Pros And Cons Of Genetic Engineering Philosophy Essay

Pros And Cons Of Genetic Engineering Philosophy Essay Biotechnology has existed for many years, even since the prehistoric times and over the past few years it has benefited us immensely. With biotechnology we are able to create pest-resistant crops, developing new types of plant or animal species and therapeutic drugs for humans. This implies that biotechnology is when a organism is taken and manipulated or alternated. This has lead to the creation of genetic engineering. This is when the organisms genetic material is taken and genetically modified. In the project I will be covering the question What are the potential Human Health risks of Genetic Engineering This will entitle the risks from food that has been genetically modified and genetic reconstruction in the human body. Positives of genetic engineering The positives and negatives of genetic engineering will also be covered. To begin with the positives, many people have benefited from the use of genetic engineering. It has been used to treat and sometimes cure diseases. Genetic engineering is most commonly used when there is a genetic fault that could create a risk for the patient. If the genetic engineering cannot fix the problem is can help by alleviating the symptoms of genetic diseases or faults. Not only does it alleviate or cure the problem but it will also lengthen and enhance the life expectancy of that person, if it is done properly. If a patient has genetic engineering done to them such as alleviating symptoms of genetic diseases, they will have to go through gene therapy. Gene therapy is the attempt of transferring normal genes into only the tissue that is most affected by the genetic disease. But there is reason to assume that the difficulties experienced can be overcome in future research. If the genetic defects are found in the earlier stages of the embryo, it is possible that normal genes that are transferred can be present in all of the tissue. Food wise, genetically engineered food can help and affect us. The benefits of genetically engineered food are; that the food source can create a natural pesticide to get rid of insects rather than using chemical or unnatural methods of pesticides, so there is a lower risk of people contracting illnesses or diseases from the chemicals, the taste and colour of the food can be enhanced, it may have more nutritional value and may have a longer life expectancy. Negatives of genetic engineering The potential risk of misuse of genetic engineering is enough reason for closing many doors on genetic engineering as the benefits just arent worth the risk. There is always the harbouring risk of genetic technology potentially changing the human species forever. Lee Silver, a Princeton molecular biologist quoted in animals, it only works 50% of the time, even when successful, about 5% of the time, the new gene gets placed in the middle of an existing gene, creating a mutation. For scientist and potential clients hoping for genetic engineering of their offsprings, these odds are not acceptable. Scientists still believe that genetic engineering should only be used when it concerns curing genetic diseases. But even that should still be approached with caution. Other problems that can occur could be the mutation of human or plants as discussed earlier. When it comes to plants, they are easier to genetically engineer as there isnt a human life at risk, but this should also be approached with caution as the mutation of a plant if allowed to grow in the environment could alternate the eco-system and can become a big problem such as throwing off the balance of the food chain and biodiversity. How this could happen is that the mutated plant could become a pest to other plants or to animals in the eco-system and can alter life in that eco-system. Other issues that have been brought up in studies is the mutation of viruses and bacteria which if not handle with precautions can harm or affect the human race and earths biodiversity if it happens to accidently be released. So the biggest issues of genetic engineering would be the risk of harming a human subject by creating a mutation and destroying the environment due to experiments and accidently release of the genetically alternated organism. Ethics of Genetic Engineering Questions that most people ask are how far should our ability to interfere with life be allowed?, should we really tamper with what God has created? and is Genetic Engineering really worth the criticism and risks?. Many people have a big problem with genetic engineering and many scientist have stick to the rules and ethics of genetic engineering. But the co-discoverer of the DNA code and Noble prize receiver Dr. James D. Watson also disregarded the risks of genetic engineering which did lead to him plunging forward regardless of the consequences. What scientists must realise is that what they create not only will affect them but all of us and the environment. But we shouldnt rely on the high priests of science to decide what our ethical decisions and opinions are. As discussed earlier, genetic engineering should only be really used for curing or helping genetic diseases, but then there are the people that take genetic engineering to another level where they start to choose the eye colour, skin colour, sex, hair colour and height of their offsprings even before they are born. Most people in society and especially in the Christian area would find this unethical as these people are trying to alter what God has created and trying to play God. Other societies have brought up issues such as; Are we blurring the lines between species by creating transgenic combinations? What are the known health risks associated with altered organsims? What are the long-term effects on the environment when altered organisms are released in the field? What ethical, social, and legal controls or reviews should be placed on such research? Are we inflicting pain and suffering on creatures when we create certain types of chimeras? Will genetic interventions in humans create physical or behavioural traits that may or may not be readily distinguished from what is usually perceived to be human? If the blending of nonhuman animal and human DNA results, intentionally or not, in chimeric entities possessing degrees of intelligence or sentience never before seen in nonhuman animals, should these entities be given rights and special protections? What unintended personal, social, and cultural consequences could result? Will these interventions redefine what it means to be normal? Who will have access to these technologies, and how will scarce resources if needed, be allocated? People have argued the fact that cross breeding is crossing the borders of normal and crossing Gods laws. John H Evans wrote a book on genetic engineering and the Christian views on it Playing God. In this book he discusses the issues and what other people think of genetic engineering of humans and other living organisms An author Stephen Quayle also wrote a series of books concerning genetic engineering and the Christian views on them. Human Rights activist Scott Nothwehr has also helped fight against genetic engineering by creating posters in magazines that with the chosen colours make the viewer uncomfortable with it, and this it would affect the viewers views on genetic engineering. Conclusion and Opinion In the end genetic engineering has its positives and flaws, but if one thinks, is it really worth the consequences and effects to have genetic engineering done? Yes it has benefitted us immensely food and health wise, but shouldnt the line be drawn there? Personally I go against genetic engineering when it comes to altering your baby and animals. I believe that God should be and is the only that can create organisms in the image he wants rather the image we seek and approve of. I believe the only time it should be used is when curing or helping stabilize genetic diseases and serious illnesses. If God want to create a super-human or a cow that lays eggs then it would have been done. What people must realise is God has given them the knowledge to be able to alter life but it is their responsibility to be wise enough to use that knowledge to a certain extent that does not consist with trying to play God. So my personal view is that genetic engineering is good when used wisely but a negative in my eyes when it is used irresponsibly and for uncalled for reasons. Results of flaws in this technology cannot be recalled and fixed, but become the negative heritage to countless future generations

The Victim In A New Light :: essays research papers

Upon first reading Aurthur Miller’s The Crucible, it would be easy to mistake Abigail Williams for the key player. When the story is examined, the antagonist is clearly John Proctor. Proctor was the soul inspiration for nearly every act following the dancing in the woods and the second half of the play is very dependant on him. Though John Proctor appears very simple in the beginning of the play, the reader soon discovers there is much more motivating him. He is very confused and tormented by guilt and suspicion. He seduced a young girl and later seemed oblivious to the cause of her obsession with him. He manipulated everyone around him. Acting on his constant indecision and half-hearted whims destroyed everything around him and many of the other characters in the play. Although most of his influence occurred in the exposition, his misleading corruption of Abigail, and then his sudden rejection of her, drove her to the extremes expressed in The Crucible. The confused, love-struck Abigail was simply doing what she felt was necessary to possess the object of her affections. Without John Proctor, the second half of the play would be non-existent. The girls would have tired of accusing witches and the plot would have died quickly. Abigail wouldn’t have had the dedication and passion in seeing Elizabeth accused. The trials would have never become as intense and concrete. John Proctor is a well hidden and underlying antagonist. In the story he may appear to be a victim, and many side with him believing that Abigail should be faulted with the severity of the situation. But Abigail is the victim of lust and deceit. Proctor took advantage of her and when he saw it convenient, he attempted to dispose of her. The stubborn and dedicated Abigail had faith and pursued his hidden affections. She knew that beneath the cold faà §ade he still kept the same desires as she. So is she really to blame for seeking it? John Proctor is the only character in the play that causes his own downfall.

Modern Artists and philosophers

Appropriate of all the choices we have at hand. However the instruments we use to define and determine our perception of our world have been leading man on in his quest for knowledge and science has been one of the key elements of this movement. But when looking at the history of the development, one comes to a degree of understanding regarding the evolution of scientific knowledge where one realizes that man has never actually been able to be sure of the legitimacy of his knowledge regarding the world around him (Time Inc. , 1965).Being modified under the most minute of observations and being based upon an infinite process of observations and experimentations has rendered science incapable of bringing man to peace with the world within which he lives. The outward appearance and the elements of the world that constitute it do not blend with each other. But interestingly, subjects of the non-scientific genre such as poetry and philosophy have begun to take the lead in this process of evolution of the perception man hold regarding the world around him (Heelan, 1989). Modern Artists and philosophers have contributed extensively to the cause.So much so that their work has reached well beyond the realm of the mind of the layman and requires delving into in order to be fully understood. The relationship between mind and body has now become even clearer than it was in the past as the scales of reliance of one upon the other have shifted. Modern philosophy has brought the mind of man to be the central element of his existence rather than the body. The body brings man to the elements around him, but it is his mind that allows man to reach a state where he can perceive their existence.The entities that appear to be based on their attributes and properties are in fact, not merely based on their attributes but it is these very attributes that give them existence, and for the same reason, it can be concluded that these attributes indeed, are the very entity itself. Similarl y, the perception of the space around man and all the elements present in space is also a subject matter that has undergone much debate and continues to be analyzed. In, the constituents of the universe each object has its own individual characteristics and attributes that make it an entity.However, the issues of whether the entity is based upon its unique attributes or the attributes together have a relationship amongst each other and come together to form the entity has been a much contested question. Over time philosophers have come to a point where it has been determined that the relationship between man and the entities in his universe amongst which he lives is not a matter so straightforward to comprehend. It is indeed nothing less than a breath taking sense of revelation that elates a person when one looks at the extent to which the perception of man about his world has evolved.From considering the entities around him to be mere instruments that are part of the universe and s erve only a secondary role to that of man, philosophers have come to a point where the entities that surround man are regarded to hold just as much significance as man himself holds. Works Cited Heelan, P. (1989). Space-Perception and the Philosophy of Science. University of California Press. Time Inc. (1965, May 7). The Limitations of Science. Retrieved January 28, 2009, from TIME: http://www. time. com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,898761,00. html

A New Era For Catholicism - 1324 Words

A New Era for Catholicism? There has been a new renewal in the Catholic Church since Argentina’s Bishop, Father Francis, became the new Pope. This renewal appears evident when listening to the Pope’s speech on homosexuality. Many of the world’s approximately one billion Catholics were shocked that he is taking a liberal stance in the Church and opening the Catholic community to these supposed sinners. However, it is important to consider why people still view Pope Francis as an open-minded Pope, especially since he has shown similar stances as his predecessors. This reaction to the Pope and interpretation of his stance as not fully opposing homosexuality is mostly due to the press defining Pope Francis as the â€Å"good† Pope and his predecessor as the â€Å"bad† one. Ever since its conception, the Catholic Church has taken a bellicose stance against homosexuals. They either chose to ignore their entire existence or viewed them as devilish heretics, only worth being burned at the stake. Since Father Francis has been named Bishop of the Vatican, the Catholic Church appears to have softened its stance on accepting homosexuals in its community. Both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI had strong arguments against homosexuality such as, â€Å"All Catholics are obliged to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions and where such unions are given the legal status and rights that belong to marriage, clear and emphatic opposition is a duty† (Pope John Paul II, 2003) or, â€Å"homosexualShow MoreRelated Religion Essay1608 Words   |  7 Pagesongoing tensions as social competitors of power or resources. Seeking the related aspects of Catholicism and democracy, the actions and words of the clergy directly influence political outcomes. The circumstances of the life of modern man have been so profoundly changed in their social and cultural aspects that we can speak of a new age of human history (Gaudiam ET Spes). Linking democracy and Catholicism, accounts for many elements of valued tensions within its religious system. â€Å"By and large. CatholicRead MoreThe Medieval period started at the fifth century and end around the fourteenth century. Many900 Words   |  4 PagesThe Medieval period started at the fifth century and end around the fourteenth century. Many historical events took place during this era such as the collapse of the roman empire, deaths of millions from the bubonic plague, a shift in paradigm for european’s world view, trade routes through europe, and the Norman’s conquest. The Roman church became very powerful and dictated peoples live through religion. During this time period, Kings and Queens while working alongside Christianity, gave societyRead MoreThe 19th Century1724 Words   |  7 Pagesone of the most important eras in the shaping of the America. 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Baroque style can be recognized through its use of vibrant colors, exaggerated movement and with a distortion of traditional shapesRead MoreElizabeth Ann Seton And Raissa Maritain1512 Words   |  7 PagesElizabeth Ann Seton and Raà ¯ssa Maritain both valued education in a way that was unprecedented for young women during the era in which they grew up. Once Seton and Maritain converted to Catholicism, they dedicated their lives to spreading the notion of love, faith, and knowledge to eager students. The most comparable aspects of their spirituality lie within their zealous education and missionary work once they converted. Both Maritain and Seton dedicated their lives to Christ in unique, yet comparable