Webster’s Dictionary says genetic engineering is the development and application of scientific methods, procedures, and technologies that permit direct manipulation of genetic material in order to alter the hereditary traits of a cell, organism, or population. I believe genetic engineering is the act of playing God. I believe that genetic engineering is good, but where do we draw the line? I think that genetic engineering should be used for making sure the child does not have any diseases, or mental disabilities. I think that people should not be able to choose eye and hair color, or sex. I believe genetic engineering is okay at some points, but there is a line to be drawn between what is right and wrong.
Genetic engineering is alright as long as people do not take it too far. Many genetic disorders such as Down syndrome and Autism can be cured from genetic engineering. Genetic engineering can allow genetic disorders to nearly disappear off of the face of the Earth, although there is no guarantee all of the disorders would be wiped out, because there are no guarantees in life. Genetic engineering allows the world to become a healthier place, and allows people to have somewhat equally healthy lives.
With good things, there are always bad things. Genetic engineering is like playing God, however. Parents should not be allowed to choose physical traits of their child such as hair and eye color. If a parent chooses to have their child be very smart, or a star athlete, they are playing the role of God, the child’s physical traits should be chosen at random, not by the parents.
Genetic engineering can be both good and bad; it is all about how it is used. Genetic engineering is a great thing, as long as it is used for the right things, not playing God, or anything like that. As long as genetic engineering is used for good, it is a great technology that can be used to make the world a better place.
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7 comments:
Genetic engineering is controversial. It is one of those topics that challenges the writer because it requires that we be precise and use terms carefully. As we write, we do not know the background, attitudes, and knowledge of the readers.
For example, you write: "Many genetic disorders such as Down syndrome and Autism can be cured from genetic engineering."
I need some help here. I am not aware that this actually had been accomplished. Are there cases where Downs Syndrome and Autism have been cured with genetic engineering? Or when you say "can be cured" do you mean that it is possible but has not been proven?
You write: "Parents should not be allowed to choose physical traits of their child such as hair and eye color." This very practice has been going on for decades, though not in a formal scientific laboratory.
Sperm banks are popular places for women who what to create the perfect child, or at least one that has certain characteristics. A woman can visit a sperm bank, look through a catalog where donor characteristics are listed. Then she choses her specimen to have
delivered to her doctor for artificial insemination. Take a look at this site:
http://www.geniusspermbank.com/
Long before sperm banks, there was John Noyes of the Oneida community. He felt he was the superior one and should father lots of children. He had a rather complicated set of rules for his community and the co-creation of children. Check him out. :)
I think you had some really good points in your essay but they could have been elaborated on a lot more. This was a tough assignment to wirte about, everyone basically felt the same there are good and bad sides of genetic engeneering, i think you showed both those sides well.
You made some good points in your essay. There are in fact many positives and many negatives to the genetic engineering process. I also agree that it could be useful if a line was drawn on how far it could be taken, but in the end the bads seem to outway the goods. This is why I am opposed to the process but you did make good points on both sides.
theteach:
For the curing of diseases, I meant to say that they can be prevented from happening before birth, therefore nearly eliminating the disease. When choosing physical traits, when a person uses a sperm bank or a certain person to try to get a certain physical trait, there is no guarantee that that trait will be in the child, while when you scientifically choose the child's physical traits, it is almost a guarantee that the trait will be in the child.
elleinad:
Thank you for the support, I put down everything I could think of in my essay so some points were more elaborated than others.
soulja boy:
Than you for your feedback on my essay, and thanks for your input on how it was.
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