Genetic Engineering a Blessing or a Catastrophe - Research Paper Example

Proposal: Genetic engineering a blessing or a catastrophe in disguise! Discovery and invention led human race towards prosperity in various aspects of life. The modern scientific and technological advancements have enriched human lives with ease and comfort. Therefore, opening new doors for unattainable as a possibility. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of scientific advancement and research on human race. The different perspectives related to the particular filed of science and its aftereffects on the contemporary society, need to be looked into.

The information on above mentioned topic will be obtained from peer reviewed journals, scholarly articles, online books and different databases. Since the oldest times, man has accomplished several seemingly impossible tasks through rigorous efforts and with fervent zeal. The passion to discover and invent were never obsolete, thus the process of progression didn’t stop. Selective breeding of animals have been done in the past. It is even referred in Bible that Jacob mated the two types of sheep to breed a new one, which was a success.

This special knowledge was used with animals and plants to produce different kinds of species for enhancement of the productivity and quality of life. However, breeding, cross-breeding, in-breeding, have limitations, the process took tedious efforts and the traits were unknown, until the birth of the offspring. Like breeding was only possible among the animals of the same type. The difficult task was to breed two different animals like dog and fish to generate a new offspring, which contained the traits of both.

Modern technology of DNA made the impossible into a probable task (Herring, 2006). The term genetic engineering stands for the change in the natural genetic code done artificially by humans to produce the specific quality in other living being. It involves DNA technology, which influences natural organism’s genome with synthetic genes. The final result is a production or invention of artificial trait or cloning in the living being, according to the desired aim of the scientist. Genetic engineering has empowered human beings to make changes in the living beings around.

For example, a chicken with four legs and no wings, modification in goat’s DNA with spiders, which gave the silky essence in its milk. Induction of monkey genes in the mice and human genes in bacteria to prevent from different diseases, thus genetic engineering has enabled man to create modifications in already existing traits. This tampering with human biology is also a controversial topic for some. Some people consider it as a blessing, when in 1999 a child with pitiable immune system received a genetic therapy and the results were successful, the popularity of genetic medicine raised (Torr, 2001).

However, it has its own adverse affects as well. The known and well-balanced system, which already exists in humans to survive, is on the verge of being shaky. The new cloning and genetic manipulations have raised the questions of security all around the world. The power to create new species can also become a cause of ecological problems. In human genetic engineering, minor modifications can become a cause of death or terminal changes. With unpredictable outcomes of these modifications, prevention also becomes difficult.

It is an irreversible process and can become far more destructive. If only one deadly gene is infused in a human being it acts as a lethal weapon, which would be far more destructive than any weapon in the world. One major adverse effect of genetic engineering is the production of genes for the elite class, which would increase discrimination in society with full boom. Thus, the natural order of growth and change in authority would stop and it will eventually lead to slavery and domination. The distinguishing inborn qualities would extinct due to the yearning of perfection by all.

Therefore, traits in a human being would depend on financial affordability, and not on uniqueness. References: Top of Form Herring, Mark Y. Genetic Engineering. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 2006. Print.Bottom of Form Top of Form Torr, James D. How Will Genetic Engineering Affect Society?San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Print. Bottom of Form