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Topic: Genetic Engineering
Questions: Should people use genetic engineering in life? Discuss
Format: A report
Name: Christine
Subject: English as second language
Words:
Contents page
List of table ………………………………………………………...………..…..iii
Table 1: Four main steps of genetic engineering works……….……..………. 2
Table 2: current and potential biotechnology applications ……..……………4
Introduction ………………………………………………………….…….……. 1
Process of genetic engineering works ………………………………..…………. 2
Multi – purpose of genetic engineering ……………………………….………... 3
Benefits of genetic engineering …………………………………….…………... 4
Disadvantages of genetic engineering ……………………………….…………. 5
Solutions for genetic engineering …………………………………..…………… 5
Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………. 6
Reference list ……………………………………………………………………. 7
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1.0 Introduction
Genetic engineering has not made many contributions to the humanity, but received quite disputes. In this paper, there will be several examples of genetic engineering practiced in the medicine application. Since many people can make use of it, the main idea is that genetic engineering can bring human society many benefits and people should use genetic engineering in their daily life. The first part will introduce the process of genetic engineering works in order to let more people understand what genetic engineering is. The second part is about multi–purpose of genetic engineering, for genetic engineering can be used in many different ways, such as agriculture medical research and environment. There are many examples which show the advantages of genetic engineering. However, genetic engineering also has some disadvantages. The next part is about the disadvantages. The last part shows some solutions to how to solve some problems of the genetic engineering and how to let the genetic engineering into human life.#p#分页标题#e#
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2.0 Process of genetic engineering works
Genetic engineering is a very intricate process, but the basics of genetic engineering can be reduced to four main steps.
Table 1: Four main steps of genetic engineering works
Step 1 Finding a gene
Step 2 Finding a single-celled host
Step 3 Finding a way to transfer or alter the gene
Step 4 Coaxing the host organism to grow
(Marshall, 1999)
2.1 finding a gene
Finding a gene to manipulate is hard, because a simple organism like a bacteria, has thousands of genes. Also, not every gene is useful that means if you want to find a useful gene, you need to tests many time. However, in recent years, scientists have created DNA libraries-collections of cloned DNA segments that can be used to obtain genes that have been isolated (Marshall, 1999). So genetic engineers can easily research genetic engineering. For example, genomic mappings that can help many scientists navigate around the genome, to find new genes (Craig, 2004).
2.2http://www.ukassignment.org/liuxuezuoyedaixie/xinxilanzuoye/
Genetic engineer need to finding a single-celled host, because of every gene need a host organism to put it into, and genetic engineer cannot to change this organism when it an adult. Also, when organism grows, the new DNA will be born, and the organism will pass the new DNA onto the next generation (Marshall, 1999).
Additional, finding a way to transfer the gene is also very difficult. The gene transfer means the insertion of unrelated genetic information in the form of DNA into cells (Hanna, 2002). The reason by transfer the gene is difficult is there are many different ways for gene transfer and those ways between plans and animals are not same. Especially, the number of gene transfer successful in plants is very limited.
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Finally step is coaxing the host organism to grow that is very mysterious step for any genetic engineers, because in the whole process they do not was it succeeds. Nowadays, scientists also do not have any ideas for this problem, so many genetic engineers just waiting for last minute. If it unsuccessful, they need to conduct entire process.
3.0 Multi – purpose of genetic engineering
Genetic engineering can use for many different ways, such as agricultural technology, medical research and environment.
The most widely used in genetic engineering is the agricultural technology. For example: one of the best-known applications of genetic engineering is the creation of GMOs for food use, such as foods resist insect pests, bacterial or fungal infection, resist herbicides to improve yield, have longer freshness than otherwise, or have superior nutritional value.
Also, people can use genetic engineering for medical research. Nowadays, there have many productions of pharmaceuticals from genetic engineering. For example: the first genetically engineered medicine was synthetic human insulin, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 1982. Another early application of genetic engineering was to create human growth hormone as replacement for a compound that was previously extracted from human cadavers (Genetic engineering, n.d). #p#分页标题#e#
Additional, in materials science, a genetically modified virus has been used to construct a more environmentally friendly lithium-ion battery. At the same time, the world already to face some global problems, such as peak oil prices, choking mega-city pollution of waste soil and so on (The Future of Biofuels, 2010). However, genetic engineering already can solve some of those problems. So these two examples are show about genetic engineering can use for environment.
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Table 2: current and potential biotechnology applications
Agricultural technology
Medical research Environment.
Improved food storage and nutritional quality More specific therapeutics with minimal side effects Bioremediation of heavy metals, oil and chemicals
Improved pest and disease resistance New and improved vaccines and diagnostic tests Conversion of waste to energy
Selective herbicide tolerance Testing and treatment for genetic diseases Contaminant testing
Improved animal welfare exotic weed and feral pest control
Higher yields and quality
4.0 Benefits of genetic engineering
Genetic engineering is becoming more and more popular and it has getting into people’s life. In recent years, there is a new word in the science circles which called “Baby design”. Baby design is using Genetic engineering to change some part of the genetic of the baby to be what their parents want. This technique can change the baby’s hair color, height, personality even genetic disease. All these things can treat before the baby is born (Benefits of human genetic engineering, 2002).
Genetic engineering also can be use in Pharmacology. In 1978, scientist was composed artificial insulin. In 1982, scientist was developed the artificial interferon. Because of those things Gene pharmacy is on industrialization. Now adays, the most serious problems are Cancer, AIDS and communicable disease. In 2007, about 7,600,000 people were died by cancer, over 400,000 peoples died by AIDS. About 13,300,000 people were died by communicable disease in 1998. Scientists are using genetic engineering to develop new medication to treat diseases. ~4~
Disadvantages of genetic engineering
However, genetic engineering has also created few serious problems like in New Zealand that exports will be damaged and it can risk people health (NZ exports and health at risk from GE corn, 2009). Also, the reason Ecological ethics restrict genetic engineering of plant is they considering about biodiversity. In recent years, genetic engineering of plant obtain huge improve; those improve push agrarian revolution forward. However, these kinds of genetic engineering conduce to the wreck of biodiversity. For example, it makes the food supplies from five thousands types decreasing to around hundred and fifty types. It also damages the soil, because the chemical fertilizer is point of importance for rising and decreasing the period of growth. #p#分页标题#e#
The same situation also happened in genetic of animals, this skill probably can help human to control the biotic population. The difference is it is not hundred percent can dominate male or female, bases on the rule of natural male and female need to on average. Therefore how to control the birth of male or female is the key point, if not being in due proportion it will upset the balance of natural ecology. When it use for human life the problem might become serious problem, so we need to consider more about use genetic engineering in human life.
Solutions for genetic engineering
Nowadays, genetic engineering still has many problems, so how to resolve it is worth paying attention to.
Basically, all most people think the products produce from genetic engineering is more expensive than the normal product. So if genetic engineer wants people can use genetic product in their life, they must make the cost decrease.http://www.ukassignment.org/liuxuezuoyedaixie/xinxilanzuoye/
On the other hand, the genetic engineers need to use genetic engineering by more ways like environment protection and human application. For example, in environment protection, they need to developing genetic techniques to combat the problem of industrial pollution. When they developed of genetic techniques, the oil slicks could be controlled by genetically engineered bacteria that feed on oil efficiently and exclusively (Healey, 2004).
Also, genetic engineering in human application is to xenografting. Xenografting means use of animal organs as transplants into humans, such as hearts and kidney (Some ways genetic engineering is being developed, n.d). Some people think it is immoral, but if this trial could be successful that can save many people and cured many people.
Conclusion
Above all, my report is including a lot of information about what is genetic engineering, multi – purpose of genetic engineering and solutions for genetic engineering. Also, there have many examples between benefits and disadvantages of genetic engineering. However, whether genetic engineering is good or not, one thing is certain that we need genetic engineering in our life. In my opinion, genetic engineering really has many problems, but nowadays scientist technology is very advanced and develops very quickly. So, they can try to solve those problems as soon as possible. Therefore, when all the factors are discussed, we may safely come to the conclusion that people should use genetic engineering in life.
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Reference list
Books
1. Healey, J2004, “What is Genetic engineering used for?”, Genetic Modification, The Spinney, Australia, pp1-3
2. Marshall, E1991, “Gene transfer techniques”, HIGH-THCH HARVEST, GROLIER, Canada, pp37-44
Newspapers
3. Jenkin, C2007, “Export threat if GE ban on canola lifted”, THE ADVERTJSER, Adelaide, vol.107, no.18
4. Smith, J2007, “Eating GM-foods is a health risk”, THE AGE, Melbourne, vol.107, no20#p#分页标题#e#
Websites
5. Benefits of human genetic engineering, 2002, viewed 20 April 2010, http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/benefits-of-human-genetic-engineering-faq.htm
6. NZ exports and health at risk from GE corn, 2009, viewed 20 April 2010,
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0911/S00004.htm
7. Genetically – engineered soya yields less, n.d, viewed 20 April 2010,
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ZD8v4T4TQEwJ:www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/international/press/reports/genetically-engineered-soya-yi.pdf+7.+Genetically+%E2%80%93+engineered+soya+yields+less&hl=zh-CN&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi343mzBdg-PePfZmwbzfqGx6XoCdUUpkzQGJJklMhN_9KM8SoP6XJiIu3k51TPAgl6ASyAfkShBMj8MNX7Jqeg2nkFkOJig-HP9cKPNWYEAhYhcZuv_9idHpECWv8OVMP0J8aj&sig=AHIEtbRD76SR3WRgWsplI_zNq3sV6KpPoQ
8. Fountain, H 2010, Decoding DNA, viewed 20 April 2010,
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/education/edlife/18genetics-t.html
9. Potential benefits of genetic engineering, 2002, viewed 04 May 2010,
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_genetic_engineering/potential-benefits-of-genetic.html
10. Kyu-tae, P 2008, genetic engineering, viewed 04 May 2010,
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2010/04/163_31552.html
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