Advantages and Disadvantages of Genetic Engineering

The human body contains all different sorts of genes, some bad, some good. The “bad” genes, or ones that cause deformities and disease, can be altered using genetic engineering. This technique is often used in manipulating genes and making human bodies healthier. This change is done at the egg or sperm level. However, this alteration of life so early has raised quite a few eyebrows.

The Top 3 Genetic Engineering Advantages to Humans

1. The Capacity of Making Disease a part of History
Humans are considered to be prone in forming one disease and another. As per the disease, it may always be the result of bad genes inherited from parents. Another reason may be attributed on genetic mutations due to environmental mutagens that result for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cystic fibrosis and heart diseases. These mutations may make the body even more susceptible to infections.

2. A Potential of Increasing the Life Span of People
According to the studies of scientists, genetic engineering can increase the life span between one-hundred to one-hundred fifty years. The technique is being applied on healthy individuals; changing his genome which result to slowing down the process of aging.

3. Better and Highly-graded Pharmaceutical Products
Genetic engineering acts as an aid for genetics. Thus, this results to better and Highly-Graded products that can help humans fight their illnesses and diseases.

The Top 4 Genetic Engineering Disadvantages

1. Unknown Consequences of Viral Genes in the Human Body
Considering that genetic engineering employs viral vector that carries functional gene inside the human body; the consequences are still unknown. There are no clues as to where functional genes are being placed. They may even substitute the important genes, instead of mutated genes. Thus, this leads to another health condition or disease to human.

2. Genetic Diversity: Now a Thing of the Past
As defective genes are replaced with functional gene, then it is expected that genetic diversity will now be a thing of the past. And if human beings will have identical genomes, the population as a whole will be susceptible to virus or disease. This may lead to human extinction in the earth.

3. It Borderlines on the Issues Pertaining on Morality
With many people who religiously believe in God, or who are born and baptized as Christians, genetic engineering may not be acceptable. Somehow, people can be questioned of what gives them the right to manipulate divine laws. It also questions the theory of Darwin, “the survival of the fittest”.

4. Uncertain Effects That May be Brought by Genetically Modified Life Form
One of the clear disadvantages of genetic engineering is that it may bring uncertain effects to the environment and human health.

Now, you have learned more about the advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering. The many processes involving genetic engineering still continue. Much more research and experimentation needs to be done before people can have a true understanding of the effects that this potentially life saving scientific process may have.