The Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering :: essays research papers

The formal definition of genetic engineer given in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is the directed alteration of genetic natural by intervention in genetic processes. Stated in well-nigh other way, it is a scientific alteration of the structure of genetic fabric in a living organism. There are many different methods in genetic plan, but the goal of all the methods is to manipulate the genetic material (DNA) of the cells in a living organism in order to all change it hereditary traits or to produce biological products. patrimonial technology techniques have been experimented with in many different areas including in bacteria, naturally produced drugs, plants, livestock, and research laboratory animals. Much of the processes traffic with genetic engineering are still in the experimental stages. As a result of this, it is required that most genetically engineered products get approval from specific U.S. governmental agencies such as the FDA.Genetic engineering has only become possible and more understandable very(prenominal) recently. Since scientists have been able to map out most of the gene locations in DNA, they have discovered ways to manipulate the genes. It is a very expert and polemic matter because it raises many ethical, legal, and moral issues, especially in dealing with genetic engineering in human beings. There are in general three methods used in the manipulation of human genes and they are cloning, physical cell manipulation, and human germline manipulation. Very basically, cloning is creating exact copies of an organisms DNA and creating a late organism with this same DNA. The new organisms will be physically identical to the original organism. Somatic cell manipulation is simply injecting new genes into somatic cells in order to cure a disease such as hemophilia. Germline manipulation is altering the genes in sex cells that are passed onto offspring, so that the offspring will posses certain specific characteristics. From the desc riptions of these few processes, it can be seen why genetic engineering has become such a controversial issue. Genetic engineering deals with the very intricate, orderly, processes of human life. Genetics is so Gordian that it is extremely risky to be getting too far into the engineering without knowing the exact results of the actions. Unfortunately, experimentation is the only way to discover some of the outcomes. Some scientists argue that the medical benefits of genetic engineering could be so great, that the experimentation is worth it. There is the possibility that cures to life-threatening diseases could be erect through genetic engineering in somatic cell manipulation, for example.