Genetic Engineering the Controversy
Genetic engineering, quite possibly, is the most controversial area of science. Just the thought of cloning organisms using genetic engineering techniques has raised opposition from all over the world. ... I will clear up some of the controversy and confusion that surrounds highlight the social, ethical, and legal issues raised by genetic engineering, thereby attempting to clear up some of the controversy and confusion that is surrounding this subject. Genetic Engineering is the modification of DNA in organisms. Such techniques are very useful in combating genetic disorders. In addition, some of the other common uses of this technique are in agricultural engineering (AE), germ-line modification, and embryo selection. ... They also say that AE is bad because it “discourages genetic diversity, encourages an economically stratified society and promotes a consumption oriented system of value among other things. ... Germ-line genetic engineering involves modifying the genetic make-up of the egg, sperm, or embryo; changes which would then be passed on to all subsequent generations. This technique is only in it’s testing stages, but many scientists think that this may be a widely accepted technique to destroy inherent diseases in the family pedigree, because the “genetic manipulation of the embryo would cause the embryo to be immune to a specific disease, and the reproduction of the embryo would cause the immunity to the disease to be inherited in subsequent generations.