Genetic modification of animals has occurred for several years through the dimension of selective breeding. Individuals have preferred specific features for appearance, survival characteristics, and other elements in animals they desire to get in future offspring. They then reared the animals to designated mates so that they enhance the probability of offspring getting these desired characteristics. Current definitions of genetically modification of animals outline it as the alteration or modification of the genetic code of specific animals to change elements and to present some desired elements by altering the cell’s genome. This can be achieved by adding to or deleting from DNA or substituting of specific genes (Sasaki, 2015). This kind of manipulation of DNA is a very recent technology. Several years ago, through research and relevant findings, a king of engineering came to a reality that led to the understanding of DNA’s structure, function, and characteristics. This current paper is going to describe the technology and aspects behind genetically modified animals, discuss social and ethical implications of the technology and offer a personal position on the issue.
Biological Basis
Genetic modification of animals occurs through capitalizing on the distinct properties of DNA. DNA has a twofold strand helical structure with nucleotide base pairs joined up at the center with hydrogen links. This frail type of a link permits the strands to detach to be duplicated quickly. DNA is firmly coiled into chromosomes. The various nucleotide alignment and movement on the DNA strand make Genes. Such genes code form a specific characteristic in the organism. The genetic structure of the animal is referred to as the genotype, the material or visible characteristic that they code for is referred to as the phenotype (Flavell, Manz, Rongvaux, Strowig, Willinger, Murphy, & Yancopoulos, 2017) . Such a phenotype could be an appearance, a survival trait, or more needed quality for the animals. Recognizing the structural and purpose characteristics of DNA causes researches to separate genes, and alter them in several forms.
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Several techniques of genetic manipulation result into the genetically modified animals. DNA recombinant methods utilize vectors like plasmids and viruses that transmit foreign genes into the hosting cells. This technique is most often utilized to manipulate bacterial genomes. The plasmid circles may be fragmented permitting new genetic substance to be added in them (Trenkmann, 2017). This is practiced by doctoring the bacteria and a particular gene with a constraining enzyme so ends of each will link with one another on contact. Plasmids with fresh genetic substance can spread across the cells, plasma membrane and add the fresh genetic substance into the bacterium’s individual genes. The bacteria will insert the gene to its arrangement and start to give out the protein that it codes.
Another technique used in genetic modification of animals is the use of viruses. Viruses are infectious bits of genetic substance, which operate same to plasmids as vectors in genetic modification of animals (Flavell et al., 2017). The virus transports the gene into a host cell that is the same as the plasmids. Scholars can select the bacteria that possess the new genes attached in them and utilize those bacteria to put the gene into the intended animal.
Microinjection is a technique that does not utilize biological vectors of viruses as well as plasmids. This technique comprises injecting genetic substance with new genes into the cell receiving the genes. When the cell is sufficiently big as several animal cells, the activity can be executed with a glass needle. After the injection of the genes, which gets the host cell’s DNA arrangement, they can integrate themselves into the material (Trenkmann, 2017). Gene manipulation happens very easily through microinjection. Therefore, the whole idea is in manipulating the genes since they are chemical compounds.
Social and Ethical Implications
Even though the technology behind genetically modified animals is fascinating and an admired discovery for scientific researchers with enormous opportunities, it attracts social and ethical concerns. It is a greatly debatable subject in the current era. Questions have been asked concerning the degree to which the animals can be treated to the principles and procedures examined, which are qualify to be unethical to humans (Flavell et al., 2017). Discussions concerning the rights of animals, which ranges from not inflicting them with pain or causing suffering to the animal, are believed to be unethical for humans. Several debates about animal’s awareness, self-cognizance, cognitive and language potentials, quality of life, principles and evolutionary position have been assessed in expectation to recognize the disparities between humans and animals (Sasaki, 2015). If a moral criterion could be plainly specified, it could validate treating animals to severe laboratory harms.
There are people who feel that human benefits are more significant as interests of the animal like the pain they feel. The contrary view is that if some experiments must not be done on humans, then they should not be done on animals as well. Some critics oppose experiments that inflict pain and suffering on the animal, whereas others oppose all human utilization of animals. To have a unifying view, scholars have guides that provided the exercise of genetic modification meets the moral standards and is beneficial, and then it should be accepted. All experiments that utilizes the animal as the subject must be scrutinized against a protocol ethical review. All the researchers handling the animals must be properly trained and qualified to engage with these experiments (Trenkmann, 2017). Socially, many people agree that the advantages of genetic modification of the animals outweigh the harm the animal experiences. Genetic research should be supported and it could be made ethical if done properly.
Personal Viewpoint
Genetic modification of animals is of specific interest to me since I have witnessed my uncle being in the business of genetic engineering for over two decades through selective breeding. He raises sheep and goats for milk and wool. Through genetic modification, the desirable qualities and structure can be achieved in animal. Specifically, farmers can obtain quality animals by selecting a mate that can complement the strength of the host animal and has a high probability of enhancing flaws in the offspring. The utilization of the high genetic methods to have genetically engineered animals may be involving and needs expertise, which will definitely need taking years of practice. One must understand how to select a mating animal that has desirable traits to its ultimate offspring. Therefore, much emphasis should be in the ability to achieve high quality animals through genetically engineering them rather than wasting a lot of time raising ethical concerns.
Conclusion
The technology behind genetically modified animals has advanced over the years. It has changed from simple processes of matting to use of sophisticated technology to manipulate the genomes of the animals. Several advantages come with genetic modification of animals. Researchers have made strides in the medical fraternity and has realized advances in the field among humans, prevention of diseases for the animals and profits related to industrial production. These advantages can be attained provided the research is carried out within the framework of the established ethical guidelines. There are several techniques to change the DNA sequence like using recombinants with vectors and plasmids, gene splicing, microinjections, and among others. The technology of genetically modifying animals will continue to develop and it holds great promise for possibility for future growth.
References
Flavell, R., Manz, M., Rongvaux, A., Strowig, T., Willinger, T., Murphy, A. J., & Yancopoulos, G. (2017). U.S. Patent No. 9,820,476 . Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Sasaki, E. (2015). Prospects for genetically modified non-human primate models, including the common marmoset. Neuroscience research , 93 , 110-115.
Trenkmann, M. (2017). Genetic engineering: On the road to efficient gene drives. Nature Reviews Genetics , 18 (12), 704.
