DNA Genetic Engineering
When people think of genetic engineering, it is often in the context of fanciful movies and television shows, or sensationalized news stories about the subject. As a result, there is a great deal of confusion, fear and ignorance regarding the subject.
What are genes
Genes are units of hereditary information that are transferred to every new generation of living things by their parents. These units determine some type of trait about the offspring, such as hair, eye or skin color, height and, to some extent, weight. They are made of molecules called Deoxyribonucleic Acid, or DNA. Genetics is the study of genes; it is through genetics that science has discovered a link between genetics and weight.
What is genetic engineering
Genetic engineering is the modification of DNA using modern technology. This consists of isolating or artificially synthesizing specific genes from separate organisms and inserting them into foreign organisms or combining them. The first successful attempt at genetic engineering occurred in 1972 when biochemist Paul Berg combined DNA from a monkey virus with that of the lambda virus. Today, genetic engineering is used for mass production of medicine, natural research, industrial applications and even food. The latter application is one of many controversies surrounding the process.
Why is it controversial
There is a lot of opposition to genetic engineering from different groups for different reasons. Some people are afraid of a return to the days of eugenics, which they associate with Nazi war crimes. Some religions consider it "playing God," and it is therefore contrary to what they believe is God's plan for humankind. People concerned about their health have voiced opposition to the idea of eating genetically modified foods because they are concerned about the long term health effects; some countries have passed regulations on food for this reason.
The controversy regarding genetic engineering is sure to continue for years to come, but technology and standards of ethics are also likely to evolve along with it; however, it is too soon to tell whether these developments prove sufficient to satisfy the general public.