ENGLISH 21003: Writing for the Sciences

Professor Anna Voisard

Tomya Williams, Johana Morales, Daniel Gallardo

15th March, 2023

Abstract

With new technology evolving everyday, many scientists have found ways to collect DNA and create many things with that DNA, that could also possibly help us. That is how Genetic Engineering has been recently introduced to this world. In this literature review, we will be discussing more about genetic engineering, more specifically, genetic engineering in humans. We will be explaining the purpose of genetic engineering and the process of how it’s done. We will also talk about the advantages as well as the disadvantages of genetic modification being applied to the human genome. Finally, we will discuss the regulations and many laws that have  been made in response to this process.

Introduction

Genetic Engineering, which is known as Recombinant DNA technology, is a rapidly growing field in which the process is still very new to many people in today’s world. It is when the genes of a living organism are being collected and changed to a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) with a new and different genotype. The process is a bit complicated, but there aren’t many steps. First you need a small piece of  DNA, that is called a plasmid, to be taken out from a bacterial cell. After that is done, a section will be cut out from the plasmid by restriction enzymes. Then you will cut the desired gene that will be used in the cloning process from the genome by using the restriction enzymes. Next, the desired gene from step three will be put in the plasmid, which is also known as the vector. Then the plasmid that is now genetically engineered will be placed in the target organism while it’s at the early stage of development, or any other organism that is also at an early stage of development. Finally after all this is done, the organism will begin to develop the desired characters that were given from the desired gene which then the desired gene will now be a part of all the target organisms genome that is inside the cells. The purpose of genetic engineering goes back to prehistoric times

Advantages and Disadvantages of Genetic Engineering

We know genetic engineering includes the manipulation of genes, because of this it can be used to alter genetic makeup improving quality of life for the future generation. If we continue on this journey of developing this technology, we can gain many advantages.  It can be used to prevent the transfer of diseases to offspring and help couples with fertility issues to produce healthy offspring.(Baird, S. L. (2007).)Genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and cancer, can be removed from the embryo allowing healthy babies to be born. Diseases such as cystic fibrosis can reduce a person’s lifespan because of the lung complications the disease causes in an individual’s body. The parents will also  spend a lot of money to get the necessary medication and treatment needed for this disease.Using genetic engineering will increase that child’s chances of living a longer life and reduce financial strain on parents.

We do not know every aspect of this technology. There are many advantages to this technology but it is a fairly new technique which means there are many things that can go wrong during the procedure. If studies relating to genetic engineering are furthered the rate of healthier children will increase along with discrimination towards those born with disabilities. . Obsession with genetic preferences may lead to favoritism and children being shunned because they may not fit the preferences. Genes work together allowing our body to function and carry out our daily tasks. During the process of Genetic engineering, genes are disrupted. Changing one gene may obstruct parts or the entire system the body has created. This could lead to cell damage which could be the start of multiple diseases such Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease.(Das, J., Dey, P., & Banerjee, P). During the process of choosing and getting healthy embryos to be born embryos may be terminated.  Some people think this practice is unethical. This is likely due to the fact that some people believe life begins at conception and that the termination of embryos is murder.(Baird, S.L.(2007)).Eliminating the embryos that are undesirable, some believe genetic engineering is used to ‘play God’.

Ethics and Effect on Implementation of Regulations

Ethics has always played a role in society throughout history in determining laws, policies, and many other aspects in society that have affected us in our everyday lives. Ethics most importantly has been a huge factor in influencing laws and regulations being implemented throughout the world in regards to the rapidly growing field of genetic engineering on humans. Several new and more precise gene-editing technologies have been developed, which makes replacing or getting rid of negative DNA sequences much easier to control which would greatly benefit the human population; health wise and the quality of life, but with that the debate on the implications of the intentional tampering of the human germline has arisen once again which had been scorned back in the 1990’s. The ethical debate on the tampering of human germlines using gene editing technology has already caused more then 40 jurisdictions to enact laws and regulations to try and curb the further experimentation into this field. Although, like many laws and regulations that have been made throughout time, they are constantly changed and modified to try and keep up with new technologies and other such variables that would make them moot, especially nowadays where many legal loopholes have been used to circumvent these laws and regulations. Actions have been taken to prevent the action or attempt of giving birth to an embryo or reproductive cells that have been genetically modified. The ethical dilemma that has been brought up in regards to this issue has even caused the General Assembly to adopt the U.N.’s declaration on human cloning, that says,”General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on Human Cloning13, which, among other prohibitions (e.g., human reproductive cloning), called for member states “to adopt the measures necessary to prohibit the application of genetic engineering techniques that may become contrary to human dignity”Isasi, Rosario, Knoppers, Bartha M, May 2015. The effect of ethics on laws and regulations in regards to genetic engineering on humans have been widespread and has impacted the enactment of said laws and regulations.

Laws and Regulations

Just like a gun or drugs, which depending upon the user, can be used for useful purposes or can be dangerous in the hands of some people; genetic engineering being applied to humans can also be very helpful as well but there is also a danger if left unchecked on how it is used or researched. China has realized the importance of such regulations and laws on biosafety and therefore genetic modification by default, as early as 2004 has the Chinese government implemented systematic regulations to manage the experimentation, development, and the creation of genetically modified organisms. It did this by implementing,” Regulation on the Biosafety Management of Pathogenic Microbiology laboratories.”

 

                                          Work cited

•     Baird, S. L. (2007). Designer Babies: Eugenics Repackaged or Consumer Options? (Cover story). Technology Teacher, 66(7), 12–16.
•     Lemke, T., & Rüppel, J. (2019). Social dimensions of preimplantation genetic diagnosis: a literature review. New Genetics & Society, 38(1), 80–112. https://doi-org.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/10.1080/14636778.2018.1549983
•          Das, J., Dey, P., & Banerjee, P. (2017). Redesigning nature: to be or not to be? Current Science, 112(7), 1346–1350. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24912677