Genetic Engineering - Case Study Example

Genetic Engineering Table of Contents I. Introduction ………………………………………………………. 3 II. Definition of Genetic Engineering ……………………………. 3 III. Goal of Genetic Engineering ………………………………….. 4 IV. Current Medical Treatments Using Stem Cell Technology …. 4 V. The Breakthrough in Cloning and the In Vitro Fertilization ….. 4 VI. Success of the Genetically-Modified Food ……………………. 5 VII. U.S. Presidents’ Support on Genetic Engineering Technology 5 VIII. The Main Ethical Problem in line with the Stem Cell Research 6 IX. Catholic Religion’s View on Stem Cell Research ……………… 7 X. Argument on the Beginning of Life ……………………………. 9 XI. Conclusion ………………………………………………………… 9 References ……………………………………………………………… 12 - 14 Introduction The study on genetic engineering started back in 1960s. Genetic engineering, transgenic, or genetic modification / manipulation (GM) are some of the terms used in referring to a direct manipulation of an organism’s genes. In line with the scientific breakthrough of genetic engineering, the study on gene therapy, stem cell research, cloning and genetically-modified food became very popular. Through genetic engineering, it is now possible to clone another animal or human being, to modify the physical appearance of a person, generate food, or to let the parents to choose the sex and appearance of their preferred child. Despite the success of genetic engineering, this technology is considered a very controversial subject matter because of the ethical issues attached to it. To enable us to understand the controversy behind genetic engineering, the researcher will first define the meaning of genetic engineering followed by discussing the goal and benefits of genetic engineering versus the ethical problems related to genetic engineering in relation to religious beliefs. By weighing the benefits and consequences of genetic engineering, the researcher will conclude as to whether or not the study of genetic engineering should prevail. Definition of Genetic Engineering Genetic Engineering is defined as the transfer of individual genes between unrelated species by using recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008) It means that the genes of any living organism can be transferred to another living organism via rDNA techniques. Goal of Genetic Engineering The three main goals of genetic engineering are: (1) incorporate novel traits into familiar organisms; (2) create new sources of familiar products; and (3) create entirely new products. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008) Current Medical Treatments Using Stem Cell Technology Medical researchers believe that stem cell research can be the answer to many human diseases. So far, there are already a number of current treatments that have already exists. According to some medical researchers, among the diseases, impairments and conditions that can be cured by stem cell technologies are: cancer such as bone marrow transplant (Kamada et al., 2005; Elaine, 2004), Parkinson’s disease (Wahlberg, 2005), leukemia (Science Daily, 2004a), spinal cord injuries (Klein & Svendsen, 2005), and muscle damage (Science Daily, 2004b). Despite the fact that the use of stem cell technology could cure a long list of fatal causing diseases, many of these promising treatments are still on the experimental stage due to financial difficulties aside from the social and ethical issues attached to it. The Breakthrough in Cloning and the In Vitro Fertilization In 1998, James Thomson derived the first human embryonic stem cell line at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. (Boyle, 2005) The first breakthrough came was done on a sheep named Dolly – the first sheep born through cloning. In November 2006, Robert Lanza proposes a new method for generating embryonic stem cells from a single cell of blastocyst. (Klimanskaya et al., 2006) Since then, in vitro fertilization was made available for couples who wish to have a child. Today, there are already a lot of children born from the use of in vitro technology. These children are not different from children born from natural copulation. In fact, these children have lesser chance of inheriting their parents’ hereditary diseases because their genes were already carefully chosen during the in vitro process. Success of the Genetically-Modified Food Genetically-Modified Food or the bioengineered food is another controversial issue. The main purpose of producing food through genetic engineering process is to prevent a possible hunger in some countries that is experiencing an unequal distribution of food. Despite the good purpose of genetically producing food, the anti-GM campaigners are continuously protesting against this type of technology because of the possibility that it could promote all kinds of threats like ‘the avian flu’. (The Guardian, 2005) U.S. Presidents’ Support on Genetic Engineering Technology During the presidency of Bill Clinton, the U.S. government was not supporting the stem cell research politically and financially regardless whether human embryos would be created or destroyed. In fact, Bill Clinton signed the Dickey Amendment in 1995 prohibiting the use of government funds for stem cell related research and studies. On the contrary, President George W. Bush supports the stem cell research. (Friend, 2001) Between the years 2001 – 2006, the United States Congress allowed a limited fund allocation of approximately US$100 million for the embryonic stem cell research. President Bush also enacted the laws that restrict federal funding of stem cell research on embryonic stem cells. He even extended the federal funding up to US$250 million dollars on adult and animal stem cells studies. It was in July 19, 2006 when President Bush vetoes the H.R. 810 – Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act; a bill that has reversed the Clinton’s law of not fully supporting the stem cell research. (Rep. Castle, 2006) It was President Bush’s decision to allow the federal government to provide funding for research on 64 lines of embryonic stem cells that causes a huge debate in terms of scientific innovation and ethics. The Main Ethical Problem in line with the Stem Cell Research There is a choice between the use of embryonic stem cell and adult stem cells. Many people, especially the religious ones, believe that embryonic stem cell research and practice is unethical because scientists use a combined egg and sperm cell along with their studies. Religious people believe that once the egg and the sperm meets, a human life is already involved. In the case of In Vitro fertilization, among the moral issues involved in this practice is the dilemma over the leftover embryos; the loss of embryos that is not implanted into a woman’s womb; the unmarried women who seeks pregnancy; the use of sperm or egg donors; and the increasing separation between biological and relational aspect related to the reproductive technologies. (Ciabal, 2003) The use of adult stem cells does not involve wastage present in the embryonic stem cell technology. However, more research and study is required for it to be officially successful. For this reason, many people argued that the study of stem cell research should focus on the adult stem cells. Once the adult stem cell becomes successful, the embryonic stem cells can be totally eliminated as well as putting an end to a major ethical problem. However, the main problem lies behind Bush, scientists, and other members of the U.S. Congress agreeing to use the federal funds to support the stem cell research using the ‘already dead human embryos’ that comes from the in vitro fertilization clinics. Catholic Religion’s View on Stem Cell Research The Catholic Religion is totally against the ‘Stem Cell Research’. Over the past few decades, the pope and bishops strongly implied that the human embryo should be valued equally as human rights. It should not be destroyed in any research studies. Nor should embryos be generated for such purposes. During the papal visit of Pope John Paul II in July 23, 2001; address his statement to President Bush; “Experience is already showing how a tragic coarsening of consciences accompanies the assault on innocent human life in the womb, leading to accommodation and acquiescence in the face of their related evils such as euthanasia, infanticide, and most recently the proposals for the creation for research purposes of human embryos, destined to be destroyed in the process.” He ended the speech stating that “we can be masters and not products of technology.” (Remarks by President Bush and His Holiness Pope John Paul II, 2001) Another response to President Bush came from Bishop Joseph A. Florenza. “However, the trade-off (Bush) has announced is morally unacceptable: The federal government, for the first time in history, will support research that relies on the destruction of some defenceless human beings for the possible benefit of others. However such a decision is hedged about with qualification, it allows our nation’s research enterprise to cultivate disrespect for human life…. The President’s policy may therefore prove to be unworkable as it is morally wrong; ultimately serving only those whose goal is unlimited embryo research.” (National Conference of Catholic Bishops on Bush’s Decision, 2001) Both the Bishop and the Pope’s claims are based on the traditional teaching recently restated in the ‘Instruction from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith – Donum Vitae. Emphasizing that “human being is to be respected and treated as a person from the moment of conception and therefore from that same moment of his rights as a person must be recognized.” (Donum Vitae, 1987) Basically, the Catholic Church’s opposition to the embryonic stem-cell research clearly revolves around the traditional ‘respect-for-life.’ Argument on the Beginning of Life We are all aware that fertilization – the meeting of the egg and the sperm takes 24 hours to complete. The fertilization process develops from an embryo into a fetus, and eventually into a child. Some people argue that a blastocyst is not yet an individual. Some people claims that a blastocyst is just a living organism that contains human genetic code; but not yet a person. Therefore, some people think that killing the human blastocyst is not a murder because there is no personal subject to experience the pain involved. This is the same reason why many people are pro-stem cell research. The fact that the Catholic churches do not agree with this point-of-view give rise to the major conflict between the medical technology and the church. The church believes that the time the egg and sperm merge and forms a new genotype is already considered to be as biologically; the beginning of the new human life. The church assumes its correlative presumption that a soul is already present in the ‘blastocyst’. Conclusion I believe that both sides, the scientific innovation of medical technology and the church meant well for the health of our next generation. However, there should be a limit towards the use of these technologies. In line with this matter, it is always important to weigh between the moral and ethical issues behind anything we do. For example, cloning another person may result to moral damages particularly on the person who is unaware of himself/herself being cloned. Considering the increasing size of global population, more agricultural land is being used for industrial purposes. In the process, it is possible that time will come wherein there will be scarcity of food worldwide. For example, the use of genetically-modified food is accepted in Canada, although the government imposed strict regulations on the type of GM food that can be marketed in the country. (Chaudry, Sept. 2007 - April 2008) In the case of federal funding which was released by President Bush for embryonic stem cell, it is possible to refocused on the government funding to the study of the adult stem cell in order to minimize and avoid the ethical issues behind the use of human embryo in the genetic engineering research studies. In the process, it is possible that the church’s opposition to the moral issues attached with the embryonic stem cells will be cut down. If this happens, we could end up finding useful methods to cure the long list of diseases related to bone marrow transplant, Parkinson’s disease, leukemia, spinal cord injuries, and muscle damage among others. Each individual has the right to make a personal choice when it comes to deciding on whether to support the progress of genetic engineering or not. I do not disagree with human intervention when it comes to purely saving the lives of many people. We have already seen the good side of genetic engineering technology with regards to the successful outcome of many patients who has undergone a bone marrow transplant in the past. In order to develop a healthier future generation, the use of the federal fund will encourage more scientists to expand their scientific-based research studies on the adult stem cells. *** End *** References: "Remarks by President Bush and His Holiness Pope John Paul II" Papal Library, Castel Gandolfo, Rome, Italy. (2001, July 23). Retrieved January 12, 2008, from The White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/07/20010723-1.html Boyle, A. (2005, June 25). Stem Cell Pioneer Does a Reality Check - Cloning and Stem Cell. Retrieved January 12, 2008, from MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8303756/ Chaudry, A. (Sept. 2007 - April 2008). Genetically Modified Foods. The Science Creative Quarterly , Issue 3. Ciabal, P. (2003). Ethics for Health Professionals. C&E Publishing Inc. pp. 66 - 67. Donum Vitae. (1987, February 22). Retrieved January 12, 2008, from Intruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation: http://www.priestsforlife.org/magisterium/donumvitae.htm Elaine, M. (2004). Essential of Human Anatomy and Physiology: Hematopoiesis. 7th Edition. Pearson Education Inc. p. 314. Friend, T. (2001, August 10). Scientists Predict Huge Impact on Human Life. Retrieved January 12, 2008, from USA Today. Health & Science News: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2001-08-10-stem-health-impact-usat.htm Kamada, T. et al. (Journal of Neuropathology Exp. Neurology). Transplantation of Bone Marrow Stromal Cell-Derived Schwann Cells Promotes Axonal Regeneration and Functional Recovery After Complete Transaction of the Adult Rat Spinal Cord. 2005 , 64(1):37 - 46. Klein, S., & Svendsen, C. (2005). Stem Cells in the Injured Spinal Cord: Reducing the Pain and Increasing the Gain. Nature Neuroscience , 8(3):258 - 259. Klimanskaya, I., Chung, Y., Becker, S., Lu, S.-J., & Lanza, R. (2006). Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Derived from Single Blastomeres. Nature , 444:481 - 485. National Conference of Catholic Bishops on Bushs Decision. (2001, August 9). Retrieved January 12, 2008, from http://www.euthanasia.com/bishopsresponse.html Rep. Castle, R. (2006, July 17). Statement of Administration Policy: H.R. 810 - Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. Retrieved January 12, 2008, from Executive Office of the President, Washington, D.C. Senate: http://www.nrlc.org/Killing_Embryos/SAPHR810.html Science Daily. (2004a, November 30). Retrieved January 12, 2008, from Leukemia Patients Survive with Stem Cell Transplant: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/11/041129112109.htm Science Daily. (2004b, December 16). Retrieved January 12, 2008, from Stem Cells of Limited Use for Cardiac Muscle Repair: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041206210424.htm The Guardian. (2005, October 24). Retrieved January 12, 2008, from The Ideas Interview: Gordon Conway - Are We Facing a Future of Death and Famine? No, But We Must Learn to Love GM Foods, Hears John Sutherland: http://www.guardian.co.uk/ideas/story/0,16345,1599276,00.html U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Retrieved January 12, 2008, from Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering: http://www.epa.gov/region08/agriculture/agge.html Wahlberg, D. (2005, December 15). Progress Against Parkinsons. Retrieved January 12, 2008, from Stem Cell News.Com: http://www.stemcellnews.com/articles/stem-cells-progress-against-parkinsons.htm Read More