Genetic Engineering

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Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering entails the manipulation of the natural biological occurrence of genes in an organism to a particular predetermined or anticipated outcome using biotechnology (Nicholl 17). Often a thin line exists between what is morally right and that which must happen as a necessity to save a race of organisms from a malady or help improve the wellbeing of such organisms. Genetic engineering occurs in two forms that are somatic cell and germline engineering which serve different functions (Nicholl 18). Somatic cell therapy helps in the repair of damaged human cells that are not gametes, thus used for medical purposes only. On the other hand, germline engineering concerns the advancement of an organism genetically, hence mostly used for therapeutic procedures (Koepsell et al. 16).
Genetic engineering is a beneficial resource used in agriculture, manufacturing, and medicine. Bioengineering has the potential to better the wellbeing of humans, increase crop yield, help conserve limited resources and create new wealth. The upside of the field appeals to many, but there exists the downside which does not please. Genetic engineering if untamed at the current pace, in a few years all seeds and animals will be patented to multinationals and billionaires who will hold the world hostage. Genetic engineering is a powerful war weapon that surpasses the damage caused by a nuclear weapon. In light of the potential underlying in genetic engineering, it is the hope of the human race that a boundary exists to demarcate the limits of bioengineering.

History of Bioethics serves to remind that scientific discoveries and inventions on genetics are not free of the socially acceptable standards set in bioethics. Physicians, religious groups, and civil rights activist of today hold different views on the limits of application of genetic engineering as their counterparts of yesteryears.
After the Second World War, technology got heavily embedded in medical practice that it helped define the medical field as it known today (Martensen 166). The ethical code that existed in the medical field before the incorporation of superior technology was getting obsolete day by day as the medical field and technology got intertwined. It is during the period after the Second World War that resuscitating of patients became routine; organ transplants took place with no qualms, and interference to newborn life was common (Martensen 167). Because of the happenings after World War 2, the elites of society thought it wise to revise the traditional standards of healthcare practice that had become obsolete.
In the late 20th century a new term was coined to address the front at which medicine, theology, politics, life sciences, law, morality and philosophy meet; bioethics was a creature of the several interactions (Martensen 169). Core questions concerning morals of bioengineering were raised as early as the 1960s, the Christians on the ethics, Kantian followers on autonomy, and civil rights activists on the sanctity of human life. The USA was the cradle of bioethics. The coining of the term bioethics only paved the way for more complex debates like the one that has always surrounded the field of genetic engineering.
Contentious issues that sparked the birth of bioethics are still present in genetic engineering today. The major themes behind bioethics were the energies behind experimentation of new procedures on humans. Implications of genetic engineering on the society and an individual, the morality in organ transplant, the ethics of death and the role of medicine in issues of death, and lastly the implications of interfering with human reproduction were the other issues that sparked bioethics (Nicholl 170). Minimal steps to the right direction in the field of genetic engineering have occurred to address the themes that saw the birth of bioethics.
Genetic engineering has not fallen short of raising ethical issues no matter how hard the bioengineers try to limit themselves within the confines of bioethics. Genetic enhancement and Eugenics, human cloning and genetic advancement, constructing new organisms, genetic discrimination, and gene therapy as used by bioengineers create a myriad of ethical issue (Nicholl 172). For example, genetic enhancement involves making of supper organisms that are disease resistant, long living and includes any other attribute an engineer would love to see in a super organism.
Extensive use of genetic engineering in agriculture has led to developing of drought resistant crops, insect resistant crops, and developing of fast yield plants. Genetic engineering in agriculture has received criticism of equal measure as praises for the technology (Nicholl 202). Some people have abstained from consumption of genetically modified organisms because of moral grounds. What has kept many people away from genetically modified organisms is the fear of what may happen after consumption of genetically modified organisms. The Food and Drug Agency of USA has made it mandatory that genetically engineered foods are labeled to the buyer chooses willingly to buy such food or go the organic way.
Humans evolved over time because of gene mutation (Nicholl 13). Continuous gene mutation over the years made the human beings a better species; but the same procedure causes severe human anatomy defects like cancer (Nicholl 291). There exist more than four thousand genetic disorders among people. Genetic disorders may cause defects or diseases that may be degenerative or latent. For the lucky human beings, they may receive defective genes from their parents upon birth. Leukemia is a condition that society considers, as ‘normal’ but is a consequence of defective genes passed from one generation to the other. Gene defects may result from environmental factors or errors occurring during replication of genes.
While not all genetic defects and diseases have a cure as at now, scientists are each day getting cures for the conditions one after the other. The field of genetic engineering has made the study of genetic defects and diseases possible and stress-free (Nicholl 15). Apart from manipulating genes to cure diseases, manipulation of genes enables scientists to develop new strains of organisms that serve as test subjects for scientists. In the age where animal’s rights rival those of human beings, development of lab animals is worth enduring. The only fear that emanates from the use of laboratory created animals in experiments is the possibility of causing harm to organic animals upon approval of the procedure (Nicholl 18).
Away from human genetic engineering, there has been a substantial development in the field of agriculture and aquaculture. The pioneers in the field of genetically modified organism believed to be securing the world from the scarcity of food. However, food security was just the beginning as other scientists have decided to patent their products such that illegal use of the product warrants a court case (Beauchamp 30). The initial aim of genetically modified organisms for consumption is changing to commercialization and starving the world. There are many proponents of genetic engineering, but the field ought to concern itself with doing what is directly an issue of the human race (Beauchamp 33). Creation of genetic plants that may crossbreed with organic plants creates a risk of defrauding the world of the organic crops and animals; in no time, people will have to pay heavily to acquire patented seeds and animals after organics get extinct (Beauchamp 42).
Genetic engineering is complex and unpredictable, the anticipation of how a particular plant or animal will react when set free in the environment has never been possible. One known mess up that happened with genetic engineering is the Bt-corn case (Koepsell et al. 13). Bt-corn was safe for human consumption but produced an unexpected outcome. A study conducted on the Bt-corn showed that the corn had toxins in its grain that was dangerous to larvae of monarch butterflies. However, the poison in the pollens of Bt-corn did not wipe out the monarch butterflies, the bioengineers never anticipated for such happenings. The case of Bt-corn underscores the danger the human race puts itself in by continued practice genetic manipulation (Koepsell et al. 14). Relieve comes in through bioethics for it encompasses the law that is to guide any such mistake that would be occasioned by bioengineers. It is the law in bioethics that regulates the practice of biotechnology to avert possible human harming.
Bioethics will continue evolving since the possibilities of genetic manipulation are yet unknown; humans still fear to engage in the unknown. The mid-20th century after the Second World War technology became part and parcel of medical practice. The coining of bioethics was purposely to regulate the vast expanding adoption of technology in medical practices, of which many medical disciplines have strived to obey. The application of genetic engineering has spun into several fields in which tremendous changes have become a common sight. The field of genetic engineering has been used to treat and advance organisms through germline and somatic cell technologies. Benefits accruing from the deployment of medical engineering in different areas are many as are the drawbacks. Bt-corn is just one of the many goods associated with genetic engineering that come with a little evil. The upshots of genetic engineering are the attestations that the world will be livable if genetic manipulation happens within defined confines.

Works cited
Beauchamp, Tom L., and James F. Childress. Principles of biomedical ethics. Oxford University Press, USA, 2001.
Koepsell, David, John Shook, and Toni Van Pelt. “The Ethics of Genetic Engineering A Position Paper From The Center For Inquiry Office Of Public Policy.” (2007).
Martensen, Robert. “The history of bioethics: an essay review.” Journal of the history of medicine and allied sciences 56.2 (2001): 168-175.
Nicholl, Desmond ST. “An Introduction to Genetic Engineering Third Edition.”