Nowadays, scientists are investigating and
developing new ways of genetic modification. Great advances have been made
through the years. Some examples are the production of insuline or animal
cloning (like Dolly the sheep). Nevertheless, the science community
doesn’t always have in mind that playing with life can carry some consequences. The
study of these consequences is called bioethics.
In scientific language, bioethics is the
study of the ethical aspects and the risks of life sciences (medicine and
biology, mainly), as well as the relations of man with other living beings.
Bioethics suggests that not all alterations or genetic operations carried out
by human beings are correct. An example is the prenatal genetic alteration,
cloning or chosen mutation.These studies are related to all kind of science, but to resume we are going to focus just in the most important aspects of genetics that can have beneficial or harmful consequences which should be taken into account. The main points are: medicine, agriculture and food, environment and human genetics.
Regarding medicine, we can observe many
benefits thanks to genetic alterations. For example, the prevention of genetic
diseases, the production of medicines, different uses in forensic medicine and paternity
tests or gene therapy. However, there are also some consequences, such as side
effects from the consumption of genetically modified products or the creation
of new diseases.
In relation to food and agriculture,
genetics can increase the production amount and the nutritional value of food
and at the same time increase the strength and duration of harvests, food and
animals. But having in mind other points of view, that would mean a total
control of the food market by multinationals in biotechnology.
Then it is the environment. On the one hand, modifications in genetic structure
can produce biodegradable plastics or bacteria which feed in pollution. On the
other hand, if the modified species are not controlled, there could be a
displacement of natural species and genetic pollution could occur. It consists
of uncontrolled transfusion of genetic alterations.
From my point of view, human genetics is the most questionable part of bioethics. I agree that this kind of development is important, and it is good to have knowledge of the full human genome, but the creation of human clones or altered people may be really dangerous. It should have some limits. Using it to avoid human genetic diseases is right, but if we start using it to create our own personalized children just to make them perfect...well, you just have to watch GATACCA.
From my point of view, human genetics is the most questionable part of bioethics. I agree that this kind of development is important, and it is good to have knowledge of the full human genome, but the creation of human clones or altered people may be really dangerous. It should have some limits. Using it to avoid human genetic diseases is right, but if we start using it to create our own personalized children just to make them perfect...well, you just have to watch GATACCA.
I think this topic it’s very interesting. Nowadays, scientists are investigating and developing much more methods of genetic modification and in the future these ways will help us to cure almost all health problems
ReplyDeleteCurrently scientists are developing many methods of genetics. Now it is only to increase the production of agriculture ... I think it is a good idea since we will have many benefits
ReplyDeleteAll these developments have many benefits and help people. But it also has disadvantages or consequences, as it can affect our health or even cause problems. As the text says, it should have some limits.
ReplyDeleteThis topic is a very interesting one, people debate normally if genetics can be good or bad. In my own oppinion genetics are the future and they will change a lost of things into better ones.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting topic! Technology is advancing very quickly these last years. I hope that with this, many health problems would be cured, or maybe, it will be easier to treat them.
ReplyDelete