Pros And Cons Of Genetic Engineering

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Genetic Engineering
Imagine for an instance a couple sitting down in a waiting room observing a catalogue. This catalog is different than usual; they pick specific traits to design the “perfect baby.” This is called gene modification, which is alternating the genes of an individual to benefit the overall state of a person either by treating a disease or improving human genes. In discussions of genetic engineering, one controversial issue is whether our society should acknowledge therapeutic or enhancement treatment. However, my view is that genetic engineering should mainly be used to treat disease rather than enhancing a person’s physical features, which can ultimately destroy human diversity or cause long-term effects which yet remain unknown to a certain degree. Those unfamiliar with genetic engineering may be interested to know about its medical uses, such as eliminating cancerous cells or exterminating hereditary problems. Therapeutic treatment procedures have shown improvements in the overall health and life span of an individual. For example, a study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, proved that cancer cells can be treated with gene therapy. They took five patients with incurable cancer diseases, in which they injected genetic material into the patient’s white cells. Ultimately, the white cells were genetically modified in a way that they attacked cancer cells, and thus slowed the spread of cancer (Clark). Successful trials such as these have marked the beginning of a revolutionized medical science with the purpose to treat disease and genetic disorders.
For instance, take the story of Heather Smith, who passed on a recessive gene on to her two sons, which encoded for a rare sex-linked primary immu...

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...igenweb/patient_family/cancer_genetics.htm. 30 June 2014.
"Simply Science.” Is Genetic Modification to Create Designer Babies Immoral or an Innovative Concept? n.d. Web. 3 July 2014. http://simplysciencemad.blogspot.com/2013/03/is-genetic-modification-to-create.html
"21st Century Enhancements." Kennedy Institute of Ethics. Web. 18 July 2014.
"Mental Health Medications." NIMH RSS. Web. 18 July 2014.
Hayes, Richard. "Genetically Modified Humans? No Thanks." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2008. Web. 18 July 2014. .
Hollenberg, Katie. "Respect For Persons As A Guide To Genetic Enhancement." . N.p., n.d. Web. 18 July 2014. .
Guilbeert, Scott. Development Biology. : University of Helsinki and Swarthmore College, 2013. Print.

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