Genetic Engineering Today
"Ever since James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA three decades ago, scientists have been experimenting with altering the genetic makeup of living matter to transform plants, animals, and microscopic organisms. There is no end to the positive things genetic engineering can accomplish" (McAuliffe 16). But are there more negative entities to genetic engineering than positive? This essay will examine the question "What is genetic engineering?", the moral issues concerning genetic engineering, and finally relate these topics to the formation of "the creature" in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
"Genetic engineering is a term applied to techniques that alter the genes (heredity material) or combination of genes in an organism" (World Book 85). Every living organism contains genes. All genes carry information pertaining to the organism's characteristics. By changing a gene in an organism, scientists can produce different traits in an organism and/or its descendants (World Book 85). Researchers have found many important uses for genetic engineering in such fields as medicine, industry and agriculture. Many new uses are predicted for the future (World Book 87).
"With the arrival of human genetic engineering, humanity approaches a crossroads in its own technological history. It will soon be possible to engineer and produce human beings by the same technological design principles as we now employ in our industrial processes" (Rifkin 12). In other words, the final goal of genetic engineering is to perfect the human race. Although
genetic engineering has many benefits such as gene splicing (combining genes) to cure genetic disorders, it causes concern among many people. ...
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... Let's throw open the doors and turn on the lights in Frankenstein's lab.
Bibliography:
Works Cited
McAuliffe, Kathleen & Sharon McAuliffe. "Genetic Engineering Will Revolutionize Society."
Biomedical Ethics. Ed. Julie Bach. St. Paul: Greenhaven Press, 1987. 16-22.
Rifkin, Jeremy. "Genetic Engineering May Threaten Humanity." Biomedical Ethics. Ed. Julie
Bach. St. Paul: Greenhaven Press, 1987. 23-29.
---. "Whom Do We Designate to Play God?" Manipulating Life: Debating the
Genetic Revolution. Ed. Gary McCuen. Hudson: McCuen Publishing, 1985, 11-16.
Rubenstein, Irwin. "Genetic Engineering." World Book Encyclopedia. 1990 ed.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Bantam Books, 1991.
Steinbrecher, Ricarda. What is Genetic Engineering? July 1998. Women's Environmental
Network (WEN) Trust. 1 October 2000