...In the article “The link between patenting life forms, genetic engineering and food security” (Review of African Political Economy, 1998) the author, Wangari Mathai, concludes that transnational corporations should be restrained to patent seeds using genetic engineering biotechnology. She supports her argument with the following claims. Firstly she reasons that corporations gain private monopoly rights on the raw biological materials by confiscating human resources without prior consent. Subsequently, the development of alternatives to the patented material is deliberately blocked. Secondly, Mathai highlights patenting a reason for food insecurity among farmers due to un-reusability of patented seeds. The seeds developed by genetically engineered technology does not germinate after harvesting, thereby, forcing the poverty ridden farmers to purchase seeds every season from the corporation. I agree with Mathai to some extent; however I feel that some of her reasoning requires further elaboration to make her argument more convincing. In my opinion, the author has failed to highlight on the fact that there might be a possible loss of cultural value and traditional community knowledge with limited or no compensation. Patent monopolies on plant varieties threaten developing countries in three ways. First, by increasing prices so far that most citizens have zero access to these new developments; second, by blocking local production whenever the patent owner so chooses and lastly...
Words: 882 - Pages: 4
...Genetic engineering (GE) refers to the technique of modification or manipulation of genes (the biological material or chemical blue print that determines a living organism’s traits) from one organism to another thus giving bacteria, plants, and animals, new features. The technique of selecting the best seed or the best traits of plants has been around for centuries. Humans have learned to graft (fuse) and hybridize (cross breed) plants, creating dwarfs and other useful forms since at least 1000 B.C. (Pueppke 2001). There are two main arguments surrounding genetic engineering the first argument is, genetic modification of crops threatens to produce pesticide-resistant insect pests and herbicide-resistant weed, will victimize poor farmers, and is unlikely to feed the world. The second argument is, genetically modified crops hold the potential to feed the world during the twenty-first century while also protecting the environment. Norman E. Borlaug, a pioneer of the green revolution and the winner of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize states, “Genetic modification of crops is… just another step in humankind’s deepening scientific journey. … We cannot turn back the clock on agriculture,” he adds, “and only use methods that were developed to feed a much smaller population.” (Rodney 2000). Through out time we will be required to adapt to genetically engineered crops as a necessity to nutritionally feed the growing population. The demand of rapidly growing world population has exerted increasing...
Words: 506 - Pages: 3
...Genetic Engineering: Designer Babies What if the world were free of genetic diseases, or if it was a place where parents could control their offspring’s height, hair color and intelligence? The science may be closer to being available then some people think. Genes sometimes interact in ways that human may never completely understand, so we never know what might happen. Society could become a place with designer babies, unforeseen genetic problems and a genetically enhanced society where only the rich benefit. So even though human genetic engineering has potential benefits the interference in a person’s genetic makeup is too risky, moral debates arise, and it could throw off the sociological balance of our world. The world’s first designer baby was born in 2000, a test tube baby named Adam Nash. He was altered by the use of a technique called the Pre-Implantation Process. He was born to save his older sister’s life, because she suffered from a low blood count disorder and was in dire need of a bone marrow transplant. The Nash family sparked the ethical debate over the alteration and the use of a baby’s genes, a debate that has since grown in argumentative evidence for and against the development of a possible worldwide lawful altering of baby’s genes. Consequently, there are many issues with the ideas put forth. The eradication of genetic diseases is a very exciting; it poses a great socioeconomic balance of out world. For example, for the disabled who have been the way they...
Words: 1406 - Pages: 6
...future hunger controversy is what inspired biotechnology and genetic engineering. The hopes of solving the food problem of this world’s growing population has brought about the genetic engineering or genetically modified crops in farming. Even though some proponents that genetically modified foods could be beneficial to the world, to include taste and quality, and resistance to disease, the truth is yet to be recognized unequivocally. There are thousands of questions to be answered and further research to be done. Public awareness is equally necessary and the reality of food and crop engineering and distributing is also yet to be complete. This paper will examine if the consumption of genetically engineered foods is good for human health, the agriculture and the world’s food supply, genetically engineering involving nature, the positive and negative aspects, and the food security and alternatives. II. Human Health a) Public Awareness b) Taste c) Promises III. Agriculture and Food Supply a) Pollution of crops b) Does more or less need to be done with genetic modification c) Too much or too less will cause hunger IV. Nature a) Will species be harmed? Will land be harmed? V. Positive and Negative Effects a) Pros b) Cons VI. Food Security/Alternatives a) Alternative Routes b) Organic Farming VII. Conclusion There are great alternatives to genetic engineering; there will always be surplus requirements. The nation has...
Words: 391 - Pages: 2
...scientific revolution that brings one of the most controversial ideas of all time: genetic engineering of humans. I believe this is morally wrong, dangerous, and will lead to problems in our society. The ethical dilemmas of human genetic engineering are what make this issue so controversial. Humans are trying to play too large a role in the universe. Many people believe that genetic engineering of humans is interfering with natural processes like the random selection of genes for looks and talent passed from parents to offspring. Human genetic engineering could let individuals “play God” and choose and manipulate their genes and those of their children. I believe that giving people this power goes against the basic forces of nature. All that is really needed is for us to accept ourselves the way we are. The idea of a divided society in the near future is a troubling and likely consequence of human genetic engineering. Societies have always been divided by varying degrees of inequity and bias. Now, with the emergence of the genetic revolution, society entertains the prospect of a new and more serious form of segregation. One based on genotype. The destructiveness of prejudice and discrimination is unmistakable. Imagine a world where the rich not only hold all the power, but they become superhuman. They could do things far beyond even the best abilities of normal people. Genetic engineering will bring about a rift between the upper-class citizens who are fortunate enough...
Words: 483 - Pages: 2
...Genetic Engineering - Application in Agriculture Introduction The process of manually adding new DNA to an organism is called genetic engineering, and also being termed as recombinant DNA technology, which aims to add one or more new traits that are not found in that organism naturally (Nebraska, 2001). One of the examples of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is agriculture plants. GM foods are used to term the foods which are produces from or using GMOs. Why are GM foods produced? The main reason of producing GMOs is to greatly reduce the risk of cops being lost due to extreme weather conditions and also to improve the crop productions. (What Genetic Engineering In Agriculture Can Achieve, 2013) Also, it allows either the producer or...
Words: 902 - Pages: 4
...Whitney Summers Ms. Wert English 101 H December 3, 2012 Genetic Engineering Just imagine the scene: and newlywed wife and husband are sitting down with a catalog, browsing joyously, pointing and awing at all the different options, fantasizing about all the possibilities that could become of their future. Is this a catalog for new furniture? No. This catalog for all features, phenotype and genotype, for the child they are planning to have. It is basically a database for parents to pick and choose all aspects of their children, from the sex of the child, to looks, and even to personality traits. Parents since the beginning of time have “planned” to have children, but never have they been able to legitimately “plan” out their child. This scene does not seem typical for our time and age, but truthfully it is what is becoming of our world. Through substantial research and experimentation that is taking place, scientists, specifically biologists, are becoming keener to the field of engineering; Genetic engineering that is. When one thinks of “genetic engineering,” the first thought is probably a perfect child, or paradoxically some inconceivable creature, forged under the microscope in a scientific laboratory. Though both of these are genetic engineering, many people do not consider other things, such as genetic engineering of agriculture and medicine, both of which are extremely useful. Through the genetic altering of plants and crops, scientists have been able to manipulate...
Words: 1596 - Pages: 7
...Genetically Modified Food: The Need to Feed Currently, the use of genetically modified food is a subject of enormous global controversy. The main disagreement being, whether or not genetically modified food should be allowed to be a main staple of our diets. Genetic engineering, or as it is also called genetic modification, is the manipulation of an organism's genetic material in a way that does not occur under natural conditions. The most common form of genetic engineering involves the insertion of new genetic material, containing desirable traits, into the genome of a host to induce expression of these traits. The resulting organisms produced by this genetic modification technique are called genetically modified organism (GMOs). Despite common belief genetically modified organisms have been around for decades. The first genetically modified organism was the simple bacterium E. coli in 1973 by Herb Boyer and Stanley Cohen. Their work set in motion a new era of genetic engineering. A year later the first animal was genetically modified. The technology continued to advance exponentially up till 1984 where genetically modified bacteria were commercialized for the production of Insulin. The first commercially grown genetically modified crop was the tomato called Flavr Savr, named for its more resistant nature to rotting. Unknown to most is that genetically modified food has been sold since 1994 and that most supermarket processed food items now test positive for...
Words: 1495 - Pages: 6
...Genetic engineering Genetic engineering is one of the greatest breakthroughs in recent history. It has been impossible until the recent times because of the complexity of DNA structure. But, with the development of science, modification of the genetic code of an organism has been made possible. Genetic engineering has many applications, such as in medicine and agriculture, but it has become an area of controversy due to the possible dangers of its usage, and has also raised many ethical concerns. Why is it so? First of all, genetic engineering is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genetic material. Therefore, it is unnatural, and we all know that playing with Mother Nature can be very dangerous. Introducing genetically modified genes may have irreversible effect with yet unknown consequences. It is still too early to see how, for example, genetic engineered food will effect the environment, the natural food chain and the wild life. Also, it is unknown whether the long term consuming of such food can cause toxic or allergic reactions. These are all very important questions which still remain unanswered. Also, genetic engineering borderlines on many moral issues, and it questions whether humans have the right to manipulate the laws and courses of nature. There are ethical concerns about whether the technology should be used not just for treatment of various diseases, but also for enhancement or modification of human beings' appearance,...
Words: 408 - Pages: 2
...Title: Name: Instructors Name: Course Title: Date: Genetic Engineering Genetic engineering is a type of technology that changes the genetic structure of cells. The process entails the transfer of genes within and across species boundaries to improve the organisms. There is complex manipulation of biological chemicals and genetic materials during the process (Berlatsky, 2013). The chemical blueprints that determine an organism character are genes. Transferring the genes from one organism to another carries along the character. The process of genetic engineering is able to give an organism targeted blend of new genes. The new blend of genes leads to a new blend of traits that may be rare or completely absent in nature and cannot be created by natural means. Genetic engineering is beneficial to the health of people. The process of tissue engineering allows the growth and development of new tissue to replace the old tissue that do not function well. For example people with kidney failure with low chances of survival are given the hybrid kidney that has a high resistance to events that lead to the kidney failure, sepsis and infection. The individuals survive and live healthy (Merino, 2013). Using cell transplants to human beings helps them to remain alive when waiting for transplantation of an organ. The use of this process of cell transplants minimizes chances of loss of life. In addition, genetic engineering helps in creation of better vaccines that can prevent the infection...
Words: 566 - Pages: 3
...Genetic Engineering Although genetic engineering is an entirely new field, it has fascinated mankind for many years. Genetic engineering gives the power to change many aspects of nature and could result in a lot of life-saving and preventative treatments. Today, scientists have a greater understanding of genetics and its role in living organisms. However, if this power is misused, the damage could be very great. Therefore, although genetic engineering is a field that should be explored, it needs to be strictly regulated and tested before being put into widespread use. Genetic engineering has also, opened the door way to biological solutions for world problems, as well as aid for body malfunctions. I think that scientists should indeed stop making genetic engineering for humans, because it will soon prove to be devastating to the human race. It would cause rivalries and tension among different kinds of genetically engineered humans for dominance and power. If a limit is not set between using genetic engineering for treatment and using genetic engineering for enhancement, then many parents could use it purely for eugenic purposes. This could cause ethical concerns but social concerns as well. If this was allowed to occur, it would also give the rich even more advantages than they already have to begin with and drive the social classes even farther apart. The use of genetic engineering may also lead to genetic discrimination. As in the movie Gattaca, a person could easily get...
Words: 428 - Pages: 2
...Genetic Engineering Facts By definition, Genetic engineering is the modification of an organism’s genetic make up through artificial means often involving the transfer of specific traits known as genes, from one organism to another. In simpler terms, it is the manipulation of DNA to alter an organism’s characteristics in a particular way. The following are some important facts one needs to know on this topic. Genetic engineering can mean deleting DNA to get rid of undesired traits or introducing new genes to get desired traits, but it can also mean combining DNA from separate people. We can begin by talking about the Human Genome Project. The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international research effort to determine the DNA sequence of the entire human genome. HGP researchers untangled the human genome using three tools: producing what are called linkage maps, through which inherited traits (such as those for genetic disease) can be tracked over generations; making maps that show the locations of genes for major sections of all our chromosomes; and determining the order, or "sequence," of all the bases in our genome's DNA. The research revealed that there are probably somewhere around 30,000 human genes and has given the world detailed information about the structure, organization and function of the human genes and other functional components found in DNA. This information can be seen as the basic set of inheritable "instructions" for the development and function of a...
Words: 629 - Pages: 3
...Genetic Engineering Wesley Rupe, Jawad Rana, Layli Stroia, Charles Taiwo, Mariella Velasquez, Mark Young DeVry University Genetic Engineering Table of contents Title page ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 Table of contents ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2 1. A brief description of the technology and an explanation of the associated science (Mariella Velasquez) ………………………………………………..……………. 3 2. Psychological considerations and sociological effects (Mariella Velasquez) …………. 3 3. The historical development and context of the technology (Wesley Rupe) …………. 13 4. Political and legal influences (Mark Young) (Not Complete) 5. Economic questions and considerations (Jawad Rana)………………………………….…… 21 6. The technology in its cultural context, media influence (Charles Taiwo) (Not Complete) 7. Implications for the environment (Charles Taiwo) (Not Complete) 8. Moral and ethical implications (Layli Stroia) ……………………………………………………..… 30 Outline A brief description of the technology and an explanation of the associated science Definition: What is Genetic Engineering? Genetic engineering (GE) is the process of manipulation of an organism genome to create a new DNA. The new DNA might be implanted in a totally different DNA species. It is widely used to create hybrids (some species are not able to naturally breed), correct genetic flows in any type of being. It is applied in...
Words: 8761 - Pages: 36
...Genetic Engineering is Not the Answer to Hunger Rachel Salters Genetic Engineering is Not the Answer to Hunger In the past ten years, the world has seen many changes and advances, but none hold as many possibilities as genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is turning up all over, and it is definitely here to stay. Just as computers and plastics changed most aspects of living, since they were invented, biological engineering has the potential to do the same in the future. This new technology has a wide range of possible benefits, from helping farmers and sick people, to improving foods and helping the environment. Genetic engineering may even one day be used to help solve world hunger. Genetically engineered crops might seem an ideal solution. Yet both current data and past examples show problems and provoke doubts as to their necessity.There is no simple solution to end world hunger. Genetic engineering is not the answer, just as pesticides weren't the answer. Even increasing food production is not the answer. World hunger will only end when the underlying causes of poverty are addressed. Poverty stops people from obtaining their basic right to food - either because they have no means to purchase food or they have no access to the farmland and natural resources necessary to meet basic food needs (http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/edumat/IHRIP/circle/modules/module12.htm). Genetically engineering crops do not address the poverty that causes hunger – in fact it threatens...
Words: 2631 - Pages: 11
...Cell Biology Paper | Genetic Engineering | | | | Genetic Engineering Is a Future Harmony or a Future Harm | Done By: Sarah Amer Al melli Date: 4/27/2012 My paper is about genetic engineering talking about whether it is a harmony to the future or harm thus, discussing its applications and uses and on the other hand it disadvantages and harmful sides. | Genetic Engineering Future Harmony or Future Harm Introduction The world of science has experienced many profound breakthroughs and advances in the twentieth century, but none perhaps as great as that of genetic engineering. However, the twentieth century society is not prepared or even willing at times to accept the moral and ethical controversies genetic engineering is creating. In my paper I will be talking about genetic engineering wither it’s a benefit or a harm to the future. Body Genetic engineering, defined as “the use or manipulation of an individual’s genetic material in order to produce desired characteristics or results in the same individual, other individuals of the same species, or other species,” is undoubtedly changing society’s relationship with nature, medicine, and perhaps its own cultural values. The completion of genome mapping will allow a health plan for each person, preventing genetic disease and promoting a better life. However, genetic engineering, also called gene splicing or gene cloning, is not being welcomed with open arms. It affects the moral values of human beings...
Words: 1331 - Pages: 6
