What about identical twins that are separated at birth but yet have strikingly similar views, preferences, tastes and abilities? The only feasible explanation is that these traits are biological in nature. Could this be said for all factors that make up our own individual personalities? This essay will explain why biology can be a rational explanation for these traits using examples from current and past research and from theoretical evidence. The study of the human genome project has allowed for the complete sequencing of human DNA for the first time.
Darwin’s theory published in Origin of Species is often thought of as the evolutionary theory, having all that there is to say about the case. Biologists, however, know that the theory of evolution has evolved over time. Darwin’s ideas were merged with ideas from genetics to further evolve the original theory to become the Modern Synthesis. Further, since the Modern Synthesis (MS), scientists have made profound discoveries. The double helix structure of DNA, horizontal gene transfer, gene duplication, and chromosome rearrangements, are all concepts discovered after the establishment of the MS. New sciences like biotechnology, bioinformatics and the “-omics” have emerged to cater the vast and rapid expansion of human knowledge.
Therapeutic cloning refers to harvesting cells from a developing embryo which has the potential of becoming any cell in the human body for the purpose of aiding people who are currently ill. The issue at hand is that there is no intent of allowing the embryo to mature fully, in essence ending a potential life which is where the controversy arises. Reproductive cloning refers to allowing the embryo with identical genetic material as the donor to mature fully, begetting the issue of organ harvesting. Are the risks of cloning outweighed by the benefits? That is exactly the question Charles Krauthammer, a columnist for the Washington Post, attempted to answer in his article “Of Headless Mice…and Men.” Krauthammer states that human cloning should be banned so as to prevent genetic monstrosities as exemplified by cloned headless tadpoles and mice.
The remarkable study of stem cells haa been improved over the past thirty years. Stem cells are new repairing cells that can specialize into different functions, for example, a stem cell can turn into a red or white blood cell and enact their particular role in the body. A source from Genome Research Limited state, “ Stem cells are pluripotent, which means they can change into any cell in the body.” Referring from the quote, stem cells are able to create new cells, organs, and tissues. Researchers are able to record and collect data based off how the cells operate and their reaction to different diseases. Stem cells is becoming an innovation in the medical field due to the new technology.
Gene therapy is the use of DNA as a pharmaceutical agent to treat disease. It originates its name from the idea that DNA can be used to enhance or alter genes within an individual's cells as a therapy to treat disease. PGD has many advantages - being able to test for more than 1,000 genetic conditions including Cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, Sickle-cell anaemia, Tay-Sachs disease and Down syndrome. This allows doctors to examine embryonic cells for certain genetic and chromosomal disorders and lets parents make implantation decisions based on the results Adults who know that they are carriers of a genetic disorder can undergo PGD to ensure their children won’t inherit the disorder meaning that if the disease you carry requires treatment throughout the course of your life, it may save you a small fortune because even though it costs a lot to have the PGD test it will save you a great deal in the long term. Parents can focus on specific areas of DNA involved in any conditions the parents may have doubts about.
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning that they develop into all different types of cells used in the body (National Institutes of Health: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services). Adult stem cells must to be coaxed into a state of pluripotency and are still thought to be limited to their ability to differentiate based on their origin of tissue (National Institutes of Health: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services). Additionally, embryonic stem cells can be grown easily in a culture, multiplied in large quantities from a single embryo (National Institutes of Health: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services). In contrast, adult stem cells are difficult to differentiate from normal tissue cells and even more difficult to isolate once identified (National Institutes of Health: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services). This is relatively important as large quantities of cells are required for any stem cell replacement therapy, the method in which stem cells would be utilized to cure diseases (National Institutes of Health: U.S. Department of Health & Human
The third one is referred to as Enhancement genetic engineering. In this type, a gene is inserted at a pertinent stage in a person’s development so that a specific characteristic would be improved or enhanced. This technique is used mostly by people who have growth deficiency. The last technique is called Eugenic genetic engineering, which is used to insert genes to change or improve complex traits which come from interaction of many genes influenced with environment, such as personality or intelligence. If this is done early enough such traits maybe passed on to future generation ( Lee)
Argumentative Essay - Stem Cell Research According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Stem cells have the potential to develop many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. They can also be used as an internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive (page 1 Stem Cell Research Basics). There are two types of stem cells, embryonic stem cells and somatic or adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are Primitive (undifferentiated) cells derived from a 5-day preimplantation embryo that are capable of dividing without differentiating for a prolonged period in culture, and are known to develop into cells and tissues of the three primary germ layers (page 20 Stem Cell Basics). These types of stem cells are a cause of controversy because in getting the embryonic stem cells you are destroying the embryo which in other words is an abortion.
Is genetic engineering ethically right? The 21st century is the DNA age; scientists now have the ability and knowledge to be creative in modern day science and modify a gene, whether this being a human, animal or plant. The DNA is made up of sections which are the genes. Scientists are able to deliberately transform, manipulate and create organisms in order to make a specific gene perform better. The artificial gene is then replaced into the mechanism of the human, plant or animal with the hope of correcting the ‘faulty’ gene.
The Argument about Clone Clone as a really important technology is still a very hot topic today which can set off an animated discussion. Clone brings us a lot of surprising achievements, meanwhile it also lead to a big argument between science and ethic. Dolly the sheep, the world's first cloned mammal, is a successful example of clone. After that, the technology has greatly developed and successful examples occurred commonly. Clone’s contributions to human beings also incarnated in other aspects, such as providing organs for transplantation, providing treatments for variety diseases and helping infertile parents to have their own lovely babies.