A Final Plea

           Human genetic engineering has been a controversial topic with religious leaders since before they even knew what it was. Right off the bat the majority of people are skeptical about this touchy topic just because of the way it sounds, and of course once they hear what it’s all about, they either become even more hesitant to accept it, or reject the idea of it entirely. Some think that the process of human genetic engineering is a bad thing because technically it takes life. The argument is that even though life is being created through fertilization of an embryo, the life cannot feel or understand pain yet, making the process of genetic engineering justifiable. Also, study and research through genetic engineering will ultimately help those who can feel pain. This procedure will cure thousands, and thousands more will be healthier and better off because of the advances we will make.

    Human genetic engineering is the process of genetically engineering people by modifying or changing their genotypes before they are born. A genotype is a genetic institution of an individual with respect to a particular characteristic; for example eye or hair color. So if a person’s genotype told you they have blue eyes, you could modify that genotype to make it so they would have green eyes. The cells in a person’s body contain encoded information about the body’s growth, structure, and functioning in the form of genes. Human genetic engineering is aimed at decoding this information encrypted within the cells, and applying it for the benefit of mankind. There are two types of human genetic engineering, but the most effective kind is called Germline modification. In Germline modification, the genes in the early embryos are changed completely. Because the embryos are changed before the fertilization process, the genes are inheritable. This is a very effective form of genetic engineering, as it results in permanent modifications. These modifications can be life changing.

             Over the past decade, gene therapy has succeeded in finding treatments for certain heart diseases, and researchers hope to find cures for all the genetic diseases, resulting in a healthier and more evolved human race.

A future benefit of human genetic engineering is that a fetus with a genetic disorder will be treated before the baby is born. Parents will be able to look forward to a healthy baby, and in cases of in-vitro fertilization, gene therapy can be used for embryos before they are implanted into the mother. There are also certain social aspects to human genetic engineering, mainly because it can impose a heavy financial burden on the society. It can work miracles, but its benefits and threats need to be assessed carefully. The potential advantages of the field can come into reality only if the genetic engineering of humans is handled with responsibility.

             President Barack Obama signed an executive order reversing the stand taken by President Bush. On March 9, 2009, President Obama lifted the limits on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. This overturned the policy set in 2001 by George W. Bush that limited taxpayer money for embryonic stem cell research. Obama promised that the changes would not open the door to human cloning, which he called dangerous, profoundly wrong, and that didn’t have a place in our society or any society. He insisted that the lift of federal funding was needed to keep the U.S. from falling behind the rest of the world in this promising area of research.  This is a sign that the country is appropriately focused on the positive potential human genetic engineering holds. A strategy that defines itself against the core idea of scientific progress cannot succeed. Instead of burying our heads in the sand, we should seek to harness genetic engineering for its positive benefits, even as we take careful steps to control its potential downsides

Faulty Opposition

         Human genetic engineering is a hot button topic within today’s society.  Human genetic engineering is a method that will be potentially utilized in the future in order to create an elite class of society.  Animals and humans alike will be created based on some attractive feature.  There are myriad of individuals who consider human genetic engineering to be detrimental to societies.  One of these individuals is Alan Boyle, the science editor for NBC news.

Boyle recently published an online article “Questions swarm around synthetic biology’s impact on mother nature” pin pointing the negative aspects of genetic engineering.

Boyle evoked many thought provoking questions such as: “Would de-extinction truly bring back the species that were wiped out, or will they actually be novel species, even alien species? How will revived species interact with the other species that have taken their place? Will we actually value the “natural” world less, because we assume de-extinction can bring back our favorites.”  He answered all of these questions unfavorably, claiming that the need for a wider discussion and knowledge of human genetic engineering is necessary before moving forward with any process. Boyle points out how there is a serious lack of awareness on human genetic engineering in general.  He claims that until moving forward there must be a serious debate around the issue.  He makes it extremely evident throughout his article that he is not in support of human genetic engineering, claiming that it is “dangerous” and that there is “non-awareness.” Boyle also utilizes statistics such as “thirty four percent wanted such research banned until its implications and risks were better understood.”

While Boyle’s points are transparent to audience members, he in no way convinces his audience that human genetic engineering is a bad thing.  In fact, he does quite the opposite.  By utilizing such statistics as the “thirty four percent” he makes audience members aware that there is still another sixty six percent who are extremely interested in moving forward with human genetic engineering.  In addition, he poses many open-ended questions.  However, we will never know the dangers or the truths to these questions unless we continue research.  We would not value the natural world less with human genetic engineering.  It would allow us to take what we do value within our society and replicate it.

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/02/17573678-questions-swarm-around-synthetic-biologys-impact-on-mother-nature?lite

Embryology and Human Genetic Engineering

Search for the book pictured above for an in depth look at Human Genetics and Embryology

The “Great Leap Forward”

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Click the hyperlink above to read an article titled “What Will We Be Like?” by Graham Lawton. This article discusses human genetic modification and how it will play a role in human society thousands of years in the future.

Link

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Click the hyperlink above to see an example of how human genetic engineering is breaking into college campuses. Above is the curriculum from a class offered at Yale University on the subject.

Views Overseas

This is a results chart from a study done in Munich on public opinion of human genetic engineering, in regard to medicine

Turkipede, the Turkey of Tomorrow

Designing Humanity: A Glimpse at the Future of Genetic Engineering

China to Start State-Endorsed Genetic Engineering Project

Seems that China is becoming closer to becoming a global superpower by developing a “state-endorsed genetic engineering project”(Vice). Scientists have collected DNA samples from over 2,000 of the world’s smartest people to attempt to  create human geniuses and completely revolutionize human intelligence.

Learn more about this phenomenon HERE 

Genetic Engineering Curing Cocaine Addiction?

In a recent study, a team of researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, found that through the use of genetic engineering they were successfully able to trigger cocaine addiction in rats using a laser light to “stimulate a specific part of their brains”(USNews).

This could be the first step into seriously combating cocaine addiction with humans, the article states. USNews states, “However, human therapy would not use lasers. Instead, it would most likely rely on electromagnetic stimulation outside the scalp — in particular, a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) — to trigger a similar activation in the prefrontal cortex. TMS has been used to treat depression.”(USNews).

Source: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/04/03/laser-therapy-switches-cocaine-addiction-on-off-in-rats-study