9. Genetic Engineering

Positives of genetic engineering

• Genetic engineering is the practice of manipulating the genes of an organism
• It is used to produce crops that are more resistant to insects and diseases
• Some genetically modified crops grow more quickly
• Some drugs and vaccines are produced by genetic engineering
• It may become possible to change human’s genetic characteristics.
• Scientists may use genetic engineering to cure diseases.
• Inherited illnesses would no longer exist
• Genes could be changed before a baby is born
• It could also be possible to clone human organs
• We could all have replacement body part
• Humans could live longer, healthier lives

Negatives of genetic engineering

• There are ethical concerns about human genetic engineering
• Parents might want to choose their children’s characteristics
• This would be unnatural
• It would be unacceptable in most religions
• Soldiers could be cloned from the genes of the strongest people
• Clones might be used like robots to do certain jobs
• Clones might even be developed just for organ replacements
• Society and human evolution would change completely
• Currently, human genetic engineering is prohibited

Genetically-Modified (GM) foods: Advantages

• Farmers can produce crops that grow bigger and faster
• Some GM crops are more resistant to disease or insects
• This could be important for food production in developing countries
• Faster growing cereals, fruit and vegetables will mean more profit
• GM foods can be modified to look perfect
• They may be more attractive to customers

Genetically-Modified (GM) Foods: Disadvantages

• There may be risks involved in the genetic engineering of foods.
• GM crops might change whole ecosystems
• Food chains could be broken if crops are resistant to predators
• Organic foods are produced without chemicals or genetic modification
• Organic farming may be slower and more expensive
• However, the environment is not damaged by fertilizers or pesticides.

基因工程的好处

• 基因工程是操纵有机体基因的实践
• 它被用于生产能更加抵抗昆虫和疾病的农作物
• 一些基因编辑过的农作物生长更快
• 一些药物和疫苗由基因工程生产
• 改变人类基因特征或许变得可能
• 科学家或许使用基因工程来治疗疾病
• 先天性疾病或许不再存在
• 婴儿出生前基因可能就被修改
• 它也可以被用于克隆人类器官
• 我们都可以拥有替代器官
• 人类可以生活更久和更健康的生活

基因工程的坏处

• 关于人类基因工程有伦理的担心
• 父母或许想选择他们孩子的特征
• 这会是不自然的
• 在大多数宗教那这是不被接受的
• 军人可以从最强壮的人克隆得到
• 克隆可能像机器人那样做特定的工作
• 克隆甚至可能发展成为仅仅为了器官替代
• 社会和人类进化会完全改变
• 目前，人类基因工程是被禁止的

转基因食品:优点

• 农民能够生产长的更大更快的作物
• 一些转基因作物对疾病和昆虫更加抵抗
• 对发展中国家来说这对粮食生产可以很重要
• 快速生长的谷物、水果和蔬菜将意味着更多的利润
• 转基因食品能改改进的看起来完美
• 它们对消费者而言可能更具吸引力

转基因食品:缺点

• 转基因食品可能存在一些风险
• 转基因作物可能改变整个生态系统
• 如果作物能抵抗捕食者，食物链可能会崩溃
• 有机食品的生产通常没有化学物质和基因修改
• 有机农业可能更慢和更贵
• 然而，环境不会被肥料或害虫损害