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Genetic engineering is the process of manipulating genes of an organism by altering their behaviors and characteristics. With the latest technology, you can easily change, delete or insert specific genes to an organism’s DNA.
The list below shows the pros and cons of genetic engineering technology.
Pros:
1. Increase nutrient content: Using the biotechnology to genetically manipulate crops by adding nutritional values results in improved and increased nutrient value in the crop.
2. Combat diseases: There are a lot of diseases attributed to genes inherited from the parents. These genes and other genetic mutations caused by environmental mutagens can affect human beings. Genetic engineering is used to find cures to these diseases through altering the genes.
3. Make disease resistant plants: Biotechnology used on crops can make them resistant to pesticides, diseases, and herbicides. This contributes to the preservation of crop yields.
4. Increase crop yields: Genetic engineering is used to increase the crop’s output. More crops are harvested to meet global food needs.
5. Increase lifespan: Genetic engineering process increases the lifespan of the organism through reduction of diseases and infections. Gene therapy and vaccines are used to treat life-threatening diseases.
6. New food: Through genetic engineering, we can produce new food which can withstand harsh temperatures. The food will have all the nutrients required for human survival and better medicinal value.
7. Modify genetic traits in human: Genetic engineering can modify genotypes of individual traits and attributes before birth.
8. Modify individual DNA: Genetic engineering in humans can change the DNA of individuals by replacing them with desirable structures resulting in functional changes.
9. Boost positive traits while combating negative traits: Negative genetic engineering corrects any negative traits in individuals whereas positive genetic engineering enhances positive traits.
10. Faster growth rate: Altering plant and animal genes for maturity results in a faster growth rate. The organisms can grow outside of the normal growth conditions.
Cons:
1. Limits genetic diversity: When you genetically modify organisms, you affect its natural diversity and this may have some long-term effects on the organism.
2. Interfere with ecological balance: When the genes are altered, they interfere with the whole web of life. Organisms have an integral part in the ecosystem and do not exist in isolation. Therefore, altering one the organism interfere with the whole ecological balance.
3. Moral and ethically wrong: Genetic modification operates against the beliefs of various regions. It undermines God’s creation and evolution of mankind.
4. Genetic defects: Genetic manipulation of humans DNA could go wrong instead of bringing the desired results. Genetically engineering fetus can lead to miscarriage, premature birth or even stillbirth.
5. Going too far: There is increased worry in the world with genetic engineering going further and further and people demanding more transformations.
6. Hamper nutritional value: Genetically modifying foods can result in contamination of genes in crops. Undesired mutations can lead to allergies in crops destroying their nutritional value.
7. Increased use of harmful chemicals: The chemicals used to combat the diseases could make the crops buildup resistance resulting to use of more chemicals. The toxic components on the chemicals can build up in plants creating negative effects on health.
8. Introduce pathogens to crops: New harmful pathogens are introduced to crops while increasing the crop’s resistance to diseases.
9. Abuse of technology: Genetic engineering in humans can be used to change specific traits in individuals or modify their appearance for other personal gains.
10. Inadequate government oversight: The government encourages biotechnology advancements and in situations where there is a controversy, the government doesn’t help.
