Controversial Genetics Essay

Prompt #1 Since the cloning of the sheep Dolly, there has been much debate over whether or not human beings should be cloned. Many people feel this is a violation of the natural order of things and that all research in the area of human cloning should be banned. Others feel that this is a natural progression of science and human evolution and that research in the area of human cloning should be a priority. How do you feel about this issue? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

Cloning Pros Could help infertile couples have the children Beneficial in the fields of plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries Instead of using materials foreign to the body, doctors will be able to manufacture bone, fat, connective tissue or cartilage that matches the patient’s tissues exactly Could be used to grow organs or tissues to repair or replace damaged ones Ex. Skin for burn victims and spinal cord cells for quadriplegics Without the worry that the tissues might be rejected by their immune systems Endangered species could be saved

Cloning Cons May violate moral or human rights Could lessen the worth of individuals and diminish respect for human life Human life would be seen as replaceable May cause psychological harm to the clone Clones do not have as long life expectancy. Intrusion of the clone’s right to live a long and prosperous life Procedure is far from perfected and many trials were run before Dolly was ever created This means the death of many clones before it Might be used by commercial interests for financial gain

Prompt #2 According to some health organizations, many foods on our grocery store shelves are made with genetically modified ingredients. Most of these foods, however, do not have a GMO (genetically modified organism) label. Do you think there should be a law requiring manufacturers to label foods containing GMOs? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

GMOs Pros Improved crops Produce a longer shelf life Better resistance to insects and weather This can lower risk of crop failure Produce a longer shelf life Environmental benefits Less chemicals, time, machinery, and land are needed which can help reduce environmental pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil erosion Better nutrition Companies can supply more necessary nutrients and help fight worldwide malnutrition Ex. “Golden rice” is helping to reduce global vitamin A deficiencies

GMOS Cons Can pose allergy risks, according to a Brown University study Genetic enhancements often combine proteins not contained in the original organism, which can cause allergic reactions for humans Lowered resistance to antibiotics Some GMOs have built-in antibiotic qualities that enhance immunity, according to Iowa State University, but eating them can lessen the effectiveness of actual antibiotics in humans Genes may migrate According to The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, "Through 'gene escape,' they can pass on to other members of the same species and perhaps other species Genes introduced in GMOs are no exception Problems could result if, for example, herbicide-resistance genes got into weeds

Prompt #3 Many science fiction stories deal with the possibility of being able to “design” our children by choosing the specific physical and personality traits we would like them to have. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

Designer Babies Pros Prevents genetic diseases such as Down Syndrome, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s Disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and many others. Reduces risk of inherited medical conditions such as obesity, anemia, diabetes, cancer, and many more.

Designer Babies Cons This technology may be used for superficial purposes such as purposely selecting eye or hair color. A gap in society (Hitler’s Aryan Race) could be created. This could create classes that distinguish designer babies from those that are not. Most people will choose to have good-looking, intelligent babies which could lead to a lack of genetic diversity. A lack of genetic diversity has been shown to lead to defects and other problems. Genes often have more than one use. Therefore altering a gene could have adverse or even fatal effects.