How genetic engineering can positively impact the health of future generations

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How Genetic Engineering Can Positively Impact the Health of Future Generations
Genetic engineering is one of the most advanced technologies in recent history. It is the intentional manipulation of genes of an organism through the use of biotechnology with the purpose of producing improved organisms. Scientists have been actively working towards enabling the efficient and accurate manipulation of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Genetic engineering has the potential to enhance the lives of people. One of the positive impacts the technology could have on the health of future generations is curing diseases that were previously incurable such as cancer. Also, genetic engineering can be used to eliminate congenital disabilities before the child is born (Daniell et al. 134). Furthermore, the technology could be adapted to cure hereditary diseases and prevent them from being inherited by the future generations. In agriculture, the technology can be used to modify plants and animals to ensure higher productivity and better quality foods (Hu and Lizhong 726).
The application of genetic engineering in the fight against incurable diseases implies that people will be able to maintain their lifestyles without the fear of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or cancer. It can improve the health of people in society immensely compared to today. Genetic engineering has already found application in the fight against problems like cystic fibrosis, bubble boy disease diabetes, and many other diseases.

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that has resulted in numerous deaths among Caucasian Americans, whereby it affects one in every two thousand children and young adults. The bubble boy disease also called the Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, usually involves gene mutation which results in a deficiency in ADA thus destroying the immune system. The bubble boy disease is currently being treated through genetic engineering.
Although, the technology will likely have a positive impact on the health of future generations, it also likely to introduce an ecological problem. No one can conclusively predict the changes genetically engineered species will present to the environment of a region. There is also the likelihood of the new species resulting in an imbalance in the ecology (Topics). Additionally, a mistake in the genetic manipulation of a virus may lead to the manufacturing of a deadlier virus that could have dire consequences. Genetic engineering of plants and animals may also result in unknown effects such as unheralded allergic reactions in some individuals or toxicity to other organisms (Marco et al. 591).
Genetic engineering is a two-edged sword where it has both positive and negative effects. The primary concern is that once an organism has an altered gene, the process is permanent. There is a great need to study the implications the technology will have to the environment. More information is required to fully comprehend which limits are suitable to minimize or completely get rid of the negative repercussions (Troupe et al. 12).
In conclusion, the benefits genetic engineering brings to the society far outweigh the lack of information on its adverse effects. The benefits include eradicating previously incurable diseases, curing hereditary diseases, rectifying congenital disabilities before birth, and improving farm quality and productivity. The underlying challenge of the technology is the lack of information on its negative impact. Therefore, technological advancement cannot be halted based on a lack of knowledge. It is imperative to invest in the study of its implications and identify possible solutions. The potential of genetic engineering to improve the quality of lives of future generations has to be protected and advanced.

Works Cited
Daniell, Henry, et al. “Chloroplast genomes: diversity, evolution, and applications in genetic engineering.” Genome biology 17.1 (2016): 134.
Hu, Honghong, and Lizhong Xiong. “Genetic engineering and breeding of drought-resistant crops.” Annual review of plant biology 65 (2014): 715-741.
Marco, Francisco, et al. “Genetic engineering strategies for abiotic stress tolerance in plants.” Plant biology and biotechnology. Springer India, 2015. 579-609.
Topics, Similar. “Effects of Genetic Engineering.” Disabled World. N.p., 2017. Web. 1 Jan. 2018.
Troupe, Grace, et al. “Improving Genetic Engineering Secondary Education Through a Classroom-Ready Online Resource.” Journal of Agricultural & Food Information (2017): 1-18.