The negative impacts of the technology of genetic engineering on humans and their lives:

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The negative impacts of the technology of genetic engineering on humans and their

lives:

There has been a lot of talks about the concept of genetic engineering but there are a lot of

problems in that concept has a number flows attached to its name since one is expected to

behave in one way when actually he should have behaved in another way.

The concept of genetic engineering may actually be stealing one’s own fate.

(Fudiet.com, 2015)

The following are some of the negative impacts of genetic engineering:

1. We are playing god: we must never interfere with nature. Whenever any new

technology is invented, it is used against the Benjamin Franklin's lightning rod and

then it is used as the vaccination of smallpox. The medical technologies see this as the

interference with the nature.

2. Unsafe: during the recent years, there have been innumerable number of deaths due

to genetic engineering. The viral vectors whose main work is to bring the DNA into

the cell causes the lethal immune response and even result in tumours. While this

could be a technical problem today but will eventually be circumvented. Further, as

and when the transgenes are inserted into the genome, this disrupts the functional

genes and could also lead to mutations. This can be seen in mice.

3. One does never know what genetic technology is actually used for. When it comes to

curing the lethal diseases, it is a very good idea but there are a number of people

present that think that curing the lethal genetic diseases such as the Lesch-Nyhan

Syndrome or Huntington's chorea may not be a very good idea. If the genetic

engineering could have cured all the diseases, then everyone could have easily

escaped all the diseases and then there would not have been a requirement for the

insurance companies. As has been rightly stated by Jeremy Rifkin voices his concern

that "those families who can afford to program 'superior' genetic traits into their

fetuses at conception could assure their offspring an even greater biological

advantage, and thus, a social and economic advantage as well." Genetic engineering

will convert the economic differences into the inherited biological differences.

4. The concept of genetic engineering assumes that the people know as to what is good

and what is bad for us but a good environment for one might not prove to be a good

environment for another, this is just a matter of perception. For example, the genes for

sickle cell anaemia may be deleterious when homozygous, but advantageous when

heterozygous. The gene of lymphocyte adhesion molecule may be positive thing but

the mutation of this gene could protect one against the virus of HIV. If we knew the

genes or the suites that would produce aggressive or docile phenotypes, then we

would certainly change them. How do we know whether the alleles or the

combinations of alleles deleterious in some situations will amount to geniuses

whereas in others, it just would not? The thing is that we do not know anything with

certainty.

5. We never know the functions of the body that the genes would change. It is one story

to look at the genes that is the result of the developmentohemoglobin or insulin. This

may or may not be the single function. But many of the proteins act during the

development and often has many functions. This is commonly known as the

pleiotropic. BMP4 is able to reduce the growth of the bones in one set of the tissues

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and apoptosis in the same tissues at the later period. In another set of the tissues, the

BMP4 can induce the epidermal differentiation. The scientist continuously keeps on

finding that the genes are not for any particular purpose or a function. They are

actually used for a particular function. In case, we alter the gene, then it will go on to

affect only one function and that may disrupt another function.

6. But the main question is that whether the parents have the right to take the decision

with regard to the genotypes of the children. The parents must never rule out the

destiny of their children. This will lead to the controlling of the qualities of their off

spring. Currently, there is a huge amount of deal when it comes to the traits that will

be inherited. In case, the traits could be inherited, the individual could have been

affected. What if the curly red hair that has played such an important role in one’s

identity was the product of the parent that wanted the child with such a trait and with

an ability to pay the money to have those genes that was placed into your embryo? In

case, the parents have given the genes for height and body musculature that would be

disappointed one of he was an athlete. The whole idea of the individual personhood is

brought under purview.

7. The ability for the modification of the genome could have made the children into a

commodity. The critics agree that the germline genetic engineering will convert the

child from being a miracle of love into a commercial product with the expected

parameters of normalcy and function. The children who would fall short of some sort

of the standards will be treated as being inferior or as damaged goods. The genetic

engineering will only increase the prejudice and discrimination in the society, not to

mention the fact that there is a presence of prejudices already in the society. There is a

presence of disability rights that are critical of the germline engineering technology

since there is a fear that the social objective of establishing the perfect human might

go on to reduce the value of the society on care and respect. In addition, there is an

appreciation of diversity, there is a loss of care and respect for the disabled people that

are less fortunate. On the similar lines, there are many of the environmental groups

that believe that the genetic engineering will be striving for the technology that will

prioritize the technical innovation over the preservation of the natural resources. The

society and the centre of genetic correctly states that "it is difficult to see how a world

that accepts the production of children by cloning or with redesigned genes will long

be able to maintain, much less deepen, any sense of respect for the rest of the natural

world."

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More on "normality":

1. Genetic engineering could lead to eugenics. This means a well-born and the program

was to breed the better humans and was a much popular concept during the period of

World War 2. The eugenics was based upon the unsound biological principle at the

outset of the last century and aimed at making the human race more uniform and

unhealthy. But the main thing is that the engineering have had the consequences that

would have reduced the biological diversity. Therefore, some of the civil right have

found the reasons to organize as against the genetic engineering. The communities of

colour have historically suffered from the social application of genetic theories and

they are concerned with the germline engineering that offers another opportunity for

racism to manifest as has been veiled as science. While many of the scientist believe

that there is no racist agenda in the germline engineering and the civil rights advocates

have found and expressed their concern of support towards the inheritable genetic

modification development. The case for genetic engineering has filed to help the

scientists in claiming that this will go on to cure the homosexuality, criminality and

homelessness.

2. Some of the women believe that germline engineering will create many new pressures

for child bearing. The genetic enhancement will be forced by the partner and not only

by him, by the party groups with the financial incentives such as the insurance

companies. The examples include a doctor, a social circle, current fashions, biotech

marketers or mass media advertisers. The women will lose the right of their decisions

with regard to their protégé in case the medical establishment or the national

government decides to regulate the genetic engineering in some of the way.

(10e.devbio.com, 2015)

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The further disadvantages of genetic engineering are as follows:

1. It would be dangerous for the environment in the sense that the genetically

manipulated organisms would only cross with the other organisms. This would lead to

a change that will not only be unpredictable but also the changes that will be

irreversible to the ecosystem.

2. No one knows the exact effects in the long term: the nature is an extremely inter

related chain that consist of many of the species that are linked with the food chain.

Many of the scientists believe that the modified genes will have an irreversible effect

with the consequences that are not yet known. The genetic manipulation of still in its

infancy and no one has an idea of the practical experiences as to what the

consequences would be.

(Sgugenetics.pbworks.com, 2015)

The scientists are continuously working in order to develop the modified crops that could be

beneficial to the humans. The following are the examples:

1. GM insulin

2. Golden rice that produce extra beta carotene that is used to make Vitamin A

3. Herbicide resistant crop plants

GM insulin

Blood sugar level meter and insulin shot pen

The natural insulin could be taken from the pancreas of the pig or the cow. It could be used to

treat diabetes but is also limited in supply and does not suit all the people.

The GM insulin has the following advantages:

1. Easier to create higher quantities of insulin

2. It is less likely to cause the adverse reaction

3. It helps in overcoming the ethical concerns of vegetarians.

(BBC.co.uk, 2015)

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Genetic engineering is believed to have the ability to produce the toxins and all sorts of

allergens.

(fos.ubd.edu.bn, 2015)