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The Effects of Genetic Engineering Some scientists involved in the field of genetic research have been moving toward the goal of being able to change DNA. To some people, this is the chance for a better and healthier life, but there are other people fear that it is "playing God" and trying to "program" a human being. Each of these views is right in certain ways. Genetic engineering could be used to enhance people’s lives, but it could also be used to harm people’s lives. If future research produces more effective and accurate processes to manipulate human DNA, scientists will be able to create cures for diseases that are not curable today. Even birth defects could be almost totally eliminated if doctors were able to change a child’s genes before birth. The process could also be adapted to cure hereditary diseases and prevent them from passing to future generations. It could also allow people with family histories of diseases, such as cancer, to "fix" their genetic predisposition to the disease. Another way that genetic engineering could affect our lives is its application to plants and animals used for food. If farmers breed plants and animals specifically engineered to produce more meat or fruit, faster and easier than normal, then food would become cheaper and more plentiful. In addition, genetic engineering might allow the creation of better tasting, or more nutritious foods. Genetic engineering can also be applied in the fight against diseases. Through genetic engineering, people could maintain their lifestyles without the threat of AIDS or cancer. People of the world would not have to live in fear of contracting a deadly virus or hereditary disease. In theory, genetic engineering can accomplish this. Genetic engineering can improve the health of society tremendously then as it is known today. Today genetic engineering is used in the fight against problems such as cystic fibrosis, the "bubble boy" disease, diabetes, and several more. Cystic fibrosis is the leading hereditary cause of death among Caucasian Americans, affecting one in every two thousand children and young adults. Another deadly disease now being treated by genetic engineering is the "bubble boy" disease. This disease is characterized by a gene mutation that causes a deficiency in ADA, which causes the cells of the immune system to be destroyed. In 1990, copies of a normal ADA enzyme were inserted into an inactive virus—a carrier; the carrier was then introduced to a young girl’s system who was suffering from the "bubble boy" disease. The virus began to infect the girl’s T-cells and the colony began to grow. She was then given several other transfusions. In 1992 her treatment had proven successful and her immune system had grown very strong. Although they might have a positive effect, new organisms created by genetic engineering could present an ecological problem. The changes that a genetically engineered species would make on the environment of a region are unpredictable. Just like an exotic species, the release of a new genetically engineered species would also have the possibility of causing an inbalance in the ecology of a region. An accident or an unknown result could present several problems. An accident in engineering the genetics of a virus or bacteria could result in a stronger type, which, if released, could start a serious epidemic. Even worse, accidents in human genetic engineering could cause problems ranging from minor medical problems, to death. Genetic engineering could also create unknown side effects or outcomes. Certain changes in a plant or animal could cause unpredicted allergic reactions in some people which, in its original form, did not occur. Other changes could make an organism toxic to humans or other organisms. Genetic engineering will ultimately arise many concerns. These concerns range from ethical issues to a lack of knowledge on the effects genetic engineering may have. One major concern is that once an altered gene is placed in an organism, the process cannot be reversed. Other concerns include: newly introduced genes may act differently within a new host and the overall only term effect on an organism is unpredictable. There are also certain ethical issues of major concern. "Playing God" has become a strong argument against genetic engineering. Despite all of these current concerns, the potential for genetic engineering is tremendous. However, further testing and research will be required to educate society on the positives and negatives to genetic engineering. With the newfound breakthroughs in cloning, the capabilities of changing human characteristics are unpredictable. The most frightening scenario is the destructive use of genetic engineering. Terrorist groups or armies could develop more powerful biological weaponry. These weapons could be resistant to medicines, or even targeted at people who carry certain genes. Genetically engineered organisms used for biological weapons might also reproduce faster, which would create larger quantities in shorter periods of time, increasing the level of devastation. Like many other things, genetic engineering is a two-edged sword. Actually using genetic engineering would eventually unleash all of its effects, both positive and negative. After genetic engineering starts being used, our society will not simply be able to "put it back", "turn it off", or otherwise remove it. Once it becomes reality, it will always be with us. A study of all of the effects of genetic engineering can lead to responsible use of the technology when it is fully developed. Right now, however, there are no specific limits are on genetic engineering. We, as a society, are technologically ready to carry out genetic engineering, but we may not be ready for the responsibility it brings. Keywords: effects genetic engineering some scientists involved field genetic research have been moving toward goal being able change some people this chance better healthier life there other people fear that quot playing quot trying quot program human being each these views right certain ways genetic engineering could used enhance people lives could also used harm lives future research produces more effective accurate processes manipulate human scientists will able create cures diseases that curable today even birth defects could almost totally eliminated doctors were able change child genes before birth process also adapted cure hereditary diseases prevent them from passing future generations also allow with family histories diseases such cancer their predisposition disease another that engineering affect lives application plants animals used food farmers breed plants animals specifically engineered produce more meat fruit faster easier than normal then food would become cheaper more plentiful addition might allow creation better tasting nutritious foods applied fight against through maintain their lifestyles without threat aids cancer world would have live fear contracting deadly virus hereditary disease theory accomplish this improve health society tremendously then known today today fight against problems such cystic fibrosis bubble disease diabetes several cystic fibrosis leading hereditary cause death among caucasian americans affecting every thousand children young adults another deadly being treated bubble this characterized gene mutation causes deficiency which causes cells immune system destroyed copies normal enzyme were inserted into inactive virus carrier carrier then introduced young girl system suffering from bubble virus began infect girl cells colony began grow given several other transfusions treatment proven successful immune system grown very strong although they might have positive effect organisms created present ecological problem changes genetically engineered species would make environment region unpredictable just like exotic species release genetically engineered species possibility causing inbalance ecology region accident unknown result present several problems accident genetics bacteria result stronger type which released start serious epidemic even worse accidents human cause problems ranging from minor medical death create unknown side effects outcomes certain changes plant animal cause unpredicted allergic reactions some which original form occur other changes make organism toxic humans organisms will ultimately arise many concerns these concerns range ethical issues lack knowledge effects major concern once altered gene placed organism process cannot reversed concerns include newly introduced genes differently within host overall only term effect organism unpredictable there certain ethical issues major concern playing become strong argument against despite these current potential tremendous however further testing research will required educate society positives negatives with newfound breakthroughs cloning capabilities changing characteristics unpredictable most frightening scenario destructive terrorist groups armies develop powerful biological weaponry weapons resistant medicines even targeted carry genes genetically organisms biological weapons might reproduce faster create larger quantities shorter periods time increasing level devastation like many things edged sword actually using eventually unleash both positive negative after starts society simply back turn otherwise remove once becomes reality always with study lead responsible technology when fully developed right however there specific limits technologically ready carry ready responsibility brings Keywords General: Essay, essays, termpaper, term paper, termpapers, term papers, book reports, study, college, thesis, dessertation, test answers, free research, book research, study help, download essay, download term papers