Should believe such a theory is very foolish.

Should believe such a theory is very foolish.

Should we use new genetic information to alter our own DNA to make ourselvesmore adept? Last winter, scientist made a major break through in geneticengineering.

They finished a complete map of DNA of a complex organism. Althoughthe animal that they broke down is a simple flat worm, over 40% of its DNAsequence match our own. This is an astounding leap forward for geneticengineers. Genetic engineering is the use of lasers and/or chemicals to alterthe sequences of nucleotides, which are the bases of DNA. Many people throughoutthe world greatly oppose genetic engineering. Calling it “unethical”,”anti-Christianity” and “dangerous”. I feel genetics canhelp us so much, all these controversies are nothing when amounted to theutopian health of the entire human race that could be achieved.

Many of theIslamic countries have laws prohibiting such research in genetics. The Islamicholy book, The Koran, forbids any man from changing himself. Allah, the Islamicgod, made the Muslim people in his own likeness and cast away all people whochange his work. Likewise, in Christianity, God made Adam and Eve in hislikeness.

He also makes it that any man that changes the body that the Fatherhas blessed him with shall be exiled away to Hell. I counter this argument withthe question, If God and Allah loved their people so much, then why did they lettheir people become sick and have pain? I believe as a Christian, God would nothave given us the knowledge to use genetics if he did not want us to changeourselves. The exact same theory applies to all religions. We are only bettersuiting ourselves to please our God. Ethics are always a major factor in wars,medicine and politics. Ethics play the part in genetics by posing the question”why?” Ethical oppressors believe that the human race should be leftas is. They fear a “super-human race” taking over the world and a newtype of racism and discrimination would result between the new human race andthe old human race.

I believe such a theory is very foolish. Genetics can not beused to make one more intelligent or faster reacting. The genetics thatscientist are researching the genes that cause genetic diseases, such as DownSyndrome, Turner Syndrome, hemophilia and color blindness.

They are manipulatingDNA to take away diseases that slow down progression and cause families to behurt. Imagine a world without sickle-cell anemia, or Diabetes. A world wherecancer is very little known of and when found can easily be treated by genetictherapy. Little disease would be tolerated in our bodies.

Virus would bedestroyed by genetically engineered white blood cells; AIDS would be cut down ina few years. Life expectancy would be almost 90 years old. Even the common coldwould be gone, even with the viruses’ constant mutations. One last fear of DNAmanipulation is the fear of what if a bacteria or virus found a weakness? Whatif an epidemic started and spread fiercely that our great new geneticallyenhanced white blood cells could not handle? All of the human race would besusceptible to? True, it has happened in the past with corn that was geneticallyengineered. But such an epidemic is very highly unlikely. It did happen in corn,but that corn was merely an experiment.

If we would do this to ourselves, itwouldn’t be an experiment; it would be a medical treatment. Where all possibleoutside attacks would be known and could be stopped quickly. There is no fearthat an epidemic would break out and it is unrealistic that the entire humanrace could be wiped out to the point of extinction in a matter of a few weeks.

Ifeel genetic engineering can give us so much. There are some good reasons why weshould not continue such research, but I think that the positive effects ofmaking ourselves more perfect are dominant over little ethical issues. With DNAmanipulation, we can lead better, healthier, and longer lives. A utopian life ofhealth awaits us ahead and such criticism can only delay and hurt ourselves.Science