The Dangers of Genetic Engineering, Essays (university) of Genetic Engineering

Download The Dangers of Genetic Engineering and more Essays (university) Genetic Engineering in PDF only on Docsity! The Answer to Our Problems or the Dstruction of the World: The Ethical Dilemma of Genetic Engineering In the contemporary world, there are numerous issues, including food shortages, cancer, pandemics, infections, and disabilities. Many have suggested using new resources and technology to address these problems in a way that best serves the global community. Genetic engineering is a popularly discussed technology. This kind of technology has the power to change food's genetic makeup to end global food shortages or create new, specialized species that are expressly designed to lack the genetic components that cause diseases, malignancies, and impairments to appear. That sounds perfect, doesn't it? A world devoid of these ailments. In actuality, this ideal will result in catastrophe when super-pests evolve in the food industry; segregation and death will be the effects this potentially fatal tool may have on our planet. The first engineered product that received attention and was made available to the general public was genetically modified crops. In 1994, crops like tomatoes were introduced to the public. Then crops like salmon, soybeans, cotton, potatoes, papayas, and summer squash, to mention a few, followed suit. The use of genetic modification in food is expanding. The most recent variety to be authorized for consumption in 2020 is the pink pineapple.  In essence, genetically modifying plants entails taking the gene of interest, which may have nutritional advantages, pesticide resistance, or insect resistance. Adding the desired genre to a fresh T-plasmid, which is subsequently inserted into the agrobacterium genus of bacteria and propagated. The plant can then multiply when the new DNA has been added to the genome of the plant cells. This crop or plant now possesses a trait that it wouldn't normally have, such as insect resistance. This objective seems to be advantageous to many people since it produces crops that are resistant to insect damage, allowing farmers to use fewer pesticides.  Studies have shown that pesticide exposure rates of DDT, a common pesticide, showed decreased fertility, premature birth, and abnormalities of the reproductive organs depending on the exposure and the toxicity of the pesticide. Numerous links have also been found to damage the nervous, endocrine, reproductive, and integumentary systems. The U.S. has profited the most from genetically modified crops, with "over 53.2 billion in extra income" (Brookes & Barfoot, 2014), and as well as improved nutritional content, higher resistance to herbicides, larger yields, and crops that are more cost-effective. According to PubCentral's investigation. Contrarily, genetically modified crops have a greater risk of producing long-term "antibiotic resistance, allergenicity, nutritional changes, and the formation of toxins" (Maghari & Ardekani,2011).  Since individuals must use stronger antibiotics to treat infections, antibiotic resistance has become a problem in the US. Antibiotic resistance in both people and plants leads to the formation of superweeds and super-pests. Additionally, socioeconomic effects were felt by the farmers as the cost of the production frequently outweighed the gross income. The price of seeds, herbicides, labor, equipment, insurance, etc. is all included in the cost of production. The quality and yield of the crop will determine the final result. The unintended contamination of non-GM farms with GM farms, which must be physically separated, can alter this. Costs would change for both genetically modified and non-modified crops with the introduction of GM crops. The farmer's financial situation and ability to continue operating the farm may be influenced by further factors. Due to their lack of resources to purchase seeds from a distributor, there would probably be fewer local, small, indigenous farmers as a result. Large farm corporations would take over as smaller highways, and buildings. Cities would lose millions of dollars trying to clean up and repair the damage caused by these kinds of organisms.  The modification of embryonic DNA to eradicate sickness, cancer, abnormalities, etc. is a further cause for concern. Giving such a potent weapon to the public may at first prevent future generations from passing on a crippling disease, but as time goes on and people continue to want more, factors like ideal height, eye color, Intellect, etc., can be changed with this tool. However, the cost of these treatments would be astronomical. Such procedures are only accessible to the wealthy. Within a short period, a divided country of people emerged, with the modified constituting a superior species to the others. It can be too late by the time any unfavorable results for these kids are discovered. It is a severe ethical and moral dilemma to want to eradicate characteristics or even specific disabilities. Young children are being subjugated to fundamentally alter who they would have been and thereby produce what we deem to be greatest. Allowing this technology will just fuel young children's ambition to be better than everyone else in our environment, where young teens aspire to fit a certain image, appear the best, and be the smartest. Only this change is irreversible.   Genetic engineering is a cutting-edge technology with significant power. It has the power to create a perfect utopian society free from disease, disabilities, and food shortages. Contrarily, a lot of people believe the risks to our society's moral, ethical, and philosophical foundations outweigh the benefits. Genetic engineering may lead to the destruction of cities as they lose millions of dollars. Introduction of new pests, illnesses, and super-pests as they continue to harm human health and devastate the environment. In addition, genetic engineering can lead to segregation in our society as new species of ‘perfect’ elite people are introduced. Yes, it does sound ideal to make those dreams come true, but dreams can quickly become nightmares. Citations: Brookes, G., & Barfoot, P. (2014). Economic impact of GM Crops: The global income and production effects 1996-2012. GM crops & food. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5033197/  Flynn, H. (2022, September 30). Genetically engineered, cancer-killing herpes virus may be able to fight tumors. Medical News Today. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/genetically-engineered-cancer-killing-herpes- virus-may-be-able-to-fight-tumors  Garcia-Yi, J., Lapikanonth, T., Vionita, H., Vu, H., Yang, S., Zhong, Y., Li, Y., Nagelschneider, V., Schlindwein, B., & Wesseler, J. (2014, December 2). What are the socio-economic impacts of genetically modified crops worldwide? A systematic map protocol - environmental evidence. BioMed Central. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://environmentalevidencejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2047-2382-3-24  Gene therapy and genetic engineering. Gene Therapy and Genetic Engineering - MU School of Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://medicine.missouri.edu/centers-institutes-labs/health-ethics/faq/gene-therapy  Maghari, B. M., & Ardekani, A. M. (2011, July). Genetically Modified Foods and social concerns. Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3558185/  Mcafee, K., & Tribune, I. H. (2003, June 13). A Global Food Fight : Genetically modified morals. The New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/13/opinion/IHT-a-global-food-fight-genetically- modified-morals.html?searchResultPosition=4  September 28, 2022, September 13, 2022, & August 19, 2022. (n.d.). HOW CRISPR is Changing Cancer Research and treatment. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2020/crispr-cancer- research-treatment  A timeline of genetic modification in modern agriculture. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2022, from https://www.fda.gov/media/135276/download  What are GM crops and how is it done?: Royal Society. What are GM crops and how is it done? | Royal Society. (2016, May). Retrieved December 12, 2022, from https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/gm-plants/what-is-gm-and-how-is-it-done/