Legal and Ethical Issues Related to Genetic Engineering, and Stem Cell Research

Question

Legal and Ethical Issues Related to Genetic Engineering, and Stem Cell Research

Discuss the legal and ethical issues in humans related to genetic engineering, and stem cell research. Explain the pros and cons

Obtain from the internet additional sources supporting or refuting your arguments. For any of this information you locate on the web be absolutely certain that you provide the citations for the source you used and do not under any circumstance plagiarize. Remember that you can paraphrase but you must use quotation marks if you copy word for word.

Explanation / Answer

Genetic engineering the is process of modyfying the structure and function of protein encoding genes of humans, animals and introduction of new genes into food crops to produce novel proteins through the techniques such as molecular cloning and transformation emthods. The newly introduced gene is propagated producing new and required novel proteins that carriesout new function and is considered to be beneficial for the organism. Not only benefits but also there are some adverse effects or consequences result through this technique. The benefits include introduction of correct gene in place of a defective gene to combat a chronic and progressive genetic disorder. Genetic engineering helps to detect he abnormal genes during fetal development and helps to get rid of abnormal genetic defects. Potential screening of couples prior conception helps to reveal the chance of risk of children going to born with genetic defects. With the introduction of new functional genes, several diseases can be cured increasing the lifespan of humans. The genticall engineered foods may provide sufficient nutrients like vitamins, can also produce values and are improved in medicinal properties for the use of mankind.

The consequences of genetic engineering include that it is though as an act against to God's wish and will. Religious disagreements regarding this technology has become common raising so many doubts and disparities among people all over world. The methods are expensive and may introduce a gene that produces abnormalities and also may have adverse effects such as loss of genetic diversity. The predominant issue regarding gene transfromation and molecular cloning how long it can be proceeded. This is because introduction of a new gene resulting in any adversity again corrected with molecular cloning but yet adversities continue what would be measures to correct. in this aspect, the reliability of technique is under focus.

Embryonic stem cells are pleuri potent stem cells that can differentiate to wide variety of body cells. The Embryonic stem cell research is promising and novel technology employed for the benefits of mankind. The ethical issues are to be addressed before employing this research. Stem cell research helps in regenrative medicine and therapeutic cloning i n which the defective genes and cells are replaced with healthy and functional cells, genes and proteins. This techniques is useful in treatment of various conditions like neurological diseases such as Parkinson disease, spinal cord injuries and Alzheimer's disease etc.

interstitial pleuripotent stemcells and umbilicordal stem cells are also isolated and used for purpose of regenerative medicine. it is highly expensive and time investing processes. The isolation of stemcells during embryonic period may damage the blastocyst and is of major issue become as hurdle in stemcell research. Several countries accept and are investing in stemcell research but availability of embryos is an issue and research is being carried out by use of unanted embryos left by couples in fertility centers. Stem cell production from nonembryonic cells is recently adopted and are thought useful for replacement of damaged blood cells due to chemotherapy in bonemarrow cancer and leukemia. Stemcell and molecular cloning mthods are modified in such a way that the adult stem cells can be extracted wtih use of amniotic fluid, or by employing techniques that do not cause any damage the embryo. Anyway use of stemcells isthought to be unethical and is not being accepted by several people.

Sources:

1. https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-genetic-engineering.php

2. www.gordon.edu/download/pages/Salem-Genetic%20Engineering2003.pdf

3. https://www.thebalance.com/pros-and-cons-of-stem-cell-research-375483

4. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1748-720X.2004.tb01968.x

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