The Rise of the Genetic Engineering Controversy

In the present world, the rise of genetic engineering is one of the most unsurpassed technologies on Earth. It centers around manipulating the DNA of organisms and has sparked a remarkable amount of controversy amongst scientists, specialists, and even spectators about the ethical factors that it gives rise to. What are the different sides of the scale, and what should be done to address them?

Let’s give an example. Have you ever played The Sims? In the game, players contrive “Sims” avatars to embark in life simulations, which conveniently conceptualizes genetic engineering into perspective.  InThe Sims, players craft their avatars based on their quintessential preferences. Strikingly, this parallels the focal purpose of genetic engineering: to actualize a product with more desirable characteristics like disease resistance and the absence of genetic disorders.  This science is the deliberate modification of an organism’s characteristics by manipulating its genetic material. 

Lamentably, real-life is nowhere near as facile as a video game, and the advancement of genetic engineering raises overwhelming concerns due to an abounding amount of hazards. Experts predict that before long, genetic engineering will enable the concoction of deadly pathogens for military purposes…and its use could also create side effects that could be uncalled for and too complex to calculate. For instance, the spread of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant soy and corn ended up destroying a large amount of North America monarch butterfly habitat. Additionally, identifying which subjects to treat remains a befuddling matter. Though genetic engineering could eliminate genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis and hemophilia, further inspection only strives to pave a path down a long rabbit hole. Could people call a big nose or short legs a genetic disorder? Could they then petition to use genetic engineering to treat it? When do modifying genes become a problem, and how should it be controlled? 

Having said that, genetic engineering has potential to implement limitless possibilities for society’s benefit that were originally quiescent.  In fact, it already has. Have you ever remarked on the label “GMO” on your food? GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism, and it is estimated that 80% of all processed foods contain it. By virtue of how GMO products are made to be produced in greater efficiency, they are manufactured more economically and in greater quantities, which allows a wider range of people to access them. In like manner, it also lessens the strain on farmers and agricultural businesses in general. Moreover, genetic engineering has also made human insulin to treat diabetes since 1982, and is currently being implemented to develop treatments for HIV and other viruses. By engineering immune cells to attack cancer cells, many cancer survival rates have already been able to dramatically meliorate. This science has saved countless lives. 

Nevertheless, the debate over genetic engineering continues to evolve, and striking the right balance between its potential advantages and ethical implications is a long and winded road. It is worthwhile to note that this branch of science is still extremely untrodden, and there is an extensive amount to explore. This renders it necessary to wait for time and experience before drawing a concrete conclusion. 

by SOPHIA DU