Should genetic engineering of plants and animals be banned?
Should genetic engineering of plants and animals be banned?
Genetic engineering also known as bio engineering is the process of artificially changing the genes of the DNA of living things. The nature and characteristic of the living thing is then changed in ways which cannot occur naturally. Very few effects of it are known to humans while most of it remains hidden.
Genetic engineering is being performed in animals and plants for centuries now. This is done to enhance the particular genetic traits based on outward appearance. Particular genes are manipulated at a molecular level, using laboratories procedures. But these practices have a lot of negative impact.
These genetically modified living things have the ability to spread through nature and interbreed with other natural organisms, contaminating non GE environments and future generations in an uncontrollable way. The release of these modified organisms is considered as genetic pollution and is a major threat to the environment as they cannot be recalled once released.
Health hazards
Several potential health hazards can occur from genetically modified organisms. Scientific studies have proved that serious allergic reactions can harm the human body from the consumption of genetically modified food. The toxicity level can also increase along with antibiotic resistance.
Environmental impacts
The major environmental issue with genetically engineered animals is that they run into the wild and permanently destroy the eco systems and the natural plants. The genetically engineered plants can cross pollinate with wild similar plants, disrupting the entire eco system. Another major threat is the existence of viruses. When new viruses are created which incorporate genetically engineered genetic materials, they spread and no natural defense against them exists. This might cause widespread death of humans, plants and animals.
Ethical problems
Though genetic engineering might have certain positive benefits in the short run but long term issues are much more than that. They create various ethical issues for those who strongly believe in their religion and have different faiths.
It is seen that because of commercial interests, public is kept away from the inclusion of GE ingredients in the food chain and because of this they lose the right to avoid such things.
In order to protect the biological diversity and respect the global heritage of humankind, the genetic engineering of plants and animals should be banned. Creating artificial things for our own benefits in wrong and should be immediately stopped. Fooling around with the deepest structures of natural law in living organisms is risky and violates the natural species barriers created by God.
Discussion
- RE: Should genetic engineering of plants and animals be banned? -Deepa Kaushik (05/09/14)
- Every scientific invention has its pros and cons. It should be analysed and used wisely to take the extract of the good potential, leaving the bad virtues. Genetic engineering also has his own positive and negative aspects.
In the field of plants and animal genetic engineering has done well giving better breeds which could yield better quality products and an efficient framework. On this positive note, the genetically engineered plants and animals are good in feeding and helping more hands as compared to the original breeds.
Going to its ill-effects, such breeds have developed resistant infections which have become highly challenging to be healed. With such a devastating influence, it is very difficult to console ourselves to carry on with this experimentation type.
Though it is appreciable to have better breeds, but on the wiser note, the breed thus produced should be first made domestic with respect to its severity. If its ill-effects could be combat effectively, then we can try to enhance the genetic engineering.
