Genetic Engineering
Uploaded by aaronwright1889 on Nov 16, 2007
Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering has been one of the most controversial ethical issues since 1997, when Dolly the first successfully cloned sheep was presented. Dolly has redefined the meaning of "identical twin"; not only does she look exactly like her mother, she also has the same genetic make up. This experiment was not only impossible but unthinkable, yet, Dr. Ian Wilmut revealed Dolly on February 23, 1997, at seven months old ( Travis 1). On the surface genetic engineering may appear to be the solution to all of society's ills and the world’s problems. In all actuality it may have tremendous and unknown side effects. The issues that surround genetic engineering undoubtedly make it immoral and ethically wrong.
Genetic Engineering as defined by Susan A. Hagedorn, is
the manipulation of an organism's genetic endowment by introducing or eliminating genes through modern molecular biology techniques. A broad definition of genetic engineering also includes selective breeding and other means of artificial selection ("Genetic Engineering" 1).
After hearing of the "creation" of Dolly, Americans soon learned the harsh fact surrounding her creation. Dr. Wilmut's success was preceded by 276 failures. This success rate is nowhere near clinically acceptable. To begin the development of the eggs, technicians shocked the eggs with electric pulses; twenty-nine of the 277 eggs began to divide. The eggs, were then implanted into adult female sheep; thirteen of which became pregnant, and only the one of 277 eggs was born - Dolly ( Wilmut 1). Long-term prospects of mammal cloning remain in question. Cloning is not clinically acceptable for experimentation on humans.
In the months following the news of Dolly, President Clinton requested, "a thorough review of the legal and ethical issues associated with the use of this technology... with recommendations on possible federal actions to prevent its abuse" (Shermer 1). The answer is clear-- there is no safe place to draw the line on when genetic engineering is acceptable and when it is not. Governments cannot claim that the uses of mammal cloning are strictly limited to curing disease, because then the question arises as to what is a genetic disease. For example, some may feel comfortable defining a mutation in the cystic fibrosis gene as causing disease if it leads to chronic respiratory infections from birth to death at the age of twenty-five. However, a different mutation in the same gene might cause little or no problem. Is this also...