HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF TRANSGENICS
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS?
WHAT ARE THE ETHICAL ISSUES CONCERNING TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS?
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REFLECTION ON TRANSGENICS
New and unique ideas, laws or medical procedures have always been faced by controversies and debates. Scientific research and Exploration of technologies have always caused heated arguments and strife with the public as these have inference with legal, social, political and religious matters. The benefits, advantages and economic stability as well as ethical considerations of any discoveries are always the basis of its acceptance and support. Transgenics, as a new scientific research, is one of the bioethical issues which divides the public in their views. Can humans really transcend into a world of perfection? Transgenics, as discussed, shows great promise for humanity, the research is for economic status and for food supply, feeding the growing human population. It also gives tremendous improvement for medicine such as vaccines and organ transplants. Undeniably, the good side of these science experiments are keeping the people from setting the boundary of their freedom. However, as the genetic revolution continues, we believe that the exploration is crossing its line already.
Everyone wants to have a long and happy life where we could live forever in health and happiness spending time with family. A state of life travelling the world to develop new skills, grow wisdom and learn thoroughly about whatever interests us, to our heart’s content. This is what we call a perfect kind of life. But we believe that humans are not capable enough to achieve this kind of life without the help of God. Life is not a subject for alteration in the first place. Today, modifying plants and animals for human food implies and questions their existence as for our own consumption only. An article of Awake entitled Genetically Modified Food—Is It Safe for You? 2000, states that " On top of possible public-health and environmental risks, some feel that the genetic modification of crops and other living organisms presents moral and ethical challenges. Scientist and activist Douglas Parr observed: “Genetic engineering crosses a fundamental threshold in the human manipulation of the planet, changing the nature of life itself.” Jeremy Rifkin, author of the book The Biotech Century, put it this way: “Once you can cross all biological boundaries, you begin to see a species as simply genetic information that is fluid. That brings us into a whole new way to conceptualize not only our relationship with nature, but how we use it.” He therefore asked: “Does life have intrinsic or just utility value? What is our obligation to future generations? What is our sense of responsibility to the creatures with which we coexist?” Others, Prince Charles of England included, argue that transferring genes between utterly unrelated species “takes us into the realms that belong to God, and to God alone.” Students of the Bible firmly believe that God “is the source of life.” (Psalm 36:9) However, there is no real evidence that God disapproves of the selective breeding of animals and plants, something that has helped our planet to sustain the billions of people living on it. Only time will tell if modern biotechnology will harm humans and the environment. If biotechnology really does encroach upon “the realms that belong to God,” then—out of love and concern for humankind—he can reverse such developments. (Awake: Genetically Modified Food—Is It Safe for You? 2000)
Another article of Awake entitled Genetic Revolution: Great promise with Growing Concern–1989, states that "this tendency to mix up genes from unrelated species has a number of people concerned. Some farmers’ groups “see genetic engineering as yet another in [a] long line of technologies that favor large corporate farms over small farms.” Animal-rights groups “see it as the ultimate insult to the integrity of animals,” states The New York Times." The future for the effects of transgenics is still uncertain. Inconsistencies of its effects on people in terms of food and medicine are reasons why its potential with growing risks. Long-term risk on our ecosystem and the possible loss of the original genome of different species all because of humanity mixing them and altering life. The biodiversity God had created for us to enrich and safeguard is logically telling us that there is a reason for differences, the role of genetic diversity is critical for survival. How well is the regulation for testing for the transgenics species to ensure the original genome of the same animals and plants are not affected? Will transgenics dominate the species' diversity? Should we select which species to grow and their traits just because of their utility? Are the researches and use of animals as specimens truly for a good cost, or are they abuse? What will be their effects on consumers? God possesses ultimate authority over all creations, though He "let them have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and the domestic animals and all the earth and every creeping animal that is moving on the earth." (Genesis 1:26) the domination of men over animals and plants, does not justify altering them for their own utilities and benefits.
Furthermore, using modified organisms to address a humanity problem sometimes imposes more problems than solving them. The root of the shortage of organs for transplants, studies of medicine efficacy and food shortage lies on different issues and transgenics is a diverging way to address them. The reason for the presence of sickness and why it is worsening over time. As how humanity doesn't really possess authority and power to solve these problems in the world. In addition, according to an article by Awake: Genetic Revolution: Great promise with Growing Concern–1989, states that, “We do not know what life is,” writes Dr. Erwin Chargaff, professor emeritus of biochemistry at the Columbia University medical school, “and yet we manipulate it as if it were an inorganic salt solution.” Dr. Chargaff continues: “What I see coming is a gigantic slaughterhouse, a molecular Auschwitz, in which valuable enzymes, hormones, and so on will be extracted instead of gold teeth.” The claims of Dr. Chargaff illustrates how alteration of genes, transgenics going too far overtime may lead humanity to confusion, making their goals subject to an unethical and boundless place instead of an ideal society. Indeed life is a precious gift from God. It is true that He gave us the freedom to experience life in a meaningful way, but we do not have the right to modify His creations just because we are not content with what He has given to us. We should set and recognize a boundary to the extent of how we can utilize our freedom for the betterment of our lives.
REFERENCES:
Armstrong B. (2019) Pros and Cons of Genetically Engineering Humans. Medium.com. Retrieved June 11,2021 from.
https://barmstrong.medium.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-genetically-engineering-humans-49973778c349
Rivard Michael (1991) "Toward a general theory of constitutional personhood: A theory of constitutional personhood for transgenic humanoid species." UCLA L. Rev. 39, 1425, 1991. Retrieved June 10, 2021 from.
BBC NEWS (2019) Genetically modified babies, ethically justifiable, academic claims. Retrieved June 10, 2021 from.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-50460721
BBC (2014) Animal Ethics: Human-animal embryos. bbc.co.uk.Retrieved June 11, 2021 from.https://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals/using/hybridembryos_1.shtml
Straiton J. (2019) Genetically modified humans: X-men of Scientific Research. Future_Science.com. Retrieved June 13,2021 from.https://www.future-science.com/doi/10.2144/btn-2019-0056
Ball P. (2021) Mixed messages: is research into human-monkey embryos ethical. The Guardian for 200 years. Retrieved June 13,2021 from https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/may/15/mixed-messages-is-research-into-human-animal-hybrids-ethical-chimera
Marks L. (2015) Transgenic Animals. Retrieved June 13,2021 from https://www.whatisbiotechnology.org/index.php/science/summary/transgenic/transgenic-animals-have-genes-from-other-species-inserted
"Transgenic Organisms: Ethical Issues ." Genetics. . Retrieved June 01, 2021 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/medical-magazines/transgenic-organisms-ethical-issues
Ormandy, E. H., Dale, J., & Griffin, G. (2011). Genetic engineering of animals: ethical issues, including welfare concerns. The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne, 52(5), 544–550.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals/using/biotechnology_1.shtml
Hanahan, D.; Wagner, E. F.; Palmiter, R. D. (2007). "The origins of oncomice: A history of the first transgenic mice genetically engineered to develop cancer". Genes & Development. 21 (18): 2258–70. doi:10.1101/gad.1583307. PMID 17875663.
Video1(Transgenic Animals/plants example):
Video 2 issues: https://youtu.be/6-YI7nG0CVc
MARJORIE G. GUEVARRA
The advancement of science and technology have a significant impact and created many opportunities particularly in the realm of medicine. This leads to new discoveries and development of experimental research in medicine, that help enhance and improve quality of life. Through the breakthroughs in medicine, impossible things become possible.
Transgenics is one of the most surprising discoveries in the field of medicine. This describe to an organism or cell whose genome has been altered by the introduction of one or more foreign DNA sequences from another species by artificial means. In the laboratory, transgenic organisms are created for scientific investigation.
The use of transgenic animals to investigate human diseases as models in a variety of domains, including cell apoptosis, ageing, arteriosclerosis, cancer, xenografting, endocrinology, metabolism, reproduction, and development, is one of the most surprising applications of transgenics in medicine (Houdebine 2004).
Despite of the advancement and breakthroughs in the field of medicine especially about transgenics, this issue still facing ethical dilemmas. It is still a controversial topic that needs to be addressed and discussed.
For more information about transgenics and the controversial issues regarding to this, just click the informative video below.