~Genetic~ ~Engineering~
ELA P6
~Essential Question~
~ What is Genetic Engineering? ~
- The practice of rearranging an organism's genes to make a change to the way that it body works or attack disease.
- Types of Genetic Engineering are selective breeding, artificial selection, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and gene manipulation.
More Background information
- Genetic Engineering started in the late 1960's
- The first genetic experiments was done on bacteria, viruses and plasmids.
- The true founders of Genetic Engineering were american biochemists Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer
~ Pros ~
- Genetics can help change and modify human's genes for the good of the people like a cure of certain cancers in cells and tissues.
- Most diseases and illnesses can be prevented through keeping the exact gene that causes them away from other genes through isolation.
- Infectious diseases can be treated by using genetic engineering. This is done by implanting the genes that are related with antigen and antiviral proteins.
- Genetic engineering has the ability to increase the genetic diversity as well as produce different alleles that can be implanted to other species.
- It is also possible to change the heredity of the wheat plants and grow insulin.
~ Cons ~
- Gene therapy on humans can end to some side effects. While relieving one problem, the treatment may cause the onset of another issue.
- Cloning might be unfavorable to individualism
- Genetic Engineering is extremely expensive and the poor can not afford it.
- People may question if man has the right to interfere with the law of nature.
- It is a risky process and a lot of mistakes can be made that could be irreversible.
~ Conditions treated with Genetics ~
- Medical scientists now know of about 3,000 disorders that happen because of problems in a person's DNA.
- Restoration of youthful gene expression would enable cells, tissues, and organs to grow younger as opposed to the aging of cells that now occurs. This would help people live longer, if they can afford it.
- Genetic engineering makes it possible for scientists to give people who lack a certain gene with correct copies of that gene.
Some conditions that genetic engineering can help are:
- Sickle-cell anemia, Tay-Sachs disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Huntington's chorea, cystic fibrosis, and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.
An example of how Human Gene therapy can be beneficial:
A girl in 1990 with a disease caused by a defect in a single gene was treated in the following way: Some of her blood was taken, and the missing gene was copied and inserted into her own white blood cells, then the blood was returned to her body. If the correct gene begins to function, the genetic disorder may be cured.
~ Conclusion ~
~ Bibliography ~
"Advantages and Disadvantages of Genetic Engineering." Asia-Pacific Economic Blog. APECSEC.org, 27 May 2014. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. <http://apecsec.org/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-genetic-engineering/>.
Doughton, Sandi, and Kelly Shea. "Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering - HRFnd." Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering. HealthResearchFunding.org, 05 Apr. 2014. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. <http://healthresearchfunding.org/pros-cons-genetic-engineering/>.
Fein, Eric. HD Visual Working Memory Separates the Young and Old - Wondergressive. Digital image. Wondergressive. Wondergressive, 17 Jan. 2014. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. <http://wondergressive.com/hd-visual-working-memory-young-old/>.
Gene Therapy Proposes Creation of Designer Babies. N.d. Guardian Liberty Voice. By Cody Collier. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. <http://guardianlv.com/2014/06/gene-therapy-proposes-creation-of-designer-babies/>.
"Genetic Engineering." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc, 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. <http://school.eb.com.proxygsu-scob.galileo.usg.edu/levels/middle/article/274518>.
Maugh, Thomas H. "Http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar060513&st=genetic+engineering#tab=homepage." Worldbookonline.com. Thomas H. Maugh, II, Ph.D., Medical Writer., 2015. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
"Medical Discoveries." Genetic Engineering. Advameg, Inc., 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. <http://www.discoveriesinmedicine.com/Enz-Ho/Genetic-Engineering.html>.
Rubenstein, Irwin. "Genetic Engineering." Worldbookonline. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2015. <http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar220270&st=genetic+engineering#tab=homepage>.