Gene Technology: Its Benefits and Consequences

Genetic engineering is bio-technology. It means the generating or developing of a new organism by a change in a gene, known as gene mutation, causing a stable variation. Genes are the chemical blueprints that determine an organism's traits. Through the technology of genetic engineering, genes can be moved from one organism to another to transfer those traits. This technology is radically different from traditional plant and animal breeding.

Like nuclear plantation, genetic engineering has its good and bad. To begin with its good side: there is more variety in gene combinations. Natural sexual reproduction limits the variety of gene combinations. Genetic technology along with the nanotechnology is said to solve many of the world's problems. For example, researchers have tried to develop super-antibiotics, designer virus or hunters that will only attack certain diseases like cancer, grass that will only grow 2 inches so it would never need to be mowed, food that can be grown in any climate and so on. Moreover, nanotechnology scientists have even declared that in future, computers will be smaller, faster and much more efficient. Machines will be devised which would even assist in operations. Imagine a robot performing a painless operation for you, doing your household work for you and all without pay. It is also claimed that genetic engineering will help in producing new therapies - test tube synthesis of genes for insulin, vaccines against some tropical and viral diseases etc.

Another area for which genetic engineering holds promise is agriculture. Two methods through which crop productivity can be improved have been researched by biologists. One is improving the plant breeds and the other is utilizing nitrogen from the atmosphere to improve the efficiency of crop plants.

But on the other hand, through a religious point of view do we really have the right to modify life? Religious leaders have argued that life is the invention of God and humans should not intervene in the God's procession and label life as their own make. The advantages of genetic engineering can be misused. Techniques of genetic manipulation can be used to create biological warfare or improve existing ones. Moreover, the organisms made through genetic engineering to clean oil spills or toxic wastes, if released in the environment will wreak havoc and will be disastrous to human life.

The gains of this amazing technology are manifold but their true value will depend upon how we adapt our social and economic institutions to ensure that the gains go to the developing nations and not to the multinational corporations.