Gene Technology and Social Acceptance - Essay Example

To what extent has genetic technology been of benefit to medical science? Illustrate your essay with two named examples of genetic techniques. Introduction Genetics technology modifies and uses the laboratory techniques to explore the genetics of a human cell. This testing also involves the analysis and the study of the chromosomes and the DNA. The chromosomes and the DNA are reached to by the human blood, bone marrow or tumors. The genetic technologists have reached to the human genes and tests have resulted in many new technologies and modifications known as the genetic engineering. Genetic technology is closely related to the medical science as it has provided the medical science with many benefits that has made some of the critical procedures to be carried out in a natural way. Genetic technology has been greatly used in order to treat the patients, monitor them and prevent diseases. Genetic technology has been a great contribution towards the medical science and has proven to be very beneficial. Many patients have been successfully treated through the use of genetic technology. There are many ways in which the genetic technology has proven to be successful and beneficial. The genetic technologists have also contributed greatly and are one of the professionals which are highly in demand. These technologists work in special laboratories in order to advance the genetic technology day by day (LeVine, 2006, 48). Genetic technology has given the power to medical science more than they ever had. Genetic technology is growing with a higher pace day by day and this gives the medical technology a boost as well. With the advances, come greater risks and benefits that have to be looked under their moral, legal and ethical perspectives. The human genetic engineering comes with great responsibility to the medical technology. The most beneficial use of the genetic technology in the medical science is the gene therapy. Gene therapy is the most promising use of the genetic technology in medical science. Gene technology is the treatment of a medical disease through repairing or replacing the defected genes. This means that the defected genes in the body that cause the certain disease are replaced by those genes that are able to fight the disease. New therapeutic genes can also be introduced in the body that fights the disease. These will help in fighting those diseases that are genetic. Moreover, as the genetic technology improves, there are chances that the cure of these diseases will also be found. This can be done through a genetic surgery or by inserting a corrected gene in the body (Vogel, 1997, 21). For example, the common problem of diabetes can be controlled by many medicines but since the genetic technology has been modified, it can be done through the genetic process. A diabetic patient’s body stops making insulin which causes the disease to get severe. Medical technology has introduced many drugs that produce insulin in the body but in an artificial way. Through genetic technology, a process can be carried out in which a cell of another fit body is taken and the chromosomes of that cell are inserted in the body of the diabetic patient. This enables the chromosomes to multiply and control the sugar in the blood through insulin. This has been a benefit as there is no use of drugs and medicines in the process. Genetic technology has been greatly beneficial to the medical science as it introduces such processes that kill genetic diseases. There are also hopes that in future, the genetic technology will be able to completely remove certain genetic diseases as well as the non-genetic diseases with appropriate processes including genetic surgery. Another benefit that the genetic technology has over the medical science is the use of the process that allows the physicians to critically analyze and diagnose a patient’s condition (Macer, 1990, 200). The genetic technologists critically look into the condition of the patient and the tests that are concluded are shown to the physicians who then find it easier to be able to treat the patient well. There are certain genetic conditions that can be analyzed through the procedure of critically testing the genes and DNA of the patient. This greatly benefits the medical science as they can carry out this procedure in order to get certain information that medical science could not provide them without actions like surgery or biopsy. Genetic technology can also prevent many of the heredity diseases that are not controlled by the medical sciences. Through a gene replacement, the disease can be prevented from further spreading into generations. In addition, infectious diseases can also be treated through genetic technology by implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins. This has been a great contribution towards the medical science. Even though it is a complicated process but the impact of this is positive as held by many of the scientists and physicians. Genetic technology has been a helping hand for the medical science (Liew, 1999, 263). Genetic technology assists the medical science in almost all sorts of diseases. For example, not only the genetic or heredity diseases, but heart diseases can also be treated through genetic technology. This helps the medical science as they can avoid the method of using medicines and surgeries. There are theories that include the creating of more blood vessels around the hearts of those patients who have blocked arteries. Through this the physician can treat the heart problem and prevent the heart diseases in patients who are most likely to adopt it. The genetic technology has seen great advancements in the recent past and tends to see greater improvements in the future. There are also methods that can be used to cure the cancer and other diseases through the genetic technology. Although the process seems to be very critical and challenging for the technologist, but the popularity and the support that is given to the genetic technology department is seen as a great motivation under which the technologists are working day and night to find out new ways of assisting the medical science. Thus, it can be concluded that the genetic technology has benefited the medical sciences to a great extent. If both the advancements are made together, there are chances of experiencing a much healthier world than ever. References LeVine H. (2006) Genetic Engineering: A Reference Handbook. NY: ABC-CLIO Liew J. (1999) Gene Technology and Social Acceptance. NY: University Press of America Macer D. (1990) Shaping genes: ethics, law and science of using new genetic technology in medicine and agriculture. London: Eubios Ethics Institute Vogel F. (1997) Human Genetics: Problems and Approaches . UK: Springer Read More