Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is the scientific alteration of the structure of genetic material of organisms to produce organisms with desired traits. In my opinion, genetic engineering has its own benefits and drawbacks. Therefore, in this essay, I will further elaborate my view by looking at the benefits of genetic engineering from the health and environmental aspects - how genetic engineering leads to the advancement of medicines, increases better food crops production and how it can provide an alternative energy source and provide solutions to water solution. In addition, I will also touch on the drawbacks of genetic engineering by looking it from the social and economical aspects- how genetic engineering leads to sex selection and female infanticide. From perspective of health in terms of food, genetic engineering has increased the yield of food production to overcome the high demand of food. Food crops have been genetically modified to defend themselves from pests and diseases. For example, In Thailand, Super Jasmine Rice now is able to withstand changing season. However, with genetic engineering, undesired mutation may occur because this process cannot be controlled by man. There is also a risk of crops encountering new pests and diseases. In addition, the whole process of using genetically engineered food may disrupt the water cycle. Under the same aspect, genetic engineering has also played a vital role for the advancement in medicine. Treating genetic diseases in particular; cancer and cystic fibrosis as well as other illnesses such as influenza are made easier with the introduction of vaccines and medical treatments. As a result of this, man can now live longer with a stronger immunity towards diseases. Nevertheless, there are different reactions according to different individual. Numerous side-effects can be encounter before even curing the illness. Therefore, this statement has suggested that with the advancement of medicine with the help of genetic engineering has opened the door of freedom for future generations be freed from illnesses and disability. Hence, genetic engineering must be taken with precaution as though it may provide benefits to man, it has its detrimental effects too.

Looking at the benefits of genetic engineering from the economical aspect, genetic engineering has increased the financial potential of pharmaceutical companies especially in the health care industry. They make use of genetic engineering in exchange for money. This encourages investments by entrepreneurs that may lead to more companies to be set up and hence providing employment. Consequently, increases the standard of living of the countrys population as well as its revenue if corporate tax collection is practised there. For example, the United States and the legacy pharmaceutical countries in Europe particularly United Kingdom and Switzerland have been responsible for the manufacture of new drugs invented over the past decade. However, it can be argued that the money gained would be the main drive for abuse. Some companies that are profits-driven may only produce products that have high in demand and disregard the safety precautions or even refuse to make products that bring low profitability even though a minor number of people are desperately in need the product. For instance, in the United States, nearly three quarters of a million people a year are rushed to emergency rooms because of adverse reactions to pharmaceutical drug. For this reason, genetic engineering is said to benefit our financial condition but when the medical bills come, money is proved to be wasted for paying expensive yet ineffective drugs.

For the aspect of environmental, genetic engineering has provided an alternative energy source that has are more environmental friendly than using fossil fuels, thus reducing the greenhouse effect. It also helps solve the ongoing water pollution problems in the world as a microorganism can be used to clean toxic waste. On the other hand, the use of genetic engineering have led to the creation of biological weapons used in war, such as anthrax which also leads to air pollution and soil pollution that takes up to 50 year to decompose. A Science magazine reported that the people eating livestock infected with Anthrax have 40 to 75 percent chance of survival. In addition, the use of genetically modified organisms can disrupt the water cycle. This suggests that genetic engineering helps maintaining the biodiversity, but has at the same time led to the abuse of existing technology, creating effects that indeed can be life-threatening.

Regarding the social implications of genetic engineering, there are those who argue that it has the potential for human cloning. Human cloning can benefit the society by engineering spare parts such as organs for organ transplant and the cloning of perfect humans to take over humans heavy workforce. However, it has come into concern that only well-heeled people are able to afford and benefit from this invention as it is highly cost. In addition, there will be a possibility of invention being misuse as they can clone human slaves for their own advantage and hence this creates a social class system. An example of human cloning is the In- Vitro Fertilisation where patients are able to choose the desired gene and even the gender of the embryo. Choosing genders can lead to imbalance in sexes in the world population. According to a research done by the University of New South Wales, it stated that in Australia and New Zealand, the male birth rate of 56.1 percent meant the 127.8 boys would be born for every 100 girls.

To sum up, with the help of genetic engineering, one s health has been improved with better access to nutrition as well as medical treatments for any illnesses. It also increases countrys economy status by the setting up of pharmaceutical companies as well as lending a hand to maintain sustainability of earth through introduction of genetically modified microorganisms. In spite of this, genetic engineering has the ability to create new, if not worse viruses for both plants and animals. Environment can also be affected as a result from the process of genetic engineering and that is just the visible effects yet along the unknown harm it brings. Moral values especially the human greediness has led to misuse. Personally, genetic engineering may likely apply when intention is real; in this case, to enhance quality of life as a whole with no exterior motive should be involved.