulation via gene-specific medications. For any serious breakthroughs in modern medical science, we must embrace these new forms of treatment instead of shying away from them. Second, I’ll attempt to explain how these methods and procedures could benefit mankind.