Humans

Human Genetic engineering is a new field that is being researched currently. While there have been enormous breakthroughs in the field such as cloning, Gene therapy, and Gene splicing scientist have only begun to scratch the surface of this fascinating topic. However, at this time the government has put limitations on scientist and this area of study, making funding an issue

 

Advantages

 

Below is a picture that illustrates the processes behind gene therapy.

Citation: http://www.acceleratingfuture.com/michael/blog/images/Gene_therapy.jpg

 

•  Gene Therapy- Is the introduction of nucleic acids into cells for the purpose of altering the course of a medical condition or disease.
• Originally was directed at treating single-gene disorders but has now evolved into treating many types of disorders
• With current technological advances gene therapy will become a relativity early next century.

 

Different types of Vectors used in Gene Therapy

• Viral Vector
• NonViral Vector Hematopoietic Derived Disease

 

Table 1. Gene transfer vehicles Vector Advantages Disadvantages Viral   Retrovirus Integration into host DNA Semi-random integration   All viral genes removed Transduction requires cell division   Relatively safe Relatively low titer   Adenovirus Higher titer Toxicity   Efficient transduction of   nondividing cells in vitro and in vivo Immunological response Prior exposure   Adeno-associated virus All viral genes removed Small genome limits size of foreign DNA   Safe Labor-intensive production   Transduction of nondividing cells Status of genome not fully elucidated   Stable expression Nonviral   Liposomes Absence of viral components Inefficient gene transfer into the nucleus   Lack of previous immune recognition Lack of persistence of DNA     Lack of tissue targeting

Above is a chart that states the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of vectors

Citation: http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/94/24/12744#SEC0 

 

 

Disadvantages

 

Antibiotic Resistance

·         New Diseases

·         If transferred to humans pathogens could become immune to antibiotics      

Eating Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms

·         It is currently unclear how modified plants and organisms will affect humans because it takes 2 decades for the body to start to show long term affects.

·         To see how these processes occur in depth check out our plants and animals links!!!

Environmental Concerns

·         One gene affects multiple traits and multiple genes affect a single trait. Gene splicing a single gene into an organism may unintentionally cause harmful reactions to the organisms.

Example:

Above is a picture that illustrates the gene splicing technique.

Citation: http://www.premierbiosoft.com/images/alternative-splicing.jpg

 

 

• Gene splicing human growth hormone into a mouse makes it very large however if you put the same hormone into pigs the result are quiet different, the pigs become skinny, crossed eyed, and arthritic animals. 

Others

• Establishing safety issue
•  Human Diversity
•  Loss of identity

 

Cloning

 

 Cloning may be used for multiple purposes, below is a list of why we would consider cloning.

 

Why?

1. Medical Reasons

       - Cloning animal models of diseases

   - Cloning stem cells for research

   - Drug production

2. Reviving endangered or extinct species

       - Most likely would not be used for dinosaurs due the lack of healthy undamaged DNA

 

Above is a picture of the first cloned extinct Gaur species. Noah lived only two days after birth.

Citation: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/cloning/whyclone/

 

 

      - Would be used for species that have just recently been endangered or extinct because DNA would be relatively fresh and undamaged making cloning easier.

3. Human Cloning

       - To replace deceased children

     - To help infertile couples have children

4. Reproducing a Deceased pet

       - To replace a beloved pet, for personal reasons.

 

Examples

 

Below are four excellent video examples of human genetic engineering.

Genetics and its Secrets                Gene Therapy                     CLONE YOUR OWN MOUSE : get involved with cloning, try cloning yourself!                  The Science behind Cloning

 

 

 

Ethics

 

Ethics is a touchy issue that varies from person to person in human genetic engineering. Topics vary from human cloning to the use of gene therapy.  Below is an excellent link that explains the different types of human cloning. Form your own opinion! Genetic Engineering 

 

Genetic engineering video on ethic-----> Ethic's video on genetic engineering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Genetic Engineering Citations