Introduction
Genetic engineering is the use of molecular technologies or biotechnology to manipulate the genome of living organisms (Kuzma, 2016). This specifically involves the process of modifying genes in organisms, especially human beings. The activities in genetic engineering revolve around cutting, adding and changing genes of particular cells with the intention of solving medical conditions. Genetic engineering is a common process that scientists do with various intentions. Christian religious beliefs tend to hold far thought from genetic engineering. The bible suggests that “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up” (Mathew 15:13, The New King James Version). Genetic engineering ought not to be applied just for the sake of it; it should be permitted strictly for scientists and patients with no other means of securing treatment for certain diseases or conditions.
History of Genetic Engineering
In 1982, a yeast gene was engineered into a tobacco plant to make the first-ever genetic engineering plant. Chymosin became the first genetically modified food in 1990. Before these, DNA ligases and restriction enzymes had been used to develop a combined DNA of two organisms in 1972. This involved the use of DNAs from lambda and monkey viruses with the aim of finding a restriction enzyme, and they were successful. Subsequently, more improvements have been seen with genetic engineering, and they include refining of another restriction enzyme known as type 2, the use of hybridoma technology and the introduction of vaccines used for human treatments. Genetic engineering has seen the development of transgenic animals, genetically engineered drugs, and polymer development, among other things. Modern technologies have changed the game and taken genetic engineering a notch higher. The discovery of TALENS which is considered as an efficient manipulation of genomes with no constraints.
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The chronology of developments in genetic engineering attracted some great deal of criticism with experts warning of its risks (Wright, 2001). It is notable that many countries do not allow genetic engineering. In other countries, the idea still faces a lot of criticism from experts and members of the public who doesn’t appreciate the good in genetic engineering.
Benefits of Genetic Engineering
Amid the much speculations on risks, gene editing in humans actually has a lot of advantages that can help humanity in various ways. One such benefit is curing genetic diseases. Scientists have used gene editing to eliminate genetic diseases like thalassemia and fibrosis, which lack cure (Nodoushani, Sintay & Stewart, 2015). What gene editing does in such cases is replace genes to eliminate patients’ chances of contracting such diseases. Genetic engineering is also useful in delaying ageing of human beings. In such cases, gene editing ensures that human beings live more than their life span. Subsequently, this helps in preventing age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, loss of memory and impotence, among others.
Genetic engineering can also be helpful in designing genes for embryos to achieve preferred traits in unborn babies. This is what other experts refer to as the modern-day eugenics and is inspired by the human desire to eliminate certain traits and achieve certain unique traits in human beings. Human beings desire to have an additional unique race. Apart from just finding a cure for diseases, gene editing has made treatments much cheap. When scientists use genetic engineering to remove disease-related genes, it removes the stress of having to go through hospitals and spend money.
Illness treated by Genetic Engineering
Scientists have proven that gene editing can indeed treat illness in human beings. CRISPR is one of the earliest genetic engineering tools and was used to treat various diseases. Together with other tools developed in the modern era of time, genetic engineering can be resourceful in treating a couple of diseases. Cancer is one disease in humans that has been tested to be treatable using gene-editing tools. Genetic editing technology helps help strengthen the immune cells to fight cancer cells in the body. Blood disorders have also been tested to be treatable by the use of genetic engineering. Hemophilia is one example that has been treated by gene editing.
Genetic blindness is yet another disease that is treated by genetic engineering. Some forms of blindness come as a result of genetic inheritance from parents. In such cases, gene editing can be used to remove such disease-causing genes in the human body to treat patients from blindness. Cystic fibrosis is another genetic disease that leads to the development of respiratory issues in human beings. Being a genetic disorder, gene editing is an ideal tool that can be used to eliminate the disease in patients.
Side Effects of Genetic Engineering
As mentioned above, genetic engineering still receives a lot of criticism from medical experts and members of the public. In as much as scientists tend to conduct thorough tests to prove their procedures. Nevertheless, genetic engineering still has side effects on human beings. This is major because the process is artificial and may be subject to some mistakes.
A common side effect in gene editing is the development of new allergies to humans. Genetic transplant in plants may bring about allergic effects that did not exist in certain people (Attia & Saeed, 2016). Moreover, gene editing in humans is also a possible cause of allergies in human beings. Genetic engineering could also bring about the development of antibiotic resistance. Genetic engineering also inspires the production of new toxins in organisms. This is common in plants.
Genetic engineering in plants could also bring about the accumulation of metals. Gene editing makes some plants specifically absorb some metals such as mercury from the ground. If such plants are consumable by humans, they can lead to the development of some weird diseases in human beings which could be deadly in the long run. Another key effect of genetic engineering is the ethical questions and debate that gene editing has brought about. The emergence of many critics of science is as a result of genetic engineering. Many people hold the opinion that science has gone too far with genetic engineering.
Religious Outlook on Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering goes against the provisions of the bible that man was created in the image of God. Most Christian churches have publicly declared their fight against gene editing because they term as blasphemous. Besides, God is the healer, and no disease is not curable before him. Both the catholic community and Protestants have refused to approve gene editing, especially in human beings. Gene editing is an attempt to revise God’s creation.
Refutation
While many people believe in genetic engineering, other scientists still do not buy the idea of genetic engineering. The opponents of genetic engineering cite lack of safety as their major reason. According to this school of thought, human beings should not be subjected to genetic engineering.
Instead, only animals and plants should be subjected to genetic engineering because and their safety verified before human beings are put through it. The opponents of gene editing rate it as extremely unsafe. Therefore, it should only be applied as a last resort after every avenue has been exhausted for a solution.
Conclusion
In as much as some scientists and religious leaders disagree with genetic engineering. It is quite a proven solution to various medical problems. Genetic engineering provides a possible solution to multiple problems in humanity, some of which are completely unnecessary. Similarly, gene editing in plants offers a wide range of solutions to problems that can be solved through other means. Genetic engineering should be reserved only for the making of medicines and treating diseases where no cure exists.
References
Attia, T. H., & Saeed, M. A. (2016). Advancements in Genetic Engineering.
Kuzma, J. (2016). Policy: reboot the debate on genetic engineering. Nature News , 531 (7593), 165.
Nodoushani, O., Sintay, J., & Stewart, C. (2015). Genetically engineered food and genetically modified organisms. In Competition Forum (Vol. 13, No. 1, p. 136). American Society for Competitiveness.
Wright, S. (2001). Legitimating genetic engineering. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine , 44 (2), 235-247.
