Shruti+G10

=    = = = =    = = = = __ S hould we genetically modify humans ? __ =  **By: Shruti Bakshi Date: April 20, 2008 **

**What is Human Genetics Engineering? **

In general, Genetic Engineering refers to the manipulation of a living organism’s genes to modify the proteins it produces, which would mean that we can control the characteristics it will hold. Whereas Human Genetic Engineering is when the genotype of the embryo is modified, so that we can control the trait it will contain when it’s born. With this technology, now people can have desired special abilities and appearance. Nevertheless, this technology has great social and ethical controversies.

**How is human genetic engineering done? ** There are **2** types of Human Genetic Engineering:  Somatic cells are cells that make all the parts of the body but not the gametes cells (eggs and sperms). This is why changes to the genes of these cells doesn’t affect the next generation as it cannot pass on. (Gene therapy, 2008)
 * __Somatic cell Gene Therapy__

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center; display: block"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">This particular engineering is very useful in curing diseases. An example would be that if a person’s diseased due to defected gene, a new and healthy gene could be added to treat the disease as shown in diagram 1.

<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Germ line associates with changes taking place in the gametes or sex cells (eggs and sperms) and zygote. This engineering is inheritable so the modified genes would be passed on to generations following. This therapy is highly capable to __“counteract”__ (Gene therapy, 2008) <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">genetic disorders but in present it is prohibited from being used due to several ethical issues.
 * <span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">__Germ line Gene Therapy__

<span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">**<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Role of vectors in the insertion **

<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> These two main types of engineering require the insertion of “corrected gene” to replace the defective gene. They are not capable to going in themselves but need a vector to act as a carrier. A vector is an agent or a medium which is used to carry DNA genes into the specific cell. There are a number of vectors that can be used but the most common one is a virus. <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> A Virus vector works in the same way as any normal, disease causing virus. As we all know a virus works by attacking their “hosts” (Gene therapy, 2008)<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> and release their genetic materials into them. A virus is programmed and has instructions on how to make more copies of it and slowly dysfunction the host cell. This is how diseases like HIV and Malaria are caused and eventually take millions of lives. In Contrast some leading Doctors thought about viruses that could carry good and healthy genes instead of the killing genes which could help the human body instead. Firstly the scientists would remove the genes that were initially there to cause disease and replace it with “good” genes. So after this the virus, as a vector, is inserted (as shown in diagram 2) into a particular cell to replace the existing gene in the cell. (Gene therapy, 2008)

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<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left">  <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">**<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Advantages of Human genetic engineering **   <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">  <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">**<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Disadvantages of Human genetic engineering **
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Firstly, the gene therapies mentioned above, are able to repair and replace defaulted genes in a particular cell and replace it with a healthy gene. This is really beneficial as deadly diseases such as diabetes, HIV, cancer could be prevented. (Genetic Engineering Advantages & Disadvantages, 2006)
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Not only these diseases will be cured for the person who underwent the therapies, but he/she will also be able to prevent the genetic disorders such cystic fibrosis, immunodeficiency etc. from to pass on in generations. So the offspring that develops will be inserted with the “good” (Gene therapy, 2008) <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">gene to replace the disordered one, and the cell would work normally.
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">The germ line therapy can be performed in an embryo, which means that any genetic disorder can be cured inside the womb. This is better as the baby will be able to grow to the fullest with all the nutrients that a womb provides. This is probably the best time to do the therapies, as the embryo is still in the phase of growing as in multiplying cells and developing organs.
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Not only does genetic engineering provide prevention from disorder but can also make us capable of choosing the characteristics of the baby. We could determine the intelligence, the athletic performance, the appearance etc and then these genes are passed on in generations to come.
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Genetic engineering is also showing high signs of cloning which would produce babies to the wish of parents as they would like the baby to look same as them or some other beloved by using the genes from their DNA. (Heaf, 2001) <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Finding the sperms and eggs of people with specific personality and characteristics are sold in many places also such as the internet, so it is possible know to buy them.
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">As the research of human genetic engineering to cure diseases sound very much possible agencies such as NIH donate about $200,000,000 each year, for the support of the gene therapy. (Genetic Engineering Advantages & Disadvantages, 2006)<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> This shows how keen people are to use this engineering to cure and help the needed ones.


 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">These engineering therapies have been performed on rats, sheep and cow under clinical guidance; these have never been performed on humans due to some technical and ethical issues. (Heaf, 2001) <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">All the scientists are also not sure that this is yet suitable for humans as it is fairly a new research which has only been around for a few decades. This is why there are no answers for any long term side affects.

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 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">In Roslin Institute in Scotland, some scientists effectively cloned a sheep which is known to be the first successful cloning of animals. However, a few months after the cloning the sheep’s health has deteriorated destructively. (Genetic Engineering Advantages & Disadvantages, 2006)<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> Statistics state that 50% of the cloning on animals has found to be successful, but out of that, 5%, suffered from bad health issues later on. So it means that only about 45% are successful. This is why it is not recommended to be performed on humans as it is not safe yet.



<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">The cost of gene therapies is very high not only because it is a relatively new research but also because there are many preparations and techniques used in it. Firstly this is not a one time treatment but requires several checks and tests before it and following it. It could be a 1 year treatment for a person. There is cost for the new healthy genes as they are received from a donor. As it is a very complicated treatment involving making of a good virus vector, and then inserting it into the body also costs a lot. In totally the cost for a person’s treatment for 1 year could reach $100,000. (Lane, 2008)
 * I<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">nsurance companies are not very willing to invest on these therapies as they are not totally successful, so a person could also have problems having insurance on his life in case of any errors during the treatment. The cost for insurance could reach $3000 easily. (Lane, 2008)
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Our immune system is very serious about any foreign objects being introduced to our body so has a tendency to attack the object. (Human genetic engineering, 2008) <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">This is a very high chance of this as it still happens with many transplantation operations. So in this case the gene inserted into the body could be ineffective. This being a first trial alerts out immune system which makes doing the therapy difficult.
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">A person would need to go with multiple gene therapy as gene therapy has been classified as a short- life natured. (Human genetic engineering, 2008) <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">There are problems associated with the vectors as scientist fear that after the virus being inserted into the body could recover and become a disease causing virus. This would further most make the patient seriously ill.
 * <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Research has stated that there could be tumor formed if the DNA is inserted into the wrong cells such as in “tumor suppressor gene” (Human genetic engineering, 2008) <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">This has been tested in clinical labs where 3 out of every 20 patients got tumor, which is a relatively high rate.

<span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">**<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">One-World issues regarding Human genetic Engineering

**  <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">**<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Ethical issue **

<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Ethics could rightly be the most controversial topic in the research of genetically modifying humans. As many of the cultures such as Hinduism, Islam-ism, Muslim-ism etc. are very much into religion and believe that god is the creator of humans. (Lane, 2008) <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">So genetically modifying humans would be taking the god’s role. Doing this is considered to be a big sin in these cultures. But many people who are in favor of genetic engineering believe that this is no less than any other science discoveries and is not wrong to use as it benefits human.



<span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">**<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Social issue ** <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Many also believe that genetic engineering could bring inequality amongst people who are genetically modified to the ones not; it is the same as the inequality between the rich and the poor. Sources say that genetic engineering can only be available to the fortunate ones and the parents who wish their children to have special abilities such as very strong, very intelligent, athletic or good appearance. In this way genetic engineering could also be addressed as __“genetic aristocracy”__ (Human genetic engineering, 2008).<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> This would lead to comparisons made amongst the children which would badly affect the non-genetically modified child. <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">In contrast, genetic engineering could also be good to the society as when the demands off it increase, people keep getting the treatments and soon, within a period of 2 to 3 years it could be cheaper. Then even the poor people could afford the treatment and this could very well end the inequality. (Human genetic engineering, 2008)

<span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">**<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">A graph showing the view of people on human genetic engineering in the U.S.A **

<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">**<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">My opinion on Human Genetic Engineering ** <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)">Considering the benefits, the limitation and the issues of this, in my opinion there should be a limit to the use of genetically modifying humans. I believe that the therapies (mentioned above) should only be justified in cases in which a person is diseased or the baby could be in risk on genetic disorders. This way we are using it for the good of man-kind. However I do believe that genetic engineering to gain special capabilities and good appearance should be fully prohibited because it would only raise more social controversies between people. I don’t believe that the therapies should not be rushed and only come under use after fully being rated safe for the heath of humans without any long term side affects.

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<span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">**<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> Work cited Page / Bibliography

** "Dolly (sheep)." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. 20 Apr 2008, 00:19 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 20 Apr 2008 <[|http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dolly_%28sheep%29&oldid=206792329>.] (Dolly (sheep), 2008)

"Genetic Engineering Advantages & Disadvantages - Biology Online." __Life Science Reference - Biology Online__. 28 Apr. 2006. 20 Apr. 2008 <[|http://www.biology-online.org/2/13_genetic_engineering.htm>.] (Genetic Engineering Advantages & Disadvantages, 2006)

"Gene therapy." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. 17 Apr 2008, 12:40 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 20 Apr 2008 <[|http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gene_therapy&oldid=206230274>.] (Gene therapy, 2008)

Heaf, David. "Ifgene: Pros & Cons of Genetic Engineering." __Ifgene -- International Forum For Genetic Engineering, Index page__. 27 Apr. 2001. 20 Apr. 2008 <[|http://www.ifgene.org/proscons.htm#Application%20of%20genetic%20engineering%20to%20human%20beings%20and%20their%20health>.] (Heaf, 2001)

"Human cloning and genes brochure basic science stem cells embryo genetics reproductive clone." __Association of Reproductive Health Professionals__. 30 Sep. 2003. 20 Apr. 2008 <[|http://www.arhp.org/patienteducation/onlinebrochures/cloning/index.cfm?ID=282>.] (Human Cloning, 2003)

"Human genetic engineering." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. 18 Apr 2008, 01:13 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 20 Apr 2008 <[|http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Human_genetic_engineering&oldid=206389851>.] (Human genetic engineering, 2008)

Lane, Alfred. "Access to Gene Therapy." __Santa Clara__ __University__ __- Welcome__. 20 Apr. 2008 <[|http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v10n1/wounds.html>.] (Lane, 2008) <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0)"> **<span style="color: rgb(222, 43, 43)">Mr. Covington's Comments

-Excellent work! -You need to discuss more of the ethical concerns

Criteria A: 5 Criteria B: 6 **

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