Genetic Engineering Research Paper

Genetic engineering has become a very monumental topic of interest in today’s scientific community. It may not be the first issue that comes to mind when people think about issues that arouse public concern, however, it is still a topic that causes great debate amongst many individuals. Recent development of technology like the CRISPR-cas9, has stimulated a multitude of questions regarding the topic of genetic engineering. Many individuals have started questioning the ethics behind experimentation, how far scientists will be allowed to go with this experimentation, and how safe these experiments are for the environment and nature. These questions seem to be the main concern for the next chapter of genetic engineering, and although genetic manipulation

This idea of perfecting the human race is referred to as Eugenics. Eugenics is a huge branch of genetic engineering, and the idea of Eugenics first originated in 1883. Since then, the study of Eugenics has continued to grow and cause much controversy amongst many individuals. With the advanced technology that is available today, the idea of perfecting the human race has never been closer, and as a result, countless amounts of concerns and questions have begun to spring up. Due to the debate on when life begins, the experimentation on human embryos has remained a very hostile topic of discussion. Laws regarding this experimentation vary across countries and states, and the two most popular laws regarding this experimentation either completely forbid experimentation regardless of the source of the embryos, or fully encourage and support experimentation on embryos. This is not the only concern people have with the topic of Eugenics. Many fear the possibility of what could happen if this experimentation was taken to far, for if history has taught us anything it is that it will often repeat itself. For example, during the Holocaust, Hitler and his band of Nazis did many different genetic experiments on humans. Like many scientists today, Hitler had a desire to perfect the human race and create a perfect and ‘pure’ community. His

There has been much debate over the safety of genetically modified foods, and although most scientists claim that GM foods are perfectly safe, others claim that there could still be potential dangers. Professor Phillip James, Director of the Rowett Research Institute, states that, “The perception that everything is totally straightforward and safe is utterly naive. I don't think we fully understand the dimensions on what we are getting into.”. This ties into the concern that many scientists have regarding the issue on the lack of sufficient data on the long term effects of GM foods. Another argument against GM foods, is that the production of modified foods could lead to new toxins or allergens that could be hazardous to both humans and animals. Higher cancer rates have also been linked to GM foods, resulting in more extensive research into whether genetically modified foods could carry varied types of carcinogens. Despite these concerns there are still some scientists who believe the fears against GM foods are outdated. Even with all this in mind, scientists and researchers cannot argue that there are still some benefits to GM foods such as, larger crop production, bigger produce, longer growing seasons, and much more. To help quell these concerns many scientists believe further oversight and testing of GM foods should