Advantages for:
Agricultural Biotechnology - Crops such as rice and potatoes are being genetically engineered to increase yield and its nutritional qualities. Genetically engineered crops may also be able grow on land that it may not currently be able to do so. A Vitamin A. gene has been inserted experimentally into rice. This would help millions of people who suffer from this deficiency. Can also be regarded as genetically modified foods (GM foods).
Plants may also become more resistant to pests and can survive longer in harsh conditions. Fruit they bear may also have longer shelf life. In addition to above it may also increase growth rate of the plants and may even taste better.
Gene Therapy – Genetic information on genes is required to do many things. If particular genes are missing or defective they can cause inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis or acquired diseases like cancer. This technique replaces these genes with normal ones. This is accomplished by the vector method and can be implanted into the patients body. In the future it could eliminate these diseases and many more.
Tissue Engineering /Organ Creation – This is quite a new field in science but it has a lot of potential. It creates man-made artificial organs ‘neo- organs’ or tissues by taking a required cell and bathing it in growth factors. They are put in a 3D scaffold of biodegradable polymers. Eventually the cells multiply and become a tissue. It is then put into the body and the scaffold is dissolved. Blood vessels then attach to it and then blends in with the surroundings. An example of this is spray-on- skin that has been invented as a cure for burn victims.
Other advantages include removing undesirable characteristics and improving the current one or adding a new desirable one. Such as trees could be manipulated to absorb more carbon dioxide in the air. It could also increase the genetic diversity of species especially the endangered. It could increase their growth rate and have a wider range to increase the chance of survival or their characteristics could be crossed with other species.
In conclusion genetic engineering could save lives and eliminate diseases. It would also create a more sustainable agriculture and reduce food shortages, thus food could be cheaper. We could choose and be able to create organisms that have desired traits.
Plants may also become more resistant to pests and can survive longer in harsh conditions. Fruit they bear may also have longer shelf life. In addition to above it may also increase growth rate of the plants and may even taste better.
Gene Therapy – Genetic information on genes is required to do many things. If particular genes are missing or defective they can cause inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis or acquired diseases like cancer. This technique replaces these genes with normal ones. This is accomplished by the vector method and can be implanted into the patients body. In the future it could eliminate these diseases and many more.
Tissue Engineering /Organ Creation – This is quite a new field in science but it has a lot of potential. It creates man-made artificial organs ‘neo- organs’ or tissues by taking a required cell and bathing it in growth factors. They are put in a 3D scaffold of biodegradable polymers. Eventually the cells multiply and become a tissue. It is then put into the body and the scaffold is dissolved. Blood vessels then attach to it and then blends in with the surroundings. An example of this is spray-on- skin that has been invented as a cure for burn victims.
Other advantages include removing undesirable characteristics and improving the current one or adding a new desirable one. Such as trees could be manipulated to absorb more carbon dioxide in the air. It could also increase the genetic diversity of species especially the endangered. It could increase their growth rate and have a wider range to increase the chance of survival or their characteristics could be crossed with other species.
In conclusion genetic engineering could save lives and eliminate diseases. It would also create a more sustainable agriculture and reduce food shortages, thus food could be cheaper. We could choose and be able to create organisms that have desired traits.
Disadvantages against:
Cost- First of all it would be too costly to afford these benefits created by genetic engineering. The common person wouldn’t be able to afford it. Only the rich would. Also the research and technology of this is very expensive.
Consequences and mistakes if Introduced into Nature- As nature is a complex and carefully linked inter-related chain. If these genetically modified genes were to be introduced it would have an irreversible effect and consequences on the ecosystem. It might be like the cane toad and the rabbit who are a major problem in Australia now.
Manipulating nature /Playing God – Against certain beliefs and religions. We are altering and changing something that isn’t created by humans. It is unnatural and may create something unwanted for instance like Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein’s monster.
More resistant Pathogens – If you introduce resistant plants into the ecosystem. There is a chance that these resistance genes will get passed on to harmful pathogens (bacteria that cause infectious disease) thus creating a tougher and even more dangerous thing then we started out with. It may also lead to a wider range of pathogens all with this resistance.
May destroy and reduce food supply – This is an interesting point. With the introduction of new and more resistant seeds many farmers would start buying only these seeds as they have this benefit. They would plant only one type of crop and not have any diversity of plants. A single disease could wipe out all these plants and reduce the amount of food produced.
Side effects and mutations – People are worried that these inserted genes may create repercussions and side-effects or something could mutate and risk the safety of themselves and others.
Animal Rights – It may create stress on the test subjects as they are the one who are being tested on.
Consequences and mistakes if Introduced into Nature- As nature is a complex and carefully linked inter-related chain. If these genetically modified genes were to be introduced it would have an irreversible effect and consequences on the ecosystem. It might be like the cane toad and the rabbit who are a major problem in Australia now.
Manipulating nature /Playing God – Against certain beliefs and religions. We are altering and changing something that isn’t created by humans. It is unnatural and may create something unwanted for instance like Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein’s monster.
More resistant Pathogens – If you introduce resistant plants into the ecosystem. There is a chance that these resistance genes will get passed on to harmful pathogens (bacteria that cause infectious disease) thus creating a tougher and even more dangerous thing then we started out with. It may also lead to a wider range of pathogens all with this resistance.
May destroy and reduce food supply – This is an interesting point. With the introduction of new and more resistant seeds many farmers would start buying only these seeds as they have this benefit. They would plant only one type of crop and not have any diversity of plants. A single disease could wipe out all these plants and reduce the amount of food produced.
Side effects and mutations – People are worried that these inserted genes may create repercussions and side-effects or something could mutate and risk the safety of themselves and others.
Animal Rights – It may create stress on the test subjects as they are the one who are being tested on.
