Problems with Genetic Manipulation Essay
The fact that the reader cannot escape the notion that Wood’s “utopia” is an almost genocide or ethnic cleansing of sorts, allows one to determine that both pathos (appealing to one’s emotions) and ethos (moral competence) are completely abandoned. Although, a few statements such as the above idea that one can prevent one’s offspring from genetic deformities and disease, maybe arguably an example of either pathos or ethos. The overall essay, however, deviates from both. In addition, the essay is somewhat choppy and therefore lacking in logos (argument through speech). If the piece had been more eloquently written, one may be able to find it more persuasive. Problems with Genetic Manipulation Essay.This is not to say that some of the statements here and there are not worded reasonably well and therefore slightly convincing. For example, Wood discusses that the process of creating his genetically engineered “utopia” would take place in stages and eventually appeal to everyone “Almost every one of the myriad incremental steps toward utopia appeals to some value such as competitive advantage or convenience”. This causes the reader to wonder if perhaps they are not being open-minded enough or perhaps they have missed the greater picture. This is an example of logos (argument and persuasion through speech.
The summary of Wood’s essay sums up the “utopia” he desires as essentially a planet with robotic organisms devoid of any spirit of autonomy. This is the absolute opposite of the very nature of humanity and is therefore very amoral. Therefore, ethos is not an element of argument used overall in Wood’s essay. The following statement in Wood’s summary explains this machine run “utopia” void of humanity”. . Problems with Genetic Manipulation Essay.
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Retroviral infection uses a virus, which contains the desired gene that will be incorporated into the organisms genome, to infect groups of embryos in culture in both prenatal and postnatal life. This method takes a lot of time and effort because the construction of the virus is quite complicated. Another effect of infection is that the information of the viruses may not always be incorporated into all the cultured cells, requiring out breeding of selected organisms to isolate those with the desired gene (Macer). Pronuclear microinjection is another method of genetic manipulation. Linear DNA fragments containing the desired gene are injected into the nucleus of a fertilized egg, where they will be incorporated at random locations. The desired gene will eventually be expressed in a percentage of resulting organisms. While relatively simple, there is still control over the expression rate of the genes or the disruption of genes vital to the organisms survival (Macer).
One of the most controversial issues in America today is genetic manipulation. Nearly all sectors of American society have a say about this matter, and so many sides to it have been argued. There are people for and against it.Problems with Genetic Manipulation Essay. Yet, who really has the right to say what is right and what is wrong? Isn’t the process of genetic manipulation a choice that the people have a right to take? There are some who say that genetic manipulation will lead to excessive individualism on the part of the people. People who are given a choice to choose their offspring’s biological traits might abuse this kind of power. Still, modern America is slowly backing up the Human Genome Project. By permitting genetic manipulation in human embryos, American society allows the violation of a person’s basic rights and promotes excessive individualism.
The term “genetics” is the “biology of heredity; especially the study of mechanisms of hereditary transmission and variations of organismal characteristics.” The term “engineering” is “the application of scientific principles to practical ends, as the design, construction and operation of efficient and economical structures, equipment and systems.” Genetic engineering allows scientists to identify, store, and manipulate the chemical blueprints or the DNA of living organisms. By reprogramming the genetic codes of living organisms, scientists will be able to customize and mass-produce a completely new culture of living things. Human genetic manipulation, as its name states, is the ability to directly manipulate or exploit genes of human beings. Human genes can be manipulated in various ways. They can be changed, improved or completely removed altogether. The most popular method of genetic manipulation is by using human embryos. An embryo is a fertilized egg cell. When an embryo is “healthy” enough, genes that are undesired can be changed so that the overall product is improved. Afterwards, “designer-babies” are implant… Problems with Genetic Manipulation Essay.