Should Tight Restrictions Be Placed On Genetic Engineering?

By Author: Henry Ford
Total Articles: 189
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Genetic engineering is a new technology that promises to revolutionize the world in different aspects, especially in food production and other areas. However, the new technology comes with many ethical and moral challenges especially on areas of application where they touch on human life. Proponents of genetic engineering argues that it has many benefits to the world including solving existent diseases that not not bee resolved for years and increasing food production to meet the need of the growing population. On the other hand, opponents argue that genetic engineering offers false promise and comes with a number of negative consequences. It is feared genetic engineering will cause existent of some organism in the ecosystem. Genetic engineering is also against religious beliefs as it goes against natural ecology. Since there is not long term research on the issue, there is fear that in the long run, genetic engineering will be harmful to humans. Genetic engineering has also been turned into a lucrative business with corporations reaping in from the process. Considering the positive and negative effects of genetic engineering, ...
... there should be tight regulations imposed to control is application.
Genetic engineering is the process of gene manipulation that leads to retention of the desire characteristics only. Whether applied in humans, animals, or plants, genetic engineering is only geared towards ensuing that only the positive aspects are retained. This is achieved through altering the structure and the characteristics of a cell using transformation and molecular cloning techniques (Brunner and Mayer 89). Since the first experiments were carried out in the second half of twentieth century, there has been great advancement in genetic engineering and it has been postulated to be the next big thing in the scientific world. It is currently applied in animal cloning and in production of genetically modified organism in foods. Cloning is meant to increase and retain the desired characteristics in animals.
The genetically engineered animals have been used to model different characteristics of human disease which means that it could finally give way to production of drugs that could cure disease that have disturbed human beings for a long time. It is postulated that genetic engineering in human will also assist in cell transplant technology which will have positive medical effects. As a part of the enhancement technology, genetic engineering will assist humans to improve on their body conditions improving their performance. In animals, genetic engineering has been used to retain the desired traits. For example in cow, it has been used to retain and improve traits and breeds that lead to high milk and meat production (Brunner and Mayer 79). Genetic engineering will also be able to increase the population of animal endangered species and assist them to adapt well to their environment. It will also reduce vulnerability of these species to diseases.
In plants, genetic engineering will lead to increased crop production by improving disease resistance and increasing the growth rates. According to Brunner and Mayer, by using of only a few resources e.g. fertilizers and pesticides, genetic engineering can lead to an increased food production (525). It is postulated that genetic engineering will increase the overall productivity of crops to such level that it can satisfy the need of the growing population. Unlike the conventional methods of food production, genetic engineering will lead to high productivity of crops and product disease and pest resistance species that can grow even in harsh climate. It is the technology that will feed the future generation amid the looming food crisis in the world. It can also be used to increase the population of endangered pant species and enable become adaptable to their ecology’
Despite the above advantages, genetic engineering comes with many disadvantages that override its perceived benefits. It has become a controversial issue that pits church leaders, biotechnology companies, government, the public and scientists as every party in the argument holds their argument and advance concrete reasons to support it. The reason why this study reasserts that there need to be restrictions on the use of genetic engineering is due to safety issues. According to Key, Ma and Drake safety on this area has been placed on short term studies which do not show the effect of long term consumption of genetic engineering products to human, animal, and the environment as a whole (29).
First, genetic engineering is based on manipulation of DNA which means it may end up leading to mutation. According to scientific evidence, majority of the disease condition in the world are attributed to mutation of the DNA, which means, genetic engineering may not after all give the world a cure to diseases but may also give rise to new forms of diseases. It is not well know the extent of mutation that may result from DNA manipulation and the long term effects they will have on plants and animals including their ramifications on the environment. According to Key, Ma and Drake available research genetic engineering will have effects on health but this depends on the modifications that have been made. (290). Nordlee also stress that although the foods produced so far shows no adverse health effects, there are some foods that have been reported to produce and spread allergic reactions (7). Therefore tight restrictions should be imposed on this technology (Nordlee 726). Genetically modified organisms may cause a genetic pollution of our natural environment (36). For example Metz et al., illustrate that those modified to resist pests and insects have imbalanced the ecology of these insects and pests (442). To protect the ecology and biodiversity, there is need to place restrictions on use of genetic engineering. Patenting of genetically altered genes had become a major threat as there are organizations which are aiming at reaping maximally from the technology. They are ready to fund campaigns to encourage use of genetic engineering without considering the future effect. Large corporations have monopolized the supply of genetically modified seeds and they are reaping maximum profits while poor farmers have to buy genetically modified seeds now and them while their returns are not guaranteed.
Although genetic engineering is poised to assist the world in a number of ways, it has become necessary to put restrictions on the application of the technology owing to the perceived negative consequences it will have on the environment. Its safety is not guaranteed and this calls for further research. It may lead to harmful effects on the environment that will lead to ecological disturbance. In addition, large corporations are reaping it big from the technology while farmers struggle to meet price of inflated seedlings since genetic engineering may lead to extinction of seeds.
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