Genetics Engineering :: essays research papers

Genetics EngineeringHollywood has been showing it to us for years. Frankenstein, The SixMillion Dollar Man, Jurassic Park, etc. the list goes on. All these movies showmans instinct to create. This fiction of playing God in recent years isbecoming a reality.In 1952, deoxyribonucleic biting was discovered(Dewitt, 1994). The spiralstaircase molecule, DNA. DNA is the building block of life. This block holdsthe code for every aspect of any life on the planet Earth. DNA decides whether ace life will be a plant or rhinoceros. DNA also carries the information thattells how smart, creative, bossy, shy, athletic, or any other description youcan prize of. The secret code of DNA would prove to be invaluable. This isthe reason the Human Genome Project has been started. Scientist around the worldare using super computers to crack the code. This 15 year project is predictedto end by the year 2005(Dewitt, 1994). That is only 10 years from now. What doesthat mean to the average Joe?Well, today we already live with genetically engineered items. The FDAhas sanctioned bioengineered tomatoes that ripen without rotting(Dewitt, 1994).Entire herds of cattle are now being injected with a growth hormone(BST) so thatthey will produce more milk than ordinary cattle(Dewitt, 1994). as well as droughtresistance grass that needs no moving.Scientists will soon be able to collect DNA from endangered species.This DNA could be use to clone more condors, bald eagle, mountain gorillas, andmany other animals. Totally extinct animals may be recreated as well, i.e.Jurassic Park. Imagine having your own fogy bird or pet triceratops.Many types of diseases will be cured. Just take out the gene that givingyou the problem. Pure panacea. As soon as a baby is born his or hers parentswill know everything about him or her. If they will be artistic. testament she getbreast cancer? Will he be tall or short? Is he a genius. Ten years from 2005,these questions wont even have to be asked. do to order babies.M ade to order babies?? Is this where we are headed? Its only a matterof time before a presidents hair clippings are swept up at a barbershop and thusly used to detect what diseases he has or is susceptible to. The rich may oneday be able to obtain immortality by cloning themselves. I couldnt picturethree Donald Trumps all thinking the same.There is even a darker side to this. Governments may decide to createsuper soldiers. Killing machines with top physiologic and mental prowess. This wasthe dream of Adolf Hitler himself.