Ethical Morals in Genetic Engineering
Communications
Unit:
PA13ME015
Ethical
Issues
In
Health
Draft
Essay
Of
Morals
and
ethics
of
Genetic
Engineering
Genetic engineering (GE) presents an exciting range of possibilities, from increased crop production to preventing and treating diseases to eliminate harmful genes; it holds too much promise of benefit to ignore. However, this promise is not without potential hazards. Genetic engineering presents difficult and intriguing challenges for 21st century scientists and ethicists. (Jagadish M. Ethics in genetic engineering) Genetic engineering enables scientists to create plants, animals and microorganisms by manipulating genes in a way that does not occur naturally. The suddenness with which the area has developed has posed many challenges to scientists and governments alike. We are on the verge of being able to transform and create organisms for any number of productive purposes.
“Even though your body contains trillions of copies of your genome, you’ve likely to never have read any of it. Our goal is to connect you to the 23 paired volumes of your own genetic blueprint (plus your mitochondrial DNA), bringing you personal insight into ancestry, genealogy, and inherited traits. By connecting you to others, we can also help put your genome into the larger context of human commonality and diversity. Toward this goal, we are building on recent advances in DNA analysis technologies to enable broad, secure, and private access to trustworthy and accurate individual genetic information. Combined with educational and scientific resources with which to interpret and understand it, your genome will soon become personal in a whole new way”. (www.23andme.com)
As knowledge of the human genome increases, pressure will inevitably build to move forward with genetic engineering. We have begun reaping the practical rewards of genetic engineering such as new medical therapies and increased crop yields and so far only a few instances of measurable harm have resulted.
Genetic engineering (GE) presents an exciting range of possibilities, from increased crop production to preventing and treating diseases to eliminate harmful genes; it holds too much promise of benefit to ignore. However, this promise is not without potential hazards. Genetic engineering presents difficult and intriguing challenges for 21st century scientists and ethicists. (Jagadish M. Ethics in genetic engineering) Genetic engineering enables scientists to create plants, animals and microorganisms by manipulating genes in a way that does not occur naturally. The suddenness with which the area has developed has posed many challenges to scientists and governments alike. We are on the verge of being able to transform and create organisms for any number of productive purposes.
“Even though your body contains trillions of copies of your genome, you’ve likely to never have read any of it. Our goal is to connect you to the 23 paired volumes of your own genetic blueprint (plus your mitochondrial DNA), bringing you personal insight into ancestry, genealogy, and inherited traits. By connecting you to others, we can also help put your genome into the larger context of human commonality and diversity. Toward this goal, we are building on recent advances in DNA analysis technologies to enable broad, secure, and private access to trustworthy and accurate individual genetic information. Combined with educational and scientific resources with which to interpret and understand it, your genome will soon become personal in a whole new way”. (www.23andme.com)
As knowledge of the human genome increases, pressure will inevitably build to move forward with genetic engineering. We have begun reaping the practical rewards of genetic engineering such as new medical therapies and increased crop yields and so far only a few instances of measurable harm have resulted.