GENETIC ENGINEERING

GENETIC ENGINEERING

Recombinant DNA technology is generally recognised as a very powerful research tool. In the early 1970`s when the technology was being developed, some scientists became concerned that it might be possible to create hazardous micro organism using recombinant DNA techniques. So molecular biologists from all over the world met to discuss this problem. The outcome of this meeting was that the scientists decided to continue recombinant DNA research using precautions to prevent any possible hazards. This was more than 30 years ago and now we have come so far that we will be able to clone human beings - don't forget that we've already cloned an animal! The sheep DOLLY was the first successful try to clone an animal. I think it is frightening how far we've come till now. Our possibilities have increased. Today we are able to make gene therapies before a human being is even born. We are able to clone living beings - animals as well as humans. We have the possibility to alter the germ line (that means that we are able to change the genome in eggs or sperm) of a human being, but we don't know what will happen. We have the ability, but do we have the right to do this too? ? ?

A few consumer organisations are frightened about the risks of food, whose genetic code has changed. Because you can change the rest of the genetic material only with chemical substances. So it is possible, that we eat some of this substances.

One risk of genetic engineering is still true. All over the world, where food with a changed genetic code is allowed, it gives more allergies than in other countries.

A other important reason against genetic engineering is, that the military can create universal soldiers, that mean, that they are nearly unbreakable. With the chance the change the genetic code of humans, the army can make human beings, who are stronger, better, more intelligent and faster than other people.

Surely you can make a new kind of bacteria or a virus, which are able to destroy the our modern civilisation or our social system, because without human beings, no civilisation and social system. Some experts from Germany said, that it would be possible to create a virus, that change the genetic code of human directly.

Also people, who are against genetic engineering are afraid about the "important" use for the medicine to clone human beings and use them as a "second - body - shop" for the real humans. A conflict with the law is programmed, because are not cloned people real humans too?

Another argument is, that only rich people can afford this new technology. The rich people can create perfect children, poorer people not. So it will give a "two - class - society" in our world soon. This is dangerous, because the rich (and intelligent) people would get the best jobs and so they would be richer and richer and the normal will be poorer.

But the main argument against genetic engineering are the ethically scruples at this part of the biology. Much people refer to the statement of the church, whose didn't take part of the discussion. They are not against the research of the genetic code, they are only against the chance to use our new knowledge.

Genetic engineering doesn't have only risks. They have advantages too, like the increasing progress of the science. Some experts changed the genetic code of a bacteria, so that their excrements are used as medicine.

A other chance of genetic engineering is, that the food can be changed so that it is more resistant against some kinds of bugs, or that cows produce more milk. Surely you can make wheat resist against dryness. So the problem of the world wide hunger would be solved.

I  think, one of the biggest advantages of genetic engineering is the chance for the medicine, that they have a big weapon against AIDS or cancer. Experts in genetic engineering can search for new methods against this illnesses, which are nowadays incurable. The progress in this part of genetic engineering than advanced that it would be able to cure cancer in 5 years.

Surely genetic faults can be resurrect too. Nowadays we have the chance to cure genetic faults into the stomach of women.

Another aspect of scientists is, that we should make second - hand - organs for humans into the body of pork. Only the repulsion of the animal organs in our body is a little problem, but in a few years this problem will be solved.

Genetic engineering has big advantages, but advantages are knotted with risks. At the end I only want to say, that the Bible include some useful sentences.

GENESIS 1:

'..Then God said 'And now we will make human beings, they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds and all animal domestic and wild'. So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female, blessed them and said 'Have many children so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control''

HAVE WE THE RIGHT TO PLAY GOD?