Running head: GENETIC ENGINEERING IN HUMANS
Positive and Negative Effects of Genetic Engineering in Humans José A. Valladares Discovery School
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Positive and Negative Effects of Genetic Engineering in Humans Today, genetic engineering is revolutionizing mo dern science with the abilities to modify the genetic code in animals, plants, and even in humans. Sooner or later genetic engineering is going to become essential in daily d aily life of people because of the so many possibilities involved in its practice. And as well it has its advantages, it h as its disadvantages, today very debated by scientists and religious, where there are many that de fend forcefully what they believed for one o ne extreme or the other. In a shorten way, genetic engineering can be used to improve the quality of people’s lives but it could also be used to harm them as well. Genetic engineering opens vast possibilities and advances in medicine. The chances for people to live longer and healthier increase as scientists discover more about modifying the genetic code in humans. For future researches, a lot of scientists, experts in the field of gen etic engineering, have been proposed the goal to change the human DNA. At the time this happens, scientists would be able to create cures for deadl y diseases that are incurable today, such as cancer and AIDS. If these viruses are taken off from a human body, it can be a great achievement because these viruses/genes will not be in the next generation of offspring. Parents would decide special characteristics for their children before birth, such as eye color, hair color and type, skin color, among others; or even doctors d octors would modify a child’s genes so that if any disability is detected, it can be removed removed before the child’s birth. Genetic birth. Genetic engineering can also be used fight other diseases and people could live their normal lifestyles without the menace of deadly diseases. Today genetic engineering is used to fight diseases such as cystic fibrosis (SCID), diabetes, and some more. The first ever gene therapies were initiated in 199 0 by Dr William French Anderson. The patient was a four-year-old girl called Ashanthi who was suffering from a very rare disease known as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). In Ashanthi's case, the
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disease was caused by the absence absenc e of the enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA). This deficiency prevented her body from producing the lymphocytes (B-cells and T-cells) that are required to fight off infections. Once the treatment was withdrawn, the s ymptoms of SCID returned and she requires the enzyme today. This is an example of the capabilities of genetic engineering practice in humans. As well as there are advantages there are disadvantages. Scientists still cannot predict what would happen to a human with modified genes as the years pass, and they will not take the risk of secondary effects happening to this peop le; not until genetic engineering is perfectly pe rfectly manipulated. Also, genetic engineering has its ethics, it has borderlines with moral values, involving religion, which questions that man has the right to manipulate and change chan ge the course of nature. This is debated as scientists “playing God” . There are many people that are either in favor or against genetic engineering, arguing that genetic engineering is an evil practice, or o r that it is a godsend gift that can solve man y medical problems presented in the modern world. Th ere are people too, that may be in a “middle” category; interested in the possibilities of genetic engineering, but also worried about future effects it ma y have. Genetic engineering has its positive and negative effects, today, it is just matter of time for scientists to polish and perfect this practice, so that it can be fully tested in humans. Maybe tomorrow or maybe in fifty years cancer could be cured, as I said before, it is just a matter of time.
