Ryan+T's+Essay

=ESSAY=  media type="file" key="ryant-genetics-essay-0910.mp3"

The human genome has been advancing throughout the years based on environmental change. Now however we are moving through an era of science that involves humanity to change our own genetic material based on the idea that “we just can”. For many years we have been studying the genetic abilities of other plants, animals and ourselves. These studies had led to many new types of food that can now produce a high yield with minimal growing area. However just like many advancements there are critics, and currently they are using arguments such as: “We shouldn’t play God”, or “We don’t really know the consequences of genetic manipulation”, or “We are killing the earth through the production of these GMO’s”. The opposition is a majority of rich elitists that have no true idea what it means to be hungry or have to overcome actual adversity. Genetic manipulation is the future, and like any other step forward there are those that want us, as a society, to look back.

In the year 2003, we solved the great mystery of what we as a species truly are. Now completed the human genome project, a thirteen year research project, raises many controversial questions. For one, eugenics, the idea that certain genetic tendencies are better than others. Gattaca raised several issues with the idea of genetic prejudices, and making your children all they can be. Could this be the future of our species? Corporations taking any and all chances to sample your genetic material in order to see if you are “fit” for the company. However on the upside, pharmacologists will be able to design medication for the individual that needs it. No longer will there be a need to take a massive bombardment of medication to actually cure a disease. Cancer could be a thing of the past, no longer will we need to ingest dangerous toxins or cut parts out of ourselves in order to “possibly” cure this disease. Which leads to the next point of the human genome, it can be used to develop a perfect human. Getting rid of diseases before they can even inflict a human being, but where will the line be drawn? I feel that we need to explore the human genome to truly understand what it is. Without any research, we as a species, could be jumping into a real hell-storm of consequences. We do not know what gene controls which trait, which means that by curing cancer we could be removing humans ability to reproduce in the next hundred generations. So until we actually understand what we are doing, we shouldn't be playing with our genetics.

Perhaps this is the future, what man is supposed to be. We have the gift of reason, a trait that has seemed to have eluded other animals, which seems to be our primary everything. With that in mind maybe we are supposed to shape our future evolution. By creating our own future we ensure that our species will be best suited for future environments, able to survive on the given resources, etc. We as a species truly do not know, but we should still study the unknown. This might be the ultimate end to all suffering, and the perfect human. The creation of something truly great, and should not be inhibited based on the sole fact that it is unethical. However, on the basis of GMO's (genetically modified organisms), we really do need these low cost high yield products. The earth cannot naturally support such a large human population without forcing the deaths of millions through starvation. With all the war and devastation throughout the world, the last thing we should be worrying about is whether or not there is enough food to allow people around the world to survive. Also, to simply say we should just let those that cannot grow and produce enough crops for their society starve is moronic. We are no longer separate races nor are we separate people, we are one planet and need to support our fellows. To allow a fellow man to fall because of selfishness is no better than forcing the deaths of millions by execution. In both scenarios, people are wrongfully being committed to death, all because someone somewhere felt that they were better than those suffering.

The only infuriating part of GMO's and the alteration of genes is that organizations feel they should be able to own the altered gene. These corporations put millions of dollars into the genetic manipulation of plants and animals, creating entirely new organisms. Sure they should get a bit of a “kick-back” for their work, but to simply own a gene is preposterous. I am okay with these companies owning the process in order to manipulate this certain gene but to technically own an organism is simply out of the question. We could not draw the line either, because this could lead to a new form of slavery. When we are able to successfully alter a human being, who will be able to stop them from then owning that person because they contain an altered gene? Unfortunately no one would because companies such as Monsanto would have the rights to a certain plant or animal gene, so based on the precedent that company now owns that gene within said person. Human beings will once again be able to own one another.

As we leap forward into a world of genetic manipulation, we hit some very intriguing topics such as cloning, and stem cells. These could be the saviors the lives of millions of people. Based on current knowledge stem cells are undeveloped cells that can become the cells surrounding them. Which means that victims of Parkinson's disease will no longer be forced to suffer, instead they could receive a set of stem cells that could regenerate the nerve tissue of the affected areas. This ladies and gentlemen could be a cure to diseases that were once thought incurable. Yet we have completely stopped research on the topic based on a moral dilemma that we are killing a “human life”, by using fetuses to harvest the stem cells. However I find that the majority of the opposition is that of a more religious base, using their religious and moral beliefs to inhibit scientific research. I am fine with religious men and women, but when religion is an excuse to sway an entire country is when I draw the line. Biotechnology requires the use of cutting edge technology and resources, and if that means the use of fetal stem cells then so be it. The fetus itself was already aborted and thus going to be destroyed, so do not waste such a precious resource and let the parent to decide what is to be done with the fetus.

The research for stem cells also opens up the idea of cloning. To be able to harness the power of creating an exact replica of a cell in a petri dish is phenomenal. This could bring about an end to organ transplants or ,as with stem cells, halting incurable diseases. Therapies based on cells from your body could be more effective than that of gene therapies. A man with a failing liver or pancreas could have one grown for him in a lab, instead of the alternative of waiting for one to no longer be of use to the previous owner. Besides if the liver was grown specifically based on your cells there is no actual chance of organ rejection, which is a major issue when dealing with transplants. However there are those that take the idea of cloning too far, creating an entire creature artificially could lead to some major consequences. For example, if the human race ends up being able to clone individuals couldn't procreation no longer be needed. This would be an end to actual diversity, the same people would be alive and nothing would change. This kind of common human could lead to the end of a race or the end of our species as a whole, if we do not continue to diversify the gene pool our species will no longer be able to procreate because there would not be enough genetic diversity to create a proper human, it would lead to incest on a global scale, if given enough time.

Genetic manipulation is an extremely touchy subject that seems to lead to more conflict than results. However, this conflict is an excellent fuel to fully examine this subject before people blindly jump into a possible snake-pit. There are many ethical issues in this field that are making people wonder. For example, who would control the actual manipulation of our food sources? Could we be being genetically modified through the foods we eat? Even with all of these problems we still need to push forward in order to fully understand what we are dealing with. We must find a strong common ground in order to push forward and not get ahead of ourselves. Allow people the choice to support or oppose the ideas of these genetic mysteries, but do not inhibit all of us based on the opinions of a group that feels we are opposing God or spitting in mother nature's face.