Onuh Justus Izuchukwu.

DANGER IN GENETIC ENGINEERING

Introduction;

There has been much concern that organisms that have been modified with powerful recombinant DNA techniques might sometimes be dangerous. Could i

t be unsafe to eat a particular 'genetically engineered' fruit or grain? Does the genetic engineering limit children’s autonomy to shape their own destinies. This is the danger facing the world today. Human beings have altered the genomes of species for thousands of years through selective breeding, or artificial selection as contrasted with natural selection, and more recently through mutagenesis. Genetic engineering as the direct manipulation of DNA by humans outside breeding and mutations has only existed since the 1970s. The term "genetic engineering" was first coined by Jack Williamson in his science fiction novel Dragon's Island, published in 1951, one year before DNA's role in heredity was confirmed by Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase and two years before James Watson and Francis Crick showed that the DNA molecule has a double-helix structure. This process of “genetic engineering” refers to the practice of adding new DNA to living things in order to create traits that would have not naturally existed. This process can hinder the moral issues particularly in religion. The question now is, can man possess the ability and right to influence the course and law of nature? Looking at both sides, the genetic engineering argument does raise questions that should be answered, not shouted down. Like all major scientific advances, it probably has some negative effects, and steps must be taken to improve these outcomes.  There has been more or less a consensus among some scientists who have published analyses of ecological risks that most genetically engineered organisms (GEOs) should be ecologically safe, though a minority could cause great problems. Yet after years of analysis and discussion, the scientific community is still divided over what this generality should suggest for regulatory oversight.

Genetic engineering a serous treat to human society.

 Sometimes, we do our best to satisfy our immediate needs, as well as forgetting the future generations.  Time shall come when those in the distant future will look back on this period of history and they will likely see their present era as when the natural environment was poor, because the then present time will be full of artificial. Mark Zuckerberg made some mind-bending predictions about the future at a Q&A he hosted on his Facebook page on 30^th June 2015, from the answers he gave, one can aver that the world is becoming full of artificial. This power of allowing genetic engineers to build new artificial genomes instead of having modified naturally existing genomes and it applications, is unpredictable and dangerous, and broadening the application of genetic engineering only furthers the risks because, most if not all engineered organisms pose lethal and economic risks to human society. The most frightening scenario is the destructive use of genetic engineering by the Terrorist groups or armies who could develop more powerful biological weaponry. These weapons could be resistant to medicines, or even targeted at people who carry certain genes. Genetically engineered organisms used for biological weapons might also reproduce faster, which would create larger quantities in shorter periods of time, increasing the level of devastation. Likewise the availability of genomic information and the genetic engineering technology create a poisonous threat to humanity because; when the terrorists or armies use both the information and technology to recreate deadly pathogens, such as the poliovirus and the naturally occurring poliovirus which can kill and paralyze millions of people in couple of years. Many chemical companies as well want to use genetically engineered organisms to produce chemicals because it is cheaper than normal manufacturing methods. If chemical companies begin to rely on genetically engineered organisms to produce food and medical chemicals, the public could be at risk for another dangerous outbreak of lethal chemicals which will do more harm than good to the lives of the society.

Way out…

  Like many other things, genetic engineering is a two-edged sword, using genetic engineering would eventually give a free rein to all of its effects, both positive and negative. After genetic engineering starts being used, our society will not simply be able to "put it back", "turn it off", or otherwise remove it. Once it becomes reality, it will always be with us. It is true it has been of assistance to man in many case like;

1. With genetic engineering, most of the diseases and illnesses can easily be prevented through isolating the exact gene that causes them.

 2. There are also infectious diseases that can be treated with the use of genetic engineering. This is done by implanting the genes that are associated with antigen and antiviral proteins.

 3. The most desirable traits of certain organisms can be pin pointed and integrated into other organism’s DNA.

4. Genetic engineering has the ability to increase the genetic diversity as well as produce variant alleles that can be implanted to other species and other.

 It is also possible to change the heredity of the wheat plants and grow insulin. But a critical study of all of the effects of genetic engineering can lead to responsible use of the technology when it is fully developed. Right now, however, there are no specific limits that are on genetic engineering. We, as a society, are technologically ready to carry out genetic engineering, but we may not be ready for the responsibility it brings. Writer Dinesh D’Souza articulates his position on this in a 2001 National Review Online article: “If parents are able to remake a child’s genetic makeup, they are in a sense writing the genetic instructions that shape his entire life. If my parents give me blue eyes instead of brown eyes, if they make me tall instead of medium height, if they choose a passive over an aggressive personality, their choices will have a direct, lifelong effect on me.” In other words, genetic enhancement is immoral because it artificially molds people’s lives, often pointing their destinies in directions that they themselves would not freely choose. Therefore, it represents a fundamental violation of their rights as human beings. The process of genetic engineering is quite tricky and risky process and we need to gather a wide variety of information before attempting to engage in the process of genetic engineering. Keeping ourselves educated about all aspects of genetic engineering can help us a lot because it will make us to understand that the genetic engineering process involves gene and chromosome that has the ability to control the body characteristics.

Conclusion.

Genetic engineering will ultimately arise many concerns, and these concerns range from ethical issues to a lack of knowledge on the effects genetic engineering may have. One major concern is that once an altered gene is placed in an organism, the process cannot be reversed. God was not wrong when he created us as we are, but we have insisted in changing the nature. Instead of attempting to bury our heads in the sand, we should seek to harness genetic engineering for its positive benefits, even as we take careful steps to ameliorate its potential downsides. We should know that the world is made up of warring opposite (cold verses heat, night verses day) as Anaximander stated. If we should consider the merit, let us as well consider the side effect and never transfer artificiality to the next couple of generation to come. Considering what we are witnessing now, time shall come when many natural things would have gone to extinction.  It was Albert Einstein who said “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better”. I vehemently believe David Attenborough who said that it seems to him that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living. Scientists tend to build a reputation on refuting the theories of those who have gone before. Yet, whatever we hypothesize, observe, measure or record about the natural world, it leaves more unanswered questions (Robert Winston). Hence, let us leave the world natural.

   By Onuh Justus Izuchukwu.