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The Patenting People Patenting People: The Benefits Behind Genetic Engineering Patenting People Genetic engineering is new breakthrough technology concerning many ethical, legal, and social standpoints that influence people different ways. Genetic engineering is the term that applies to techniques used to alter or combine genes in a organism. Cells of all living organisms contain genes. Genes contain instructions for making cells and for the work that goes on inside them. The complete set of genes for a human is called the human genome. It is similar to a book of instructions written in an unknown language.
Science needs to at least learn this language in order to learn the secrets of the genes. If possible science needs to apply these discoveries to everyday life. If the problem of world famine can be cured by genetically engineered food, then genetic research should thus be allowed. If a mothers firstborn can be genetically engineered to guarantee the health of the child, then why is the research even being doubted?
Think of all the world problems that could be aided by the science of genetic engineering. Many benefits will be brought about by the application of genetic science into everyday life. One huge benefit provided from genetic engineering will be the use of DNA forensics, otherwise known as DNA typing or DNA identification, instead of the current technology used today to identify people. DNA contains a great deal of information about a person, much more than ones social security number or ones fingerprint can hold. DNA can tell much more about a person than one would care to know.
DNA can tell a person information such as identification such as identification of relatives, identification of fatherhood, identification of bodies and identification of soldiers. To identify individuals, forensics scientists scan around ten DNA regions that vary from person to person and use the data to create a DNA profile of that individual. One current way of identification is by the use of fingerprint. The use of the fingerprint is a wonderful way to identify people; but by using DNA, one can receive more accurate and precise results.
There is much less margin for error using DNA. A fingerprint must be obtained through touch. In other words, the culprit must actually touch something at the crime scene. What if he / she was wearing gloves? Then, investigators must move down the ladder to less accurate methods of obtain evidence.
DNA samples can be obtained by hair, blood, semen, skin, and nail clippings because they are all made up cells containing DNA. Think about this: A 15 year old boy goes into 7 - 11 carrying a gun. He yells at the store owner, spitting on the counter to, Give me all your money! . The store owner says, No! and gets shot. The young scratches his neck as he empties out the cash register and walks out of the store.
Using fingerprinting how could he be identified? The young boy is a minor, never committing a crime before, therefore his fingerprints are not on file. Basically, the police are out of luck. With the use of DNA technology the police could identify him easily. The saliva on the counter and then the skin cells that came off when he scratched his neck are prime evidence for DNA identification. As seen, the use of and study of DNA forensics enables investigators to identify potential suspects whose DNA may match evidence left at the crime scene.
Not only that, DNA forensics will help exonerate persons wrongly accused of crimes and will help incarcerate persons who actually committed the crime, leaving out any discrepancy. The study of DNA will help match organ donors with recipients with little or no chance for failure. Last but not least, scientists can use DNA to study human evolution and uncover history by examining people dead for thousands of years. second benefit coming from the study of genetic engineering would be the study and application of molecular medicine. Certain genetic technology and research are starting to have profound impacts on biomedical research and also are revolutionizing biological research and clinical medicine. The highly detailed genome maps, obtained from in-depth study into the human genome, allows researchers to find the genes associated with dozens of genetic conditions including myotonia dystrophy, fragile X syndrome, neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, inherited colon cancer, Alzheimers disease, and familial breast cancer.
Upon discovery of these genes, medical researchers are devising therapeutic regimens based on new classes of drugs, immunotherapy techniques, avoidance of environmental conditions that may trigger disease, and possible augmentation or even replacement of defective genes through gene therapy. Medical researchers are currently trying to find cures for certain diseases such as cancer and AIDS. Here is the cure. Through this technology, science will be able to cure these diseases and hopefully other painfully fatal diseases in our future. Another important advancement in the controversial genetic field is the study of Microbial genomics. Microbial genomics will bring about new energy sources, environmental monitoring to detect pollutants, protection from biological and chemical warfare, and last but not least, safe and efficient toxic waste clean-up.
Researchers are currently developing new energy related biotechnology such as photosynthetic energy systems that function in accordance with plant photosynthetic's. Scientists are also developing microbial systems that function in extreme environments such as that of Mercury or Pluto. Furthermore, scientists are developing organisms that can metabolize readily renewable resources and waste material in equal amounts. The technologies found within the research of microbial genomics will allow scientists to establish more precisely the diversity and allow scientists to identify those genes critical to helping large or small ecosystems maintain and flourish. Lastly, further research into microbial genomics will enable scientists to monitor and thus predict environmental change in years to come.
Probably one of the larger benefits and more accepted benefits would be that of genetic farming. This will bring forth new crops, nutritious produce, bio pesticides, new resources, and edible vaccines incorporated into food products. Understanding plant and animal genomes will allow us to create stronger, more disease resistant plants and animals. Not only reducing the cost of agriculture, it will also provide more nutritious, disease free foods. Today growers are using bioengineer ed seeds to grow insect and drought resistant crops requiring no pesticide.
Researchers are currently trying to enable livestock and farm plants to grow super fast and grow supersized. They just recently achieved this with a salmon. The salmon grew roughly 30 pounds a span of two weeks, while salmon growing for a year, eating the same food, only around 9 pounds. Genetically engineered crops and livestock could help cure the global affair of world hunger.
The prenatal research intertwined with genetic engineering provides some benefits although not as acceptable as others. The prenatal research will thus allow mothers to choose the characteristics of their child and how it will enter into this world. Will it have birth defects? Will it have behavioral problems? With the research scientists are performing recently, these problems will be cured. Although how will it affect the gene pool?
Will everybody look similar and will people all have the same personality? More than likely. Nobody will choose genes that will give his / her child abnormal feet or abnormal height. This part of genetic research can beheld off for quite sometime. The prenatal tests should be researched and allowed while the other half can afford to be left alone. In an argument by Gregory Stock and Glenn McGee published on the internet, Gregory Stock stated, If gene modifications to retard aging could add 10 years to life expectancy and be performed reliably on the first cell of any vitro fertilized embryo, would you deny this procedure to a mother who wanted it for her child?
In conclusion it is clearly seen that the benefits brought about by genetic engineering are far too great to deny them to society. How could a child be allowed to accept mental retardation if they had a cure for it? How could this be allowed? How could a man be wrongly accused if we have the technology to prove his innocence? How can this technology be put off any longer? Bibliography Baker, Catherine.
Your Genes, Your Choices. Online. Internet. 20 Mar 2000. Available: http: / web Brain Tennis. Online. Internet. 10 Mar 2000.
Available: http: /hotwire d. lycos. com / synapse /brain tennis Genetic Engineering, The World Book Encyclopedia. 1997. Potential Benefits of Human Genome Project Research.
Online. Internet. 15 Mar 2000. Available: http: /www. ornl. gov / his
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