Perspectives in Genetic Engineering

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Perspectives in Genetic Engineering

by

Georgiamarie Read

IDH 2121 Valencia Community College

Dr. John Bledsoe

26 April 2005

The Impacts of Genetic Engineering

The scientific discoveries in genetics in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries are numerous in their potential as well as risk. To understand the risks as well as potential of genetic engineering in the future, one must first become familiar with not only the prospective fields of usage, but the resulting effects of such usage in the spheres of agriculture, medicine, and the environment. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, genetic engineering describes techniques that alter the genes (hereditary material) or combination of genes in an organism. Within agriculture, genetic engineering is used to develop additional plant and livestock varieties which result in greater food production for mass consumption. The potential or positive impacts of such breakthroughs in genetically engineering plant life impact crop production through high yield, low input crops that have other added benefits. Other trials in genetic engineering have wrought farm animals with the purpose of increased meat production and in dairy cattle additional milk production. Conversely, the dangers of genetically engineered sources of food lie in the possible allergic responses to those who ingest them. Further cause for alarm rests in fears of ecological complications resulting from the cross pollination of these different modified forms of plant life. In medicine, genetic engineering is used to combat numerous illnesses. Among the numerous positive effects of such research lies in the field of gene therapy which is identified as an experimental technique for treating or preventing diseases by inserting a gene into a patient's cells. Then again possible negative effects lie in possibility of science being able to genetically engineer ones own children. To finish an overview of perspectives in genetic engineering one must assess how genetic engineering can aid in cleansing or improving the environment. In order to help curb pollution, genetic engineering has the ability to modify plants and microbes to reduce many of the world's most disastrous pollutants such as oil spills. Nevertheless even with such great potential, even this use possesses possible undesired effects which could be caused by the plants and microbes used to better the environment. As with any situation there exists differing viewpoints that need to be taken into account before a determination as to whether the negative aspects of a situation out weight its positive benefits.

Beginning in agriculture, genetic engineering is being used to pioneer breeds of plants and livestock so as to increase forms of food production in order to facilitate greater quantities of food production for mass consumption. In the past, it was through crossbreeding, introducing the genes of one type of food into another that reproduced plants or animals with "beneficial characteristics, such as resistance to disease, improved nutritional value, and better growth", that brought about "virtually all common fruits and vegetables" to "look and taste the way they do"" (Goldstein and Goldstein 233). With the aid of biotechnology in terms of genetic engineering the science of selective breeding has become more precise allowing "for the transfer of only one or a few desirable genes, thereby permitting scientists to develop crops with specific beneficial traits and those without undesirable traits. Current technology permits scientists to alter one plant characteristic at a time, thereby not spending years trying to develop the best tasting and hardiest plants" ( 233).

To give a simple example, a traditional breeder interested in producing a yellow tomato must find the yellow trait in a plant that will breed with the tomato by natural mechanisms. The only plants that can breed with tomatoes are closely related ones. Unrelated plants like oak trees or cantaloupes could not breed with tomatoes, and thus could not contribute new genes. A genetic engineer, on the other hand, can consider any organism--even a butterfly or a daffodil--as a source of the yellow trait. If the gene that determines yellow color has been identified and isolated, it can be directly transferred into tomato plants (234).

Using similar techniques, livestock can be genetically altered to give maximum output at minimum cost to farmers. By genetically engineering bacteria, the resulting product has triggered "dairy cows [to] produce more milk, and beef cattle [to] have leaner meat. Similarly, a genetically engineered pig hormone causes hogs to grow faster and decreases fat content in pork" (Rubenstein npg). With a basic understanding of how agriculture can put to use genetic engineering makes it easier to envision its potential for the future. By combining genetic engineering with agriculture the potential for constructive benefit's to society are many. Among the many benefits of these crops would be low input but high yield crops with increased longer shelf-life, increased flavor as well as nutritional content (Anderson 20). Other "crops such as cotton, corn, soybeans, papaya, and squash have been engineered to resist disease or injury from herbicides, insects, or viruses" which reduce cost for their production and help the ecosystem around the farms through less chemical pollution of soil and water (Rubenstein npg). Additional genetically engineered plants produce antibodies, for potential use in medicines (Rubenstein npg). "Cows could be engineered for high milk production or high meat output, depending on their intended function. Sheep could be engineered for optimum wool growth, and pigs could be altered to have large amounts of meat with a minimum of fat" (Goldstein and Goldstein 232). Moreover, with the advent of genetic engineering "livestock of superior quality could be cloned for farmers" that would "yield higher quality meat, milk, and wool" (npg).This could be the beginning of even healthier type of food being grown and possible a decline in its price it in time. Although their are numerous potential positive uses for genetic in agriculture however as with any thing there