Ryan Taylor

 

Course: English 101

Instructor: Dr. Aimee Barrios

Assignment: Argumentative

   

Science has always progressed at a faster pace than human understanding. Never before has this been more apparent than in genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is already widely in use and has been employed successfully in medicine, industry, and agriculture through the study of gene expression in many different organisms. In recent years, with the help of significant technological breakthroughs, we can now apply the same gene manipulation techniques in humans. Human genetic engineering has the potential to change future generations and the human race forever. By using the human genome as a road map, we can irradiate genetic disorders by the insertion, activation, and deactivation of certain genes.

However, as with any new scientific discovery, there is the potential exploitation. Many believe that the possible manipulation of the human genome could only spell disaster by limiting gene diversity and creating a sub-class of human beings. The road of genetic enhancement is viewed by some as too morally and ethically questionable, while others feel the benefits are too advantageous to ignore. Because genetic engineering gives us the power to alter our own genes, it has the potential to be misused, and it fundamentally negates the role of nature. Therefore, lawmakers must impose strict regulation.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule that contains all of the genetic information for living things. Since it contains all the instructions essential for living, it is most often referred to as the book or blueprint of life. DNA consists of five carbon deoxyribose, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen containing base (Campbell 86). A gene is a special sequential unit of DNA that codes for a particular trait such as eye color, hair color, or height. Genes are responsible for the production of proteins that play an enormous role in the control of behavior, intellectual aptitude, determination of physical ability, and general bodily functions (87). Different base pair configurations are responsible for approximately twenty-five thousand different genes. Only a single mistake in the sequence of base pairs in DNA can create a genetic disorder such as sickle cell anemia or Alzheimer’s disease. A genome is an entire collection of chromosomes which contains thousands of genes in an organism (“Genomic Revolution” 168). Generally, genome size is directly proportional to the complexity of the organism. The hope that lies in genetic engineering is the ability to correct the “typos” of nature.

Genetic engineering is the manipulation of a genotype to reach a desired phenotype (Campbell 267). A genotype consists of actual genetic code, and a phenotype is the physical and physiological expression of that code. Long before the discovery of DNA, Gregor Johann Mendel, an Austrian monk, was the first to discover the role of gene expression by crossing different pea plants in the 1850s (DeSalle and Yudell 21). Although he had no knowledge of DNA or genes, his discoveries were the foundation of genetics. In 1953, Watson and Crick’s discovery of the double helix model of DNA was the beginning of molecular biology (21). It was not until the late twentieth century that their discoveries could be fully appreciated and applied to the human genome. The Human Genome Project, started in early 1990, was a world-wide initiative to map out the human genome (Campbell 428). Their goal was to find the location and role of each human gene. Its timely completion in April 2003 was made possible due to the creation of a new branch of science called bioinfomatics (426). This new field used the computational power of the technological revolution to sort through the large amounts of genetic data. Our new understanding of genetics, through numerous breakthroughs, has made genetic engineering a reality.

Genetic engineering has already been applied successfully in various fields. In medicine, knowledge of the genome allows for the creation of specialized drugs. For example, a newly created drug named Imatinib inhibits the function of a particular protein in cancer cells (418). Genetic engineering has allowed scientists to insert the human gene for insulin production into bacteria. These genetically modified bacteria are responsible for the synthetic production of insulin for diabetics (418). For years, crops in agriculture have been genetically modified and bred to express favorable traits such as insect and bacteria resistance, resulting in overall higher yields (419). Most food in today’s grocery stores are the products of advanced genetic engineering, organic foods being the only exception. Genetic engineering has even had success in industry. Recently, microbes have been altered to perform the clean-up of toxic wastes (420). It would be absurd to suggest an entire ban on genetic engineering since its benefits are already well documented in so many fields.

Scientists, armed with the knowledge of the human genome, are now focusing less on medical treatment and more on the actual prevention of disease. There are two proposed methods to accomplish human gene therapy. Somatic gene therapy, by far the most promising, involves the use of a virus to carry healthy genes into a patient (418). The healthy gene replaces the function of the existing defective gene, essentially curing disease. Somatic gene therapy is the most practical and ethical version of human genetic engineering since the altered genes are not passed down to future generations. The alternative method is something called germ-line therapy. This involves the prevention of disease through subsequent generations. Sex cells, such as sperm and eggs, are altered to create genetically modified offspring (419). Currently, this method accounts for the majority of the controversy surrounding human engineering. It is believed that this method would cause a resurgence of eugenics. As a result, engineering usurps the role of natural selection, which has been successful for millions of years.

From a scientific standpoint, any decrease in genetic variation would be detrimental to the overall survival of any species. Abuse of germ-line therapy threatens genetic diversity because only known favorable genes will be selected for reproduction. Parents will have the ability to select a “designer child” out of a catalog with the traits they choose (Sandel 51). This essentially removes free will or any prospect of choice from future generations. From a medical prospective, procedures are bound by certain ethical principles such as consent (Gunderson 2). Therefore, the alteration of the genes through germ-line therapy raises serious ethical concerns. Also, the enormous expense involved with these types of procedures would only increase the divide between those who can afford genetic enhancements and those who cannot. Over generations, this could potentially create a sub-species of humans (Sandel 15). The moral and ethical implications of altering future generations is a risk too great to take.

Gene therapy, which is arguably the most promising method, could also plausibly be abused. It is common knowledge that athletes are always looking for that extra leg up in sports. In the past, anabolic steroids gave them the edge they needed. However, since somatic gene therapy will not show up on any test, genetic engineering will be their future “drug” of choice (25). Imagine a baseball game where every player is designed to hit a home run. Gene therapy is not limited to just athletes. In an increasingly competitive society, parents want to give their children every possible advantage, as unethical as it may be. Genetic modifications to enhance beauty, boost mental capacity, and increase athletic abilities are all real possibilities.

The goal of science and medicine has always been to increase our understanding and to improve the quality of life. It is irrational and irresponsible to completely ban genetic engineering based on the argument that it could be abused. Everything has abuse potential. However, there are laws in place that protect us from ourselves. Appropriate lawmakers around the world will soon have to reach a consensus on how to respond to these very real issues. Authorities must pass responsible legislation to ensure that benefits of genetic engineering are limited to the treatment of diseases and mutations.

Genetic engineering has already been applied successfully in many different fields. This branch of science is the product of hundreds of years of research. It appeals to reason that genetic engineering could be equally beneficial in treating disease in humans. We finally have the ability to preemptively attack these diseases that afflict so many lives. However, genetic engineering in humans presents many moral and ethical dilemmas. We must remember that nature, through millions of years of natural selection, has selected the genes that make us who we are. Only through appropriate research and regulation can the medical benefits of genetic engineering be explored while preserving the integrity of humanity. Dr. James Watson once said, “We used to think that our fate was in our stars, but now we know that, in large measure, our fate is in our genes” (Burley and Harris 135). Before we proceed any further, it is critical that lawmakers create legislation to protect the rights of all humans as a species, or we must be willing to accept our fate.

     

Works Cited

 

Burley, Justine, and John Harris. A Companion to Genetics. Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2002. 135. Print.

Campbell, Neil A., and Jane B. Reece. Biology (8th Edition). San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings, 2007. 86, 267, 400 – 440. Print.

DeSalle, Rob, and Michael Yudell, eds. Genomic Revolution Unveiling the Unity of Life. Washington, DC: Joseph Henry, 2002. Print.

Gunderson, Martin. “Genetic Engineering and the Consent of Future Persons.” Journal of Evolution & Technology 18.1 (2008): 1 – 8. Print.

Sandel, Michael J. The Case against Perfection Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering. New York: Belknap, 2007. Print.

Dr. Barrios’s Comments: In his essay, “Genetic Engineering,” Ryan Taylor not only demonstrates an impressive ability to condense and summarize complex information, he also expertly dodges the political pitfalls inherent in such a socially volatile issue. His essay is noteworthy both in terms of his comprehensive grasp of the subject matter and his judicious, yet persuasive, tone.