Gene+manipulation

Genetic Manipulation What is gene manipulation? Genetic manipulation refers to the creation of new life forms through deliberate modification of DNA. This is performed by modifying the genotype, or genetic constitution of the unborn individual to control what traits is will possess when born. Two main types: 1)    Somatic modifications involve adding genes to cells other than egg or sperm cells. One example would be if a person had a disease caused by a defective gene, a healthy gene could be added to the affected cells to treat the disorder. This process is non-inheritable so the new gene would not be passed to the recipient’s offspring.     2)     Germline modifications would change genes in eggs, sperm, or very early embryos. This type is inheritable, meaning that the modified genes would appear not only in any children that resulted from the procedure, but in all succeeding generations.

Two techniques researchers use for experiments:  ·   Viruses are good at injecting their DNA into human cells and reproduce it. By adding the desired DNA to the DNA of non-pathogenic virus, a small amount of virus will reproduce the desired DNA and spread it all over the body.  ·   Manufacture large quantities of DNA, and somehow package it to induce the target cells to accept it, either as an addition to one of the original 23 chromosomes, or as an independent 24th human artificial chromosome.

Complications: What’s possible with Genetic Manipulation? It’s possible for people to be given more arms, bigger brains or other structural alterations. More popular changes would be finding the genes of extraordinary people such as those for intelligence, stamina, and incorporating those into the embryos. Curing diseases and increasing the immunity of people to viruses is possible. Disorders such as Cystic fibrosis, which is a genetic disease that affects lungs and other organs is a result of small DNA changes. At what period should this be performed? This procedure should be performed as an embryo. The changes should be implanted within an egg to be inserted into a female womb. It is possible to perform at conception, which is just after the egg and sperm have melded but before first division. This way the gene will be expressed throughout and will affect the recipients children, grandchildren, and all subsequent generations. Changes can be performed after birth, but this would not be hereditary unless the sex cells are engineered. Whose baby is it? If a surrogate mother is involved with this process then it isn’t there baby. The woman agreed to become pregnant for the purpose of giving birth to a child for others to raise. She may be the child’s genetic mother, or she may be implanted with an unrelated embryo. Additional Information: The possibilities are endless, strength, speed, endurance and so on can be enhanced. The baby can be made taller, more beautiful, the changes possible are really up to the imagination. Some people have been identified with physical abilities such as athletes, geniuses, physical and mental event record holders. This manipulation of genes is taking the power of creation into our own hands. This is like “playing God” so some people believe it is wrong to tamper with genes. References:  1."Genetic manipulation." 1 May 2008. [|www.biofact.com/cloning/#manipulation]  2. "Gene Manipulation." 1 May 2008. [|www.ethics.biz/about-ethics/ethics-centre-articles/ethics-subjects/science/article-0257.html]
 * Possible lack of control over the immune response to the "retrovirus".
 * Possible problems getting complete transformation of the target cell population.
 * Randomness of the insertion of the DNA fragment wanted which might lead to a cell turning cancerous or being more subtly disrupted.