Human Genetic Engineering
Introduction:
The human body is very complex and it is not uncommon for it to have natural faults. Human genetic engineering or HGE is the manipulation of our genes with these “faults” to essentially make our bodies better. Human Genetic Engineering is broken down into two categories: the first being germline gene therapy which has to do with the alteration of the genome in the sperm and egg cells. These changes are then passed on to descendants. The second is somatic cell gene therapy, meaning that a functional gene is put into our bodies via viral vector to fix a current mutation or fault.
Thesis: HGE has the potential to do many wonders, but there are those who believe that it also could be an abused technology. Should HGE be used be used to better ourselves as species or should it be strictly banned to prevent its abuse? By the end of my speech it is my hope that you have an idea of which way you think this technology should go.
Credibility Statement: My information comes from credible sources and I tried to eliminate any potential bias from them. This topic is important to me because it has the capacity to change my future and affect all of us on a personal level and because of this I avidly researched the topic to learn as much as I could about it.
Preview Statement: During my speech I am going to give the background of genetic engineering, then explain the pros and cons of its use, and lastly cover the ethical concerns of the science.
Transition: To understand where genetic engineering is going, I think it is important to understand where it has come from.
I. The first path to HGE was paved in 1973 by two scientists named Herb Boyer and Stanely Cohen.
A. Herb and Stanly used enzymes to cut a bacteria plasmid and insert another strand of DNA in the gap. This offered the mixing of traits between two dissimilar organisms.
1. This was the invention of recombinant DNA. The first milestone in HGE.
B. Since 1973, this has been
The human body is very complex and it is not uncommon for it to have natural faults. Human genetic engineering or HGE is the manipulation of our genes with these “faults” to essentially make our bodies better. Human Genetic Engineering is broken down into two categories: the first being germline gene therapy which has to do with the alteration of the genome in the sperm and egg cells. These changes are then passed on to descendants. The second is somatic cell gene therapy, meaning that a functional gene is put into our bodies via viral vector to fix a current mutation or fault.
Thesis: HGE has the potential to do many wonders, but there are those who believe that it also could be an abused technology. Should HGE be used be used to better ourselves as species or should it be strictly banned to prevent its abuse? By the end of my speech it is my hope that you have an idea of which way you think this technology should go.
Credibility Statement: My information comes from credible sources and I tried to eliminate any potential bias from them. This topic is important to me because it has the capacity to change my future and affect all of us on a personal level and because of this I avidly researched the topic to learn as much as I could about it.
Preview Statement: During my speech I am going to give the background of genetic engineering, then explain the pros and cons of its use, and lastly cover the ethical concerns of the science.
Transition: To understand where genetic engineering is going, I think it is important to understand where it has come from.
I. The first path to HGE was paved in 1973 by two scientists named Herb Boyer and Stanely Cohen.
A. Herb and Stanly used enzymes to cut a bacteria plasmid and insert another strand of DNA in the gap. This offered the mixing of traits between two dissimilar organisms.
1. This was the invention of recombinant DNA. The first milestone in HGE.
B. Since 1973, this has been