Genetic Engineering - Ethical or Not

Genetic engineering is the process of manipulating an organism's genes. This process has been utilized on plants and animals, for millenniums to the advantage of people. The foundation for the immergence of this branch of science came from Gregor Mendel's experiments. The next big discovery came in 1966, when the first method of cloning was discovered. Genetic Engineering has proven to be beneficial to humans throughout history. Insulin, vaccines, and genetically modified foods are just some examples of the benefits. Of course genetic engineering would not be possible without the discoveries of James Watson and Francis Crick. They discovered the structure of the DNA which puzzled many other scientists. The application of genetic engineering on plants animals has been beneficial, but a newly sparked interest in human genetic engineering has become popular.

In 1990, the first human genetic engineering was attempted in on patients with severe combined immunodeficiency. 8 out of 10 people were successfully cured, but the remainder developed leukemia. This may seem catastrophic, but it is actually beneficial. Think about it, it is a four to one ration of success. If they continue to study and practice genetic engineering they may be able to even cure leukemia, and then the people will not have to worry if the person develops leukemia. There are two types of human genetic engineering negative genetic engineering and positive genetic engineering. Both forms are hotly debated.

Genetic engineering was not made to harm animals or humans but some people seem to make it look as if so. Certain people say that genetic engineering is wrong because babies should have the freedom of being born without genetic modification. This statement is absolutely absurd because what kind of freedom is it when the baby is born with a disease or a disorder. There is a reason it is called genetic "modification", because it is to improve people. Those who are against genetic engineering are against the improvement of humans and technological development. There is a famous Molecular biologist named Lee Silver who is against genetic engineering. He proposes, and fears that the wealthy will only be able to genetically enhance their children and the poor will be left with disadvantaged children because they could not afford it. Lee Silver might as well be fearful right now, because there are children being born disadvantaged and other children that are born with advantageous genes. He also suggests that humans might one day be factioned into two species due to the difference between genetics. Since when was having different species wrong? If a species is define by its characteristics, then there is nothing wrong with having different species of humans. One can argue that there are already different human species because of the distinguishable qualities between certain races. One example would be white and black people because they are physically very unlike each other.

Genetic engineering does not induce harm, it reduces it. Scientists learn from their mistakes, so to not attempt anything would be to learn nothing. Neither humans nor animals are suffering from genetic engineering; they are becoming healthier because of it. We would not be at this technological stage if it were not for genetic engineering. Rejecting genetic engineering would be throwing away an important segment of science and would render it meaningless.

Human genetic engineering, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_genetic_engineering

Genetic engineering, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering

Human's Playground: Genetic Engineering, http://library.thinkquest.org/04apr/00774/en/txt/history.html