Term Paper on "Biology - Genetic Engineering: Applications"

Term Paper 5 pages (1413 words) Sources: 5 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Biology - Genetic Engineering

GENETIC ENGINEERING: APPLICATIONS and CONTROVERSIES

Genetic engineering is the process of deliberately changing the genetic material of an organism by manipulating its deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecular structure for the purpose of transmitting those specifically designed changes to successive generations via genetic inheritance. The first documented (albeit unintentional) experimental demonstration of genetic engineering actually preceded the identification of the DNA molecule by almost thirty years (Aldridge 1998).

British microbiologist Fred Griffith identified two forms of the pneumococcus bacterium distinguishable by the presence or absence of a smooth exterior cellular coating responsible for its resistance to the human immune system response. Griffith accidentally transmitted that characteristics of the deadly pneumococci responsible for human pneumonia to subsequent generations of the harmless pneumococci that lacked that distinctive exterior coating (Aldridge 1998).

The subsequent discovery of the underlying structure of the DNA molecule and specific mechanism of genetic inheritance announced by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1957 lead to the eventual explosion of DNA sciences including the purposeful alteration of genetic material to produce desirable genetic traits in biological organisms.

In fact, so much research into the mechanics of human heredity were conducted in the interim between Griffith's first experiments that culmination in their 1957 announcement for which they shared a Nobel Prize, that the work of Watson and Crick is considered by many to unfairly overshadow the valuable contributions of Griffith and other predecessors (Gibbon 2002).

Since then, genetic engineering techniques have been widely used for different beneficial applications: in agriculture, modern farming incorporates genetic engineering to produce higher quality crops and healthier cattle; and in industrial applications, genetically modified bacteria have been developed into organisms capable of absorbing toxic wastes and oil spills (Elias 2006).

Some of the most dramatic and potentially useful applications of genetic engineering technology relate to medical science and human heath, representing practically unlimited potential for treating and even eliminating many forms of human disease entirely. However, because it involves the very mechanism of inheritable human characteristics, genetic engineering has also generated intense political debate and opposition, primarily from religious groups who view it as interfering with "God's work" (Sagan 1997). In that regard, the most controversial form of genetic engineering relates to human cloning, mainly because the general public is largely ignorant of the fundamental difference between the myriad beneficial applications cloning technology and the actual use of those techniques to clone an actual human being (Saunders 2001).

Beneficial Applications: Mankind has been purposely changing the characteristics of crops and livestock from the earliest recorded history, and long before any scientific understanding of heredity. Mere observation and simple deduction prompted the selective breeding of practically everything cultivated for human consumption. In principle, genetic engineering accomplishes the same purpose, except directly rather than indirectly.

Whereas selective breeding involves controlling the reproductive opportunities of biological organisms, genetic engineering allows scientists to add (or remove) specific genetic material to the living cell at the microscopic level of the genome to produce desired changes in the characteristics of successive generations. Modern applications of genetic engineering principles have made possible the manufacturing of artificial insulin used to treat diabetics as well as the process of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) used to assist infertile couples conceive, often using their own genes.

One of the applications of genetic engineering with the most beneficial potential relates to the isolation of human stem cells for the treatment of disease. Embryonic stem cells, in particular, represent the greatest beneficial applications, because they are capable of being extracted from the same embryos already made available through the IVF process and then used to develop virtually any type of human tissue required (Pollack 2007).

The use of stem cell technology will eventually make organ (and bone marrow) donation unnecessary, because genetically engineered replacement organs will be able to be developed using the patient's own tissues. In addition to eliminating the need for powerful anti-rejection drugs currently required to prevent organ recipients from rejecting their transplants, the incorporation of genetically engineered replacement organs will provide life-saving organs for the many thousands of patients who die every year while waiting for one of the few compatible organs that become available (Zuckerman 2005).

Because genetic engineering alters the molecular structure of the cells responsible for… READ MORE

How to Reference "Biology - Genetic Engineering: Applications" Term Paper in a Bibliography

Related Term Papers:

Biology as a Cross-Interdisciplinary Study Term Paper

Biology as a cross-interdisciplinary study is very broad in scope. It covers the entirety of human history as well as the study of all life on the planet Earth. As… read more

Term Paper 5 pages (1621 words) Sources: 17 Topic: Biology / Life

---

Mamdani Rule-Based System Defuzzification Genetic Methodology Chapter

Fuzzy logic, however, can address this proposition in an appropriate manner with the help of test score semantics. (Faculty of Department of Computer Science and Engineering University of Nevada, 2006)… read more

Methodology Chapter 22 pages (6138 words) Sources: 30 Topic: Engineering / Mechanics

---

Tissue Engineering Term Paper

Tissue Engineering is an interdisciplinary field which utilizes the principles of life sciences as well as engineering for the creation of biological substitutes or replacements that can heal, improve, maintain… read more

Term Paper 5 pages (1965 words) Sources: 4 Style: APA Topic: Engineering / Mechanics

---

Synthetic Biology Most Eminent Mr. Darwin Term Paper

Synthetic Biology

Most Eminent Mr. Darwin-

You would be most surprised, I would hazard to guess, at the many advances the science of biology has been able to take thanks… read more

Term Paper 2 pages (534 words) Sources: 0 Topic: Engineering / Mechanics

---

Genetic Engineering Cloning Term Paper

Cloning and Human Engineering

The controversy about cloning and human engineering has resulted in heated debate and discussion across a broad spectrum of disciplines and views. While cloning is essentially… read more

Term Paper 8 pages (2177 words) Sources: 7 Style: APA Topic: Engineering / Mechanics

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>