From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia.
Human
genetic engineering deals with
the modification of a human being
through the modification of the
genetic structure. These changes
are usually carried out by taking
a trait from one species, whether
animal, plant, etc., and
transferring them into another
species; in this case, a human.
This research is usually
performed to study
gene expression and various
human diseases. Some drastic
demonstrations of gene
modification have been made with
mice and other animals, however: a
mouse with an 'ear' on its back,
glow in the dark mice, etc. have
been created (although mostly as a
PR/"see if they could actually do
it" type effort). Testing on
humans is generally considered
off-limits.
Applications
Curing medical conditions
When treating problems that
arise from
genetic disorder, one solution
is gene therapy. A genetic
disorder is a situation where some
genes are missing or faulty. When
this happens, genes may be
expressed in unfavorable ways or
not at all, and this generally
leads to further complicatons.
The idea of gene therapy is
that a non-pathogenic
virus or other delivery system
can be used to insert a piece of
DNA--a good copy of the gene--into
cells of the living individual.
The modified cells would divide as
normal and each division would
produce cells that express the
desired trait. The result would be
that he/she would then have the
ability to express the trait that
was previously absent at least
partially. This form of genetic
engineering could help alleviate
many problems, such as
diabetes,
cystic fibrosis, or other
diseases that involve genetic
defects.
Adapting humans to new
specifications
Genetic engineering to
drastically change people's
genomes could enable people to
regrow limbs, the spine, the
brain. It could also be used to
make people stronger, faster,
smarter, or to increase the
capacity of the lungs, among other
things. If a gene exists in
nature, it could be brought over
to a human cell.
Positive reasoning
Genetic engineering could bring
a number of improvements to our
race. The human race would be able
to adapt and survive in more
environments and situations than
currently possible. For example,
humans can't breathe the
atmosphere on Mars, nor live in
the sea; genetically engineered
people, theoretically, could.
Populating areas currently
impossible without external
technology would no longer be
close to as difficult.
Chimeras
A
chimera has at least two
different populations of cells,
which are genetically distinct and
which originated in different
zygotes (fertilized eggs). In the
case of a human-animal chimera, an
extensively chimeric person or
creature could pose difficult
legal problems concerning their
classification.
The
Chimera in mythology is a
three part creature, with the head
of a lion, the body of a goat, and
the legs of a dragon.
The novel
The Island of Dr. Moreau could
be considered an example of
human-animal chimeras in fiction
(the actual method used is
unclear).
The process
First, the ability that you
want to carry over has to be
isolated. If, for instance, you
want to be able to regrow almost
everything, you have to find a
creature that can do this, such as
the newt. Then, after isolating
the genes that make this happen,
you either find what changes you
make to your body so that it can
carry out this process with fewer
changes, or you transfer that
whole block of genes and isolate
it.
Then, with whatever technique
is available, it enters the human
body and invades the host cells,
inserting itself directly into the
genes of that cell.
When to make changes
Changes at conception
Genetic engineering is most
easily accomplished by making
changes just after the egg and
sperm have melded but before first
division. In this way, the gene
will be expressed throughout with
few worries that it did not reach
the whole body.
Effects to the germline
There is some controversy about
whether genetic changes should be
allowed to affect the
germline. Affecting the
germline means that not only do
you, or whoever the genetic
engineering was done to, have the
changes, but all children
conceived after the engineering,
and so on, as well.
Changes after conception
Changes after conception,
whether child or adult, is often a
more desired form of genetic
engineering. These changes would
ideally take effect, and give the
desired outcomes with no side
effects. However, there is greater
difficulty in reaching the correct
parts of the body or the whole
body as desired.
Considerations
Interference from laws and
politics
Due to tough regulatory laws,
research in this field have been
stifled to a bare minimum.
Experiments with approval were
being carried out on people with a
variety of diseases, and the
experiments tried to insert genes
and correct their diseases.
However, one person treated died,
and furthur research had been
cancelled on most if not all
projects.
Ethical considerations
- We could choose to have
changes made to us, but we might
also be making the choice for
our children if the changes are
carried through to the germline.
Do we have that right, and how
far should we take our ability?
- If genetic engineering
became the way of the future,
would people, whose parents
could not afford to genetically
'modify' them while still in an
embryo, have a chance of
achieving with high standards
compared to the people who were
'modified' to be perfect?
Social considerations
- Would society treat genetic
engineered people differently,
either to a higher or lower
standard? What would happen to
society that would not change
over.
- Would they be left behind,
would they be considered second
class humans?
- What if this created a
different species of human,
would they still be able to
interbreed, would they want to?
- What place would genetically
engineered humans and regular
humans have in society?
- Is it ethical to experiment
on embryos that have yet to be
born?
Spiritual considerations
- What would your religious
beliefs say about engineered
people? Would they be something
to be feared, or a gift from
god?
Examples
Examples in fiction of
genetically engineered humans:
Movies
Alien: Resurrection:
Ripley is alive in the future, she
has been recreated from a gene
sample and the queen larva with
her. However, the researchers did
not expect to find any great
mutations in Ripley.
Blade Runner: Humans that
were engineered to work in very
hostile environments come to earth
and have to be hunted down.
Gattaca: A child conceived
naturally grows up being treated
as a second class citizen.
However, he takes on the identity
of a genetically engineered
conceived person and proves that
there are no limit when will leads
the way.
Soldier: Todd
Resident Evil: Apocalypse:
A virus infects Alice. In
Resident Evil 2, her body
melds with the virus. This
accelerates her development,
giving her super strength, speed,
reaction time, ability to heal, as
well as the ability to recover
from death.
The Island of Dr. Moreau:
Dr. Moreau has been experimenting
on animals and creating human like
animals.
Books
Lost Paradise: Due to
accidental involvement with a
client, an old man has to take a
trip to another world. He enlists
as a mercenary to fight for a
Japanese colonization group
alongside humans and engineered
humans. In this sci-fi universe, a
new breed of humans were created
in Sourth America that are
smarter, faster, stronger, and
more survivable in general. These
people are looked down upon and
treated worse than animals, with
little or no protection given by
most governments.
See also
