Human Genetic Engineering Essay - 1521 Words

Introduction What if you could design your child before it was even born? What if you could cut out any life threatening diseases, make sure that your child is not susceptible to smoking addictions or alcoholism, and then make your child genius? Would you? Are you asking yourself how this could be done? Have you ever considered human genetic engineering? What is Human Genetic Engineering? Lets start by looking at the cell and the source of heritable traits. We know that all organisms are made up by cells and that new cells can only spring from existing cells. Cell growth depends upon the production of new cells and within each cell exists DNA. DNA contains the hereditary instructions need for each organism to grow and develop. Every†¦show more content†¦Based on those findings, Wilson performed an experiment on a person suffering from hypercholesterolemia (FH). This certain disease forbids the liver from processing cholesterol. The procedure consisted of taking a piece of the persons liver and injecting correct copies of the genes into the flawed liver cells, and placing the piece of liver back into the person. Two years later, the results showed that the corrected cells were thriving. As a result to the cells, the person had reduced their cholesterol by twenty percent. Cystic Fibrosis (CF), is another disease that is taking to genetic therapy. If a corrected gene could somehow enter the cells that line the lungs, it will then start producing the critical proteins that CF patients need. This has been done, although in small quantities. These results, however, have raised hopes that sometime in the future, CF may be curable. The parade of genetically engineered marvels, during the past recent years, has been shocking: â€Å"Flavr-Savr† tomatoes that stay fresher longer; â€Å"giant salmon† that grow 37 times faster than the normal fish; â€Å"transgenic† pigs that are injected with human genes which causes them to produce milk with human protein that prevents blood clotting; and â€Å"supermice† injected with rat growth genes which makes them grow twice their normal size, are just a few. The goal of genetic engineering is to modify genes in helpful ways, but thisShow MoreRelatedGenetic Engineering And Human Engineering3020 Words   |  13 PagesGenetic engineering is a highly debated topic across the world right now as countries are split for and against genetically altering crops and livestock. 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