6. Genetic Engineering

The goal of genetic engineering is to make debilitating diseases a thing of the past. While this is a noble goal, this branch of science also has risks. Learn about the pros and cons of genetic engineering and decide for yourself if the benefits outweigh these risks.

Genetic engineering has applications in many fields; medicine, agriculture, the environment, and food production. It can be described rather generally as any genetic manipulation that allows an organism to perform new functions or produce new substances.

The unravelling of DNA and the mapping of a diverse range of organisms such as humans, dogs and viruses, is giving us unprecedented knowledge into how nature works. Knowing the fundamentals of how a cancer spreads, the tricks a virus uses to replicate inside our cells, or what prompts a brain to degenerate in Alzheimer's patients, equips science with the tools to counter these harsh realities of life.

But the technology is not without its critics, and just as genetic engineering has many plus points, there are also some cons that must be considered.

Pros of Genetic Engineering

In looking at the pros and cons of genetic engineering, we'll consider the technology in the fields of agriculture, food production, and medicine.

Many crops such as rice, maize, and potatoes are being genetically engineered in several ways. Proponents argue that the benefits are many; 1) higher crop yields 2) more nutritious food 3) crops can be grown in harsh environments 4) they are more resistant to pests thus eliminating the use of potentially hazardous pesticides 5) undesirable characteristics can be removed 6) food can have a better flavour and a longer shelf life and 7) they can also be used as a cheap source of medicine.

To treat many life-threatening illnesses genetic engineering aims to replace faulty genes with perfect working copies. The potential is incredible. However, whilst there have been some small successes in gene therapy trials to cure vision impairment and also X-SCID (where people lack an effective immune system) - it's fair to say that so far the technology hasn't lived up to expectations. It's an extraordinarily difficult job to get a gene to exactly where you want it in the body, and for it to function in the way that you want it to. Plus our expectations were probably too high from the start.

Cons of Genetic Engineering

In terms of gene therapy this can be a dangerous procedure. A virus is being used as a vector to get the genes inside, and some fear that even though the virulence factors have been silenced, danger is still at hand. There's also a risk that a gene could land in a spot other than where you want it and cause harm by being expressed in unusual ways. There have been several deaths in gene therapy trials, most famously that of Jesse Gelsinger in 1999.

Opposition to the use of genetic engineering in food and agriculture centres on several fears. Namely that any gene for herbicide resistance may spread into other crops and create some form of superweed; or that a genetic modification that is passed on say through pollination, might pose a hazard to the ecosystem. There's also a concern that unusual gene expression may lead to crops causing more allergic reactions in consumers.

There are many more pros and cons of genetic engineering than the few that are listed here, and all are argued passionately by advocates on both sides, many clutching reams of data to back up their arguments. That makes it very difficult for the lay person to understand exactly what is going on, especially when combatants (if that's not too strong a word) seem equally eminent and well qualified.

What is certain is that even though many are concerned with its speed of introduction, fearing that it is going too fast for society to understand any and all possible implications, genetic engineering is here to stay.