Genetic engineering denotes the direct manipulation of organism genes using biotechnology. This involves altering the genetic makeup of a cell by transferring genes across and within species to create novel organisms. The resulting organism is considered to be a genetically modified organism (GMO). The practice has raised a lot of concerns about its application. Although many benefits can be noted, there is also criticism about its use. This article will mainly focus on how unethical is the practice of genetic engineering.
Ethical Concern
According to Sandel, advancements in genetics has offered humanity both a promise and a predicament. As he notes, it promises that soon doctors will be able to diagnose and prevent many debilitating ailments. However, it also gives the power to manipulate nature through muscle, mood and memory enhancement. For instance, a person will be able to choose sex, height and other traits for his or her children.
Further, this practice has made cloning possible, which has raised many concerns when it comes to human cloning. Various scientists consider cloning as unsafe since it produces progeny with numerous abnormalities. But supposing that technological advancement improves the process, the question of human cloning is still viewed as unethical. For example, cloning people violates the right to autonomy, where a child is denied an open future[1]. When parents choose the genetic makeup of a child with regards to another person’s traits such as a musician, the child may be expected to show the same feature.
Critics of this technology have also argued that it is not yet well advanced to be safe, and it could be prone to abuse. For instance, it is hard to imagine how a cloned person will integrate within a family and society. Religious groups are divided, with most opposing genetic engineering as usurping the place of God. Similarly, animal-groups have opposed genetic engineering due to the number of animals that suffer malformation before dying.
Genetic engineering has also created legal obligations with unintentional impacts. It is not only DNA sequence that will be patented. Crops and seed may be licensed, and this has caused concerns especially for farmers who are located near areas where such plants are grown. The seeds of the GM crops can move to other regions creating accidental growth in areas where they land. This has caused many property owners to compensate and pay royalties for product loss due to such issues in North America and Europe. The liability issue has also caused fewer farmers to work on their fields to avoid the cost that may occur on them.
Genetic engineering can limit the level of diversity, which is available within species. Some people view the advancement of genetic technology as having the potential to cause a rise in diversity although in a real sense it can cause a reduction. For instance, a preferred product may become the industrial focus when it does well in the market. There are numerous varieties of bananas, but only Cavendish bananas are distributed in the global market. Similarly, although there are many types of orange species, only navel oranges that use grafting and cutting techniques for growth are primarily cultivated.
As another unethical concern, genetic engineering interferes with nature and can be abused easily. Currently, some treaties and laws are designed to prevent such abuse. However, this does not guarantee that no harm will occur. The reality is that altering DNA can create serious concerns for some categories of people. For instance, a shellfish DNA can be inserted into a regular crop such as corn. When a person allergic to shellfish eats such corns, he or she would potentially have an allergic reaction. Over time, the approaches that have also been employed to alter animals and plants can be similarly applied to humanity. This can have huge impacts that are unpredictable to the society.
In some countries such as the US (United States), the process can be copyrighted. The US judicial system has allowed genetically altered DNA sequence to be patented. This will make it lucrative for companies to focus on DNA manipulation rather than work for the greater good of the human population. Moreover, many scientists will only engage in practices that are profitable, which means that fewer people will participate in the human DNA sequence to seek health benefits.
Genetically engineered organisms may also cause adverse impacts when interacted with other species. Genetically modified organisms cannot be always contained in a controlled environment. Eventually, they breed with other local species that have no genetic modification. These organisms tend to be dominant and can remove some traits from the domestic species over time. Further, they can also interfere with diversity within a species and causes issue such as reduced resistance to diseases in the future.
Further, the manipulation of genes within organisms can have negative impacts. Although the science behind genetic engineering has been proven, the results may be unpredictable. For instance, Dolly the sheep is regarded as the first clone to have been successful. What is not known is that Dolly was the first among 277 attempts of the cloning process. Twenty-nine embryos were created with thirteen surrogate mothers being selected in the effort to clone Dolly. It is thus evident that genetic engineering can be much destructive. Generally, the attitude toward the process is that the end justifies the means. This can be a problem when one considers the genetic engineering for human-based purposes.
As another ethical concern, genetic engineering only extends the resilience effects. Although genetic manipulation can fashion a natural blockade against harsh environmental conditions and diseases, the changes are not permanent. Over time, more alterations are needed since nature eventually adapts. For instance, pathogens evolve and become stronger and overcome the stronger animals and plants. The interaction between pathogens and antibiotics has evidenced this theory. Various microbes have developed resistance against antibiotics, which were once used to treat them.
Genetic engineering has caused a rise in congenital disabilities. Although this technology has created stronger and healthier animals and plants, it has also resulted in more animals and plants mutations or congenital disabilities, which can harm a species. For instance, gene therapy has caused more genetic conditions even when the initial condition is treated[2]. Currently, the absolute isolation of a particular cell for a specific trait is difficult since most cells are responsible for more than one function.
This technology can lead to the emergence of new pathogens. When the horizontal transfer of gene occurs, there is a risk of creating different kinds of pathogen. Although the process of improving resistance to some diseases and pest ensue through genetic alteration, the resistance genes can similarly be transferred to the pathogens or pests. This can increase harm to the food chain specifically when the pathogen affects more than one species. Bird influenza is an excellent example of such a risk.
Similarly, genetic modification does not assure a higher nutritional value in a food product. Although scientists can modify animals and plants to have a raised level of nutrients, this is not an assurance that the results will be as envisioned. For instance, fat striping within muscle tissues of poultry has had significant impacts on the nutritional content of the overall meat being produced. Also, some poultry products have an additional 200 percent in the content of fat in comparison to products used a generation ago. Increased rate of growth has also reduced the level of protein as well as the overall nutritional level.
These practices also cause animals to be viewed as commodities since the goal behind genetic engineering is often to serve the needs of humanity. For instance, scientists inserted a gene into the Belgian blue cow, which inhibited the production of myostatin. Since the growth of muscles was not repressed, the breed doubled in muscle mass and essentially gave it a big body size that was good for meat production, although it was disadvantageous to the overall wellbeing of the animal.
Conclusion
Genetic engineering has been used in many fields including agriculture, research, biotechnology, medicine and industrial. Although numerous benefits can be derived from this advancement, the practice has faced criticism that has raised ethical concerns about its application. The above ethical concerns depict that there is a need to manage the technology and science behind the process carefully. This is thus not a procedure that ought to be rushed into with the anticipation of fast results and quick profits.
Bibliography
Sandel, Michael J. The case against perfection: What’s wrong with designer children, bionic athletes, and genetic engineering. London: Routledge, 2012.
[1]. Michael J. Sandel, The case against perfection: What’s wrong with designer children, bionic athletes, and genetic engineering. London: Routledge, 2012.
[2]. Sandel, Michael J. The case against perfection: What’s wrong with designer children, bionic athletes, and genetic engineering. London: Routledge, 2012.
