Cloning DNA
Genetic manipulation and cloning is has been has had some great scientific advances in recent years. Genetic manipulation is the art of altering DNA, whether it be a plant, `animal or bacteria. For example, the seedless watermelon is a byproduct of genetic manipulation. Scientists use this practice is used in many labs all around the world, to create more advanced medicine and agricultural products. Every living thing contains DNA.
Genetic manipulation can have great benefit to us if it is used in the correct manner, however it can also be used in manners which are morally wrong. Some have the idea of cloning human beings as a way of dealing with the death of a loved one, this is an example of an immoral use of genetic manipulation. Cloning humans is not only immoral but it is ethically wrong and illegal. There are those who are fighting for the legalizing of this while some religious and other communities are in uproar about this.
There are three types of genetic manipulation. The first two consist of somatic manipulation and germline manipulation. Somatic manipulation will change the genetic makeup of a single person, such as their physical look. Germline manipulation will alter the genetics for future generations (Hayes, 2000).
There are some doctors who are suggesting parents to test their unborn children for any disorders they may have, and treat it with somatic manipulation. This way parents can have a perfect baby, without any disabilities or diseases in their future. In order to complete this process the doctor must stick a needle into the mother’s stomach and into the unborn fetus, and obtain a flake of dried skin. Than they can test this skin to see what the baby’s genetic makeup will consist of.
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... many endangered species due to human carelessness. If they can clone a human they most definitely can clone an animal, and this would greatly reduce the amount of endangered species.
Overall, when we consider the ideas of cloning DNA and genetically altering humans it can be related to that of the Holocaust. Hitler wanted to abolish the inferior race (the Jews), just as cloning will eventually eradicate all people who do not fit the general perception of perfection. It would not be an instance of simply killing any person that did not fit the bill, but rather it will be a process of Social Darwinism, only the fittest will survive and continue. Essentially all of the poor and unhealthy will be weeded out. The only thing that will be gained in the future is a society lacking all signs of diversity and a world which is unable to cope with the natural process of life.
Picture a world where every baby is born healthy and everyone could live longer and healthier lives. Genetic engineering and cloning would let this almost perfect world to happen. Humans around the world could be free from deadly diseases and dying young. Genetic engineering according to Merriam- Webster, is applied techniques of genetics and biotechnology used to cut up and join together genetic material and especially DNA from one or more species of organism and to introduce the result into an organism in order to change one or more of its characteristics. A clone is defined as a person or thing that appears to be an exact copy of another person or thing. Cloning and genetic engineering will not only help humans, but it will
In the movie Gattaca the main character Anton was discriminated against because of his gene makeup. Anton never even had a chance in the society in Gattaca because the potential employees of companies were not tested on their skills or knowledge but on their physical and mental possibilities. The same society also used derogatory terms for people like Anton. Just because his parents decided that he would come into the world naturally instead of through gene therapy or alteration. Terms like “faith birth'; and “invalid'; were used against Anton. I think gene therapy has it promises, but when used in the fashion as it was used in the Gattaca I think its progress should be carefully monitored. Right now sheep and other animals are being cloned. Soon primates and Humans could be cloned. I think we should further investigate human cloning for research on the parenting process and other physiological experiments that can only be used now on identical twins separated at birth. These experiments when used could be used to gain insight on what our genes determine in our personalities. I also think that the achievement of us humans cloning ourselves would be a great achievement for the entire human race such as it was when we landed on the moon in 1969.
It's a good idea to ban cloning for a certain amount of time to take more precautions before continuing. There should be some rules set up to create boundaries of cloning to protect society so people don't abuse it. If rules are set up to minimize the amount of cloning, then there would be less of a worry among people. However, cloning should still be legal. Eventually, cloning can be corrected until its fully understood and it can be then be used to benefit mankind. Human and animal cloning can cure many diseases if it's finally perfected and then there won't be any more concerns or disadvantages in the future.
But on the contrary, many scientists believe that cloning can be such a positive achievement, not only for medical purposes, but for fighting extinction. For example, what if they could clone many of the endangered species that exist today? There are very few hundred of many beautiful animals that if something isn’t done to save them, they will be extinct in a few years. So if scientists could successfully clone and create these endangered species, although it would still depend on the clone maturing correctly and being able to reproduce successfully, it could be a great
Imagine having to explain to your child why they don’t look like you because of you’re selfishness. Imagine thinking your going to design your baby and turns out it has severe leukemia because scientists didn’t put together your baby right. Where Genetic Engineering and Cloning is headed this is possible. Not only is this effecting your child its affecting the whole world as well. Many people think they only do this in humans it happens in plants and animals too. Genetic Engineering and Cloning changes the natural possess in humans, plants, and animals.
Shortly after the groundbreaking discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953, the scientific world was essentially given the ability to alter the genetic sequence of any living organism using a process known as 'genetic engineering'. By definition, genetic engineering is 'the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material', it is quite simply an unnatural process which defies the ordinary course of nature. As of yet, no devastating or permanent damage has been done. However, the unpredictable nature and unknown consequences genetic engineering holds is more than enough reason to be cautious, as one mistake could have irreversible and catastrophic effects.
Human cloning destroys individuality and uniqueness. “What makes people unique is the fact that we have different genes and cloning would lose these important parts of our bodies makeup.” There would be less of a variety of people and everyone would be the same. This would not only be the good qualities, but also the bad that would pass on. Since clones and the original donor will look alike and have the same DNA, it would be nearly impossible to tell the difference. Overtime, they would lose their individuality and uniqueness. For example, say a crime was committed.
Genetic engineering is a broad term referring to the alteration of an organism's genes in order to remove unwanted characteristics of the organism or to add desirable characteristics (Levine). Genetic engineering has been applied to plants and animals for greater and more efficient food production ever since the agricultural revolution. It is also used on humans in the medical industry. Genetic engineering techniques are used to identify and treat certain diseases as well as aid doctors in creating custom made drugs for specific patients (Gorman 81). While the applications of genetic engineering on humans is currently limited, genetic engineering has the potential to eventually be able to treat virtually every disease.
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
Last of all, Cloning is not ethical, many religious groups look down upon cloning and think it’s not proper because they think it’s like playing God. Many scientists were mainly thinking about cloning animals and, most likely, humans in the future to harvest their organs and then kill them. “Who would actually like to be harvested and killed for their organs?” “Human cloning exploits human beings for our own self-gratification (Dodson, 2003).” A person paying enough money could get a corrupt scientist to clone anybody they wanted, like movie stars, music stars, athletes, etc (Andrea Castro 2005),” whether it be our desire for new medical treatments or our desire to have children on our own genetic terms (Dodson, 2003).
Genetic Engineering is the deliberate alteration of an organism's genetic information (Lee 1). The outcome scientists refer to as successful entitles the living thing’s ability to produce new substances or perform new functions (Lee 1). In the early 1970’s, direct manipulation of the genetic material deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) became possible and led to the rapid advancement of modern biotechnology (Lee 1).
If a limit is not set between using genetic engineering for treatment and using genetic engineering for enhancement, then many parents could use it purely for eugenic purposes. This could cause ethical concerns but social concerns as well. If this was allowed to occur, it would also give the rich even more advantages than they already have to begin with and drive the social classes even farther apart. The use of genetic engineering may also lead to genetic discrimination. As in the movie Gattaca, a person could easily get a print-out of his or her genotype, this information could then be used by schools, employers, companies, and others; giving rise to a new form of discrimination based on a person’s genetic profile. As the world is already full of discrimination, genetic engineering would even increase the numbers of discrimination against people.
As the rate of advancements in technology and science continue to grow, ideas that were once viewed as science fiction are now becoming reality. As we collectively advance as a society, ethical dilemmas arise pertaining to scientific advancement, specifically concerning the controversial topic of genetic engineering in humans. Human genetic engineering increasingly causes dissonance between various groups of scientific and religious groups of people in regards to if we should or should not ‘play god’ and attempt to modify humans for the better of the race. First, let’s take a look at what exactly genetic engineering is; according to, yourgenome.org, “Genetic engineering refers to the direct manipulation of DNA to alter an organism’s
The moral question of genetic engineering is answered by looking at the advances in medicine. Today the advancements in medicine are evolving at an extremely high rate. If the science of genetic engineering is wrong, then so are the rest of the advances in medicine. The reason is because genetic engineering is just another form of medical advancement. Gene manipulation is not going to be used for any other purpose except for the treatment and elimination of disease. The one thing that people need to realize is the potential of genetic engineering. Try to visualize what parents of a child is dying from a disease like multiple sclerosis think about the benefits of genetic engineering.
The moral conflicts put aside, the process of genetic engineering is difficult. Changing the proteins in people’s body differently is an unnatural action. Scientists state that genetic engineering only works 50% of the time. Also, when a new gene is placed in the gene code, there will be various mutations that will definitely result in change but may not be for the better.