applications
Applications of gene manipulation are considered by those in favor of it to outweigh the possible negatives and the moral considerations which concern it, although it is far too early for those to be properly quantified. Genetic engineering benefits are often being touted by those in the scientific profession who have a great belief in this technology, and by the politicians who see it as a way of solving many of the pressing problems of their country and indeed the wider world. The benefits and potential benefits are there for everyone to see, and few doubt that they are genuine. The controversy comes with the potential side effects which the technology can inflict upon the environment or upon human beings who use genetically modified products. Genetic engineering is at its most advanced stage when dealing with plants and crops, and many genetically modified foods are already being sold in different countries of the world despite concerns over labeling and safety. When genetic engineering is applied to animals and even humans, there are other greater benefits to be gained, but also with increased risk and danger. The most commonly stated benefits of genetic engineering are those which affect food crops and yields. The system of agriculture which is used today is heavily chemical based, and this in itself draws plenty of criticism from environmentalist sources. The need to use pesticides is often quoted because of damage which insects and other pests can do to crops, lowering yields and sending prices higher. A genetically modified crop will be resistant to this damage and will be far more consistent in its harvest yields. There will also be more food produced per acre of space as the crop will be engineered to grow as large and productively as possible. The most obvious benefit of genetically modified food is that it will give increased crop yields for the same area of space, over the standard unmodified crop. This increases the possibility of the human race being fully fed, although this could obviously only happen if there were political changes throughout the world. The modified crop is resistant to pesticides and artificial fertilizers, making it possible to use more chemicals against possible destructive insects and other pests. They can also be more resistant against diseases which can easily spread from one crop to another. When genetic engineering is applied to plant foods in this way, there is also the possibility of the crop being made more durable. This is the second generation of genetic engineering, and is not yet universally applied. Where it is applied, the crops become more resistant to climatic conditions which can wreak havoc in certain parts of the world. In regions where the temperature can very greatly from the average, there is always the possibility of extreme cold wiping out crops which are grown across a large area, and at best this will cause prices to rise. Drought is a threat in other parts of the world, and genetic engineering can create crops which need far less water. The pros of gene manipulation in the case of animals are far less easy to define, although there is obviously the potential to create a higher yielding farmyard stock. Cows can be engineered to produce more milk for the same size of herd and space taken, and all animals reared for their meat can be grown to larger sizes. It is not just food products which can be improved, as the sheep which are sheared for their wool can also be engineered to produce more. Animals can be used for other purposes, such as the testing of drugs and even the use of organs for transplants, but these are far more controversial.
References: http://nptel.ac.in/courses/102103013/33
http://www.geneticengineeringinhumans.com/ar/articles-on-genetic-engineering.php
#Disclaimer: This website is for curriculum based purpose so not to be used for professional use.
References: http://nptel.ac.in/courses/102103013/33
http://www.geneticengineeringinhumans.com/ar/articles-on-genetic-engineering.php
#Disclaimer: This website is for curriculum based purpose so not to be used for professional use.