Genetic Engineering: The Tremendous Benefits Outweigh the Risks Essay

Wouldnt it be great to improve health c atomic number 18, improve agriculture, and improve our quality of life? Genetic engineering is already accomplishing those things, and has the potential to accomplish much more. Genetic engineering, also referred to as biotechnology, is a fairly immature science where the genes of an organism ar modified to channelize the features of an organism or group of organisms. Genes are found in the desoxyribonucleic acid (deoxyribonucleic acid) of an organism, and each gene controls a specific trait of an organism. Scientists have sight what many of these genes control, both in plants and animals. Scientists then abide modify these genes to gain the organism. For example, if a person has a gene that codes for a certain disease, scientists peck insert healthy copies of that gene to heal the patient. Genetic engineering is the hottest new field in medical research (Elmer-Dewitt). Although there have been most questions about whether genetic e ngineering is ethical or safe, there are too many benefits to ignore it. Of the many intakes of genetic engineering, agricultural use is one of the most beneficial. Scientists can modify plants to grow in ominous environments, places where there are often droughts and floods. Researchers are working on plants that can survive frost (Advocates . . .). Other plants are being genetically adapted to fight certain diseases. A good example of this is the tomato. If a tomato is given a fungal-fighting microbe, it can resist the gray mold called botrytis (Dyson). biotechnology is also making plants more nutritious by increasing protein and vitamin content. Animals are plane genetically engineered to produce meats that contain less fat. Scientists are even working to take t... ... and Leone, Bruno, series editors. San Diego Greenhaven press, 1996. Elmer-Dewitt, Philip. The Genetic Revolution Time. January 17, 1994. pp. 46-53 Food ergonomics Federal Regulations and Labeling. On-Lin e. Available http//ificinfo.health.org/brochure/bioregs.htm Genetic Engineering. The 1998 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Grolier Inc. 1997. Genetic Engineering. The newfound Illustrated Science and Invention Encyclopedia. Volume 8. Connecticut H.S. Stuttman, Inc. 1989. p. 1104. Loveard, Keith and Tet Sieu, Choong, Magic Genes. On-Line. Available http//www.pathfinder.com/asiaweek/97/0905/cs1.html The Economist, from the editors. Genetic Research Will Improve the Quality of Health cope in Genetic Engineering Opposing Viewpoints, Bender, David and Leone, Bruno, series editors. San Diego Greenhaven press, 1996.