Genetic Engineering

DNA, (dioxi-ribonucleic acid) is very valuable and versatile due to the fact that all life on Earth uses it in the same way, (as far as we know), DNA can now be controlled and altered to produce many benefits to society. This process of so called “gene-manipulation†is scientifically called genetic engineering, which is the method of altering and manipulating organism’s genetic or hereditary material to eliminate undesirable characteristics producing new desirable ones. It has been used in increasing the production plant and animal food, developing disease-resistant plants, diagnosing disease, improving medical treatments, and producing vaccines and other useful drugs. Although there is a major issue in society today stemming genetic engineering the main issue is the question of whether or not it is right to change the nature of life on earth to suit man’s desire, and if in doing so will it produce even more negative side effects than positive.
There are basically three forms of genetic engineering that are common today, selective breeding, hybridization, and recombinant DNA, or gene splicing. Selective breeding has been popular since after the Second World War, and is still used today. This method is most commonl

To some genetic engineering might seem as a new application of technology that can have a positive impact on society, however there are many underlying issues that are making some question how ethical and safe it really is. Critics of recombinant DNA fear that the disease producing organisms used in some experiments might develop extremely infectious forms that could lead to a worldwide epidemic. Animal rights groups have also argued that genetically altering the DNA of animals might pose problems for reproduction. Genetically altered animals might not interact with normal animals and most importantly have problems concerning reproduction. Also there is a fear that by introducing genetically altered animals to normal animals might change the behavioral patterns of regular animals. Environmentalists also fear that plants that have been genetically tampered with might have an adverse affect on other plant life in surrounding areas. They could interbreed with weeds and produce weeds with unwanted traits, which might make them resistant to herbicides. For example experiments that have involved transgenic oil-seed rape have concluded that insects developed a resistance to plants that have been manipulated to incorporate pesticides. In the issue of genetically engineered crops, underlying concerns are of how safe these are for the human body and for our o