Genetic Engineering: A Way To Advance The Life Of People

People have been altering the genomes of animals and plants for a long time using traditional breeding techniques. We have used artificial selection, the process where organisms that exhibit specific traits are chosen to breed future generations for specific, desired traits. This has resulted in a variety of different organisms but artificial selection has been limited to only naturally occurring variations. Recently, however, advances in the field of genetic engineering have allowed for precise control over the genetic changes in an organism which can optimize performance in a variety of ways. Some people may disagree and say that modifying genes of organisms may be unethical or inhumane but I think that genetic engineering has more positive effects than negative, such as allowing a faster growth rate, improved disease and insect resistance, and the ability to create new products.

Genetic engineering allows for a faster growth rate. The American Association for the Advancement of Science published an article that describes an experiment completed by the researchers at Corteva Agriscience. These researchers decided to look into genes that function like master switches for maximum yield and growth. The researchers tested the gene’s functions in types of hybrid corn that are used to feed livestock and they found that the genetically modified hybrids typically yielded 3% to 5% more grain than control plants. Some even yielded 8% to 10% more! The increased growth is due to the engineered plants have slightly bigger leaves, which are 8% to 9% better at turning the sunlight into sugars, and are also 16% to 18% more efficient at using nitrogen, which is a key soil nutrient (Stockstad). These couple of traits have been pretty difficult for plant breeders to change because of the complex genetics but it is becoming more possible thanks to genetic engineering.

Genetic engineering can also improve disease and insect resistance. The American Society of Plant Biologists published an article that discusses the recent progress and future plans of improving disease resistance in plants. Viruses reduce crop yield by 3%, bacterial and fungal pathogens reduce the yield by about 15%, and for some crops the loss by infection is estimated to be as high as 30% (Dong). Researchers have discovered that the genetic composition of plants can be altered to enhance resistance to these infections. Genes can encode proteins that are capable of breaking down toxins or inhibiting the activity of degenerating enzymes, which can be introduced into the plants. Increased knowledge about these plant-pathogen interactions, molecular mechanisms, and advancements in biotechnology have provided new possible opportunities for engineering resistance to pathogens in plants.

Genetic engineering has also made its way into human genomes. Human genetic modification is the direct manipulation of the genome. Recently developed techniques for modifying genes are called “gene editing” and are applied in two very different ways: somatic genetic modification and germline genetic modification. Somatic genetic modification cuts, adds or changes the genes in some of the cells of an existing person, typically to help a medical condition (Human Genetic Modification). These gene therapy techniques will soon be in clinical practice, but only for a few conditions, and at an extremely high cost. Germline genetic modification could change the genes in eggs, sperm, or even early embryos. Often referred to as “inheritable genetic modification” or “gene editing for reproduction,” these alterations would appear in every single cell of the person who developed, and also in all of their future generations. So I ask the people that think that genetic engineering is inhumane and unethical, if you had a chance to ease the pain of the ones you love who are currently suffering or to eliminate the possibility of deadly disease in your future children, why wouldn’t you?