...With the growing of scientific and technological advances today, it should come as no surprise that designer babies have now become a possibility. The term designer baby refers to how certain attributes of a baby can now be modified to our perceived advantage to create a perfect child. This, of course, is absurd, as these modifications will create ethical issues relating to fairness, harmful consequences, and morality human rights and justice, the dignity of an individual, issues of morality, religion, No baby has the option whether it wants to modified or not. For this reason, changing the genetic build of a baby is unfair and shameful. In the article "8 Most Notable Pros and Cons of Designer Babies” the author writes, "A baby will have...
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...Sivapatham, a Ph.D. in stem cells and model systems, discusses the pros and cons to genetic modification and the potential it has to cure life-threatening genetic diseases. The article addresses the basis of how genetic modification works and the process it undergoes in order to produce successful results. It demonstrates the purpose of a genome editing function called Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and how it was discovered to be the most efficient and effective form of genetic modification. In addition, it touches on the ethical perspectives of genetic modification in humans; moreover, it talks about the potential misuse of the technology including modifying physical traits, athletic capabilities, or cosmetology....
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...will be accompanied by an increase in the demand for food. Food is one of the most vital needs of the world we live in. In the old days, ancient people kill for food to survive. Today, some people mark it as piece of extravagance and whatnots. Food feeds our hunger and in turn, gives energy for the daily activities we humans need to do in order to get through the day. Also, it forms connection within another human being for it is shared along the dinner table and have food as the topic of the night. Basically, food is the demand and supply which runs the world: be it in the developed country where food is made even luxury and be it in the developing country where food is seen as a staple for survival. Since the total acreage planted is no longer increasing, unless new production technology is adopted, such an increase in demand that is unmatched by an increase in supply in the world food market will raise food prices and lead to food shortages, especially in underdeveloped countries. At the same time, many people are troubled by the idea of messing with nature, and say they don’t want their meals turned into “frankenfoods.” They are worried that taking genetic material from one organism and putting it in another could not only unhinge the ecosystem, but threaten people’s health, including...
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...Designer babies Since the discovery of DNA in the late 1950's, the possibility of genetic modification of animals and plants has become a reality. The term designer baby refers to the genetic modification of the child in its early fetal life. The world of genetic modification has long moved on from the days of Dolly the Sheep. How is a designer baby created? * An embryo is created by in-vitro fertilization (IVF). * A single cell is removed from that embryo within the first 5 days of its creation. * The cell is genetically tested. * The parents decide whether to discard the embryo or implant it in the mother's womb. Human Genome Project The Human Genome Project (HGP) was the international, collaborative research program whose goal was the complete mapping and understanding of all the genes of human beings. All our genes together are known as our "genome." The Human Genome Project started in the 1980s as an organized effort to provide the information researchers need to understand the genetic basis of all disease. GINA is the first major federal law to come out of the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications portion of the Human Genome Project. This law made sure that people were treated fairly when it came to getting a job and stuff like that even if they had a disorder or disease Literature review Mark Hughes, a pioneer of the PGD process and director of Genesis Genetics Institute says, “It’s technically feasible and it can be done,” adding that “no...
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...fertilized cell. However, now with the advanced biological technology, artificially recreating the process of animal cloning is a possibility. Pros and Cons: Some cons of the animal cloning process are a large percent of cases, birth defects occur like animals being born with two faces. Sometimes...
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...Human Genetic Engineering Society presents a large issue within the scientific world in terms of genetic engineering, weighing the pros and cons from both scientific and moral perspectives. Genetic engineering for humans, more commonly referred to as “designer babies”, strikes a debate between those who believe that genetic engineering is unethical versus those who believe that designer babies are moving the human race towards a better future. The moral platform that society has raised us as well as scientific research in puts an obvious answer in our hands- that genetic engineering is more dangerous and detrimental for humans rather than beneficial. To argue my thesis, I will thoroughly present both the scientific evidence and psychological perspectives that express the overall morality and ethics of this issue. Rahul Thadini’s article “The Public Should Avoid Designer Baby Technology” will assist my arguments within my report, as Thadani expresses useful scientific and moral points that focuses on the harm that genetic engineering would add to humans’ posterity. Using Thadani’s points, I question what people claim to be the benefits of genetic engineering. If we are able to use genetic engineering to cure diseases as well as disable the genes that trigger them, then how would our genetic diversity be kept as such a diverse group, considering the fact that our genetic diversity is what keeps humans at less risk for such health issues? In a more ethical and moral light, how...
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...will be surprised how many people have bought or have eaten something that has been genetically modified. With that being said majority of the food we eat now has been or have ingredients that have been genetically modified. Now you have to ask yourself if you know what genetically modified food was, would you still eat the things you do knowing it was modified? When you hear genetically modified, the first thing I think about is an oversized tomato or a giant pumpkin of some sort. That is the complete opposite because by definition, genetic modification is the manipulation of DNA by humans to alter the essential make up of plants and animals. Genetically modified organism is define as organisms that the genetic material have been altered that did not come naturally, another terminology for this is called modern biotechnology or gene technology. This is usually used to crop plants that is created for human and animals to consume the most recent molecular biology techniques. There are about four crops that make up for almost all of the genetically modified crops grown. The certain plants have been genetically modified to improve specific traits which include higher tolerance to...
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...and 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...
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...Human Genome Project Website Evaluation We are humans and we all eat. But have you ever wondered what’s in that banana you’re eating? Is it really just a simple banana that grew on a tree? Or is it perhaps something much, much more complex? It’s 2013 and a big debated issue is argued on genetically modification of food and organisms. The Human Genome Project (HGP) helps people understand and identify what exactly genetically modified food and organisms are (GMO). Publications and webpages on this site were created by the U.S. Department of Energy Genome Program's Biological and Environmental Research Information System and all other materials were provided by “third parties” and not created by the U.S. Department of Energy. The Human Genome Project started in 1990, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy and National Institutes of Health, and completed their research in 2003. This thirteen-year study was designed for people to understand what genetically modified organisms are. “The project originally was planned to last 15 years, but rapid technological advances accelerated the completion date to 2003” (Human). When one first enters the site, they can see there are many tabs at the top of the page and side margins directing one to other specific research done by HGP. Along the top of the page, the site provides tabs that explain information on a more in-depth description of genes and what exactly is going on in the microbiology essence, for those who wouldn’t quite...
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...Supersize Your Child?-Summary In the essay Supersize Your Child by Richard Hayes, the author is explaining the pros and cons of genetic engineering. Hayes starts off the essay by giving examples of what could happen if you genetically engineer your child; you could make them attractive, give them photographic memories, or even ensure they have a life span of up to 200 years. The author makes this all sound very attractive to the reader. He also assumes that the reader wants this for their children; the parents want the children to be the best of the best. Throughout the beginning of the essay Hayes gives examples of the progress we have made as a whole in the genetic engineering field. He explains that Science magazine reported that the 5-HTT gene reduces the risk of depression. It can also help depression after stressful events. He then goes into detail about how in 1993 the University of California at San Francisco biochemist Cynthia Kenyon had discovered a gene called DAF-2 that made nematode worms live four weeks instead of their normal two week life span. Hayes then goes into testimony that states if we do genetic engineering that we will mess up the natural selection process. Professor Lee Silver from Yale University also goes into detail and talks about how if we do this genetic engineering the genetic engineered people will be at the top of the classes, running things like politics and large corporations; while the ‘regular’ people would be lower class and working...
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...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...
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...Wanda Brewington Professor Maria Zaccaria Introduction to Ethics April 27, 2015 Outline THESIS: Is the use of stem cells favorable for healing and or curing human diseases more favorable for healing and or curing diseases more significant than the ethical concerns and arguments? I. What are stem cells? A) An unspecialized cell that can generate to one or more different types of specialized cells regenerated as blood or nerve cells. B) Stem cells are present in embryos and in tissues of adult organisms. II. How are stem cells used? A) Scientific Research B) Potential disease and treatment and or cures C) In vitro fertilization D) Cloning and Genetic Engineering III. Ethical concerns regarding stems cells. A) Scientific research perspective B) Political/Moral Ethics perspective C) Religious/Utilitarianism perspective IV. Conclusion | Stem Cells Risk or Benefit Since the introduction of DNA, scientists have researched many ways to treat and extinguish disease. One interesting way is through the use of stem cells. To get better understanding of stem cells, they are defined as non-specific biological cells capable of differentiating into specialized cells. Stems cells have a unique quality of developing and duplicating cells through the process of cell division. The distinctiveness of stem cells is that they are unspecialized, meaning...
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...Horn AP Seminar February 2 2015 The Perfect Human: The Flaws in Modern Eugenics With global technologies rapidly advancing, specifically those based in the field of genetics, one might wonder where humanity is headed in terms of their offspring. The answer? Modern eugenics. Francis Galton's eugenics, centered around forced sterilization and selective breeding to eliminate undesirable traits and foster the spread of more advantageous ones (Galton), is dead. However, the idea of focusing on one’s inherited genes to eliminate passed down diseases is alive and well, albeit in a more “modern” fashion. Is modern eugenics the right way of the future for humanity? To what extent should modern eugenics be viable? Before ambitious genetic projects had begun, such as the Human Genome Project which mapped out the entirety of the human genome (Genome.gov), the only way to tamper with an individual’s genes was through their parents. Gregor Mendel earned the moniker “The Father of Genetics” because of his experiments involving the breeding of plants in the mid 19th century (Biography.com). However, modern eugenics focuses on the genes of child more than the parents through abortions and the genetic altering of the embryo to achieve the desired results. This can be achieved through a process called genetic screening, which observes an embryo’s chromosomes for any lapses or breaks (Galloway a). Embryo’s that show signs of a genetic disorders, such as Down Hassan 2 Syndrome...
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...Genetic engineering is a very new and undiscovered topic. Bioengineers have been experimenting with cells in petri dishes, trying to clone cells and mutate them. Scientists have even figured out how to change human DNA before it's even born. Doing so allows them to change physical features, abilities, and prevent certain diseases such as alzheimer's. I imagine that genetic engineering is very helpful and could potentially further our society. However, it is illegal to change or mutate DNA in a child in the US. Specifically modifying or editing gene cells or embryos so that a child has certain features are called “designer babies.” Designer babies could be of great help to society. For example, if the next generation is biologically smarter,...
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...freshness for longer. There are also disadvantages in using genetically modified foods because the genetically modified version of the food may differ from the original food, losing its nutritional value or creating an allergen. The continuous study and regulation of genetically modified foods will protect the food supply and the people who consume it. Since the onslaught of pesticide use and environmental concerns, genetically modified foods have made its way into grocery stores and supermarkets. The “Bionet” (n.d.) website states, “Genetically modified food products are plants that have had their genetic characteristics altered. Scientists change the plants' characteristics by putting new genetic material into them, genes for example from a bacterium which can withstand pesticides.” Without knowing, Americans consume GM foods daily. Most people are unaware of the modifications in their food because the United States, unlike Australia, does not require a GM food label to identify whether or not the food is modified or not (Berry, 2012). According to Berry (2012), “Determining whether a food contains GM content requires DNA testing. As this is expensive, there is currently no policing of GM food labeling laws for foods that are imported into the country. Many of the foods we buy at the supermarket contain imported GM ingredients. They can be found in chocolate, cheese, chips, bread and salad dressing to name but a few.” Many of the main modified crops...
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