Genetic Engineering

1
Genetic Engineering
Brought to you by Eli Girod Chris Duchesne Mike
Garrett Ranil Fernando
2
What is Genetic Engineering?

• Scientific alteration of the structure of genetic
  material in a living organism.
• Involves the production and use of recombinant DNA

3
What can it do for us?

• Improve crops in the agriculture industry
• The ability to screen for positive and negative
  genetic traits
• Eugenics, which gives us the ability to improve,
  if not perfect the human race

4
How are we using it today?

• The agriculture industry relies heavily on
  genetic engineering to improve the quality and
  quantity of their products
• Screening for genetic disorders in prenatal
  stages of life

5
How G.E. Affects the Agriculture Industry

• The agriculture industry is the largest market in
  the world and is always looking for ways to
  improve efficiency
• Creation of natural pesticides within plants
• Growing crops in unnatural climates
• Make fruits that contains vaccines or other
  medical products
• Most food products have been enhanced by genetic
  modification in some way

6
Genetic Screening

• Enables doctors to make accurate predictions
  about the risk of future diseases (Alzheimers,
  Huntingtons , cancer, etc.)
• Allows to determine aptitude for success
• Makes Eugenics possible

7
The Climax - Eugenics

• Eugenics is the improvement of the human race by
  controlled selective breeding through genetic
  engineering
• Improves the quality of life
• Eliminates the possibility of genetic diseases
  and birth defects
• Bigger, faster, stronger
• Greater intelligence capabilities

8
Eugenics Isnt New

• This idea is not new only the technology
• Throughout the early 20th century eugenics
  supporters tried to improve humans by
  encouraging desirable traits
• In other countries to stop perceived inadequacies
  certain groups of people were prohibited from
  having children
• In the USA 33 states passed laws leading to the
  involuntary sterilization of more than 60,000
  people through the 1970s

9

• Isnt there something wrong with this?

10
Cons of Genetic Engineering

• The consumption of genetically modified foods is
  not proven to be completely safe
• Genetically modified plants are not stable
• Altering one gene to fix a problem may cause a
  problem in a different area
• For example Altering a gene to fix sickle cell
  anemia may cause a reduced protection against
  malaria

11
Ethical Issues Genetic Screening

• It can be used as a means of discrimination
  against those with genetic deficiencies
• The US Senate just passed a bill with a vote of
  95 to 0 against genetic screening for use by
  companies to hire people or deny health coverage
• Insurance industry controversy over use and
  nonuse of genetic screening (works on both sides)

12
Ethical issues in eugenics

• Eugenics can lead to discrimination
• All men are born equal? Not anymore
• Racial discrimination discouraged breeding of
  certain races
• Similar to Nazism in the creation of a superior
  race
• Genoism..

13
Ethics of Eugenics continued

• Life of babies is predetermined
• Children will be limited in the choice of what
  they want to do with their life
• Possibly changing destiny
• Socioeconomic Division
• In the beginning it will be expensive and only
  the wealthy will be able to reap the benefits

14
Example Gattaca

• Gattaca A world controlled by Eugenics
• Movie Clip 1 Birth Screening
• Movie Clip 2 Job Screening
• Movie Clip 3 Eugenics/Choice
• Note DivX codec required to play movies.
  Download Here

15
Playing God

• Many peoples religious beliefs are strongly
  opposed to genetically modifying humans -gt God is
  responsible for our creation, and you dont mess
  with God
• Natural birth will be seen as inferior.
• (Build a Baby) -gtBabies will be a design by
  parents? Not everyone can afford that.

16
Legal Issues

• Invasion of privacy Genetic screening without
  consent
• Insurance companies may not provide coverage to
  those whos genetic tests show a probability of
  certain diseases
• Even with laws in place to prevent these types of
  actions discrimination will still take place
• For Example Laws are in place to prevent racism
  in hiring, but it still takes place

17
Stakeholders

• This topic concerns EVERYONE!!!!!!
• Parents, insurance companies, farmers, employers,
  employees, those who dont use it, and those who
  do

18
Our Thoughts

• The process of bringing products from the lab to
  the public market must be slowed down to insure
  the long-term safety of the consumer
• Genetic screening should be an option used for
  personal reasons (not by companies)
• It is ethically wrong to purposely hide knowledge
  of ones short term death when taking out life
  insurance
• Eugenics should be completely banned to maintain
  equality

19
Bibliography

• "The New Eugenics 15 October 2003.
• lthttp//www.albion.edu/english/comer/eugenics.htm
  gt
• "What is Genetic Engineering" 15 October 2003.
  lthttp//www.globalchange.com/geneticengin.htmgt
• Stolberg, Sheryl. "Senate Sends to House a Bill
  on Safeguarding genetic Privacy". The New York
  Times. 15 October 2003.
• "Genetic testing and genetic screening Ethics of
  genetic testing for insurance" 15 October 2003.
  lthttp//www.globalchange.com/genescreen.htmgt
• Dictionary.com 15 October 2003.
  lthttp//dictionary.reference.comgt
• Choosing our Genes 15 October 2003.
  lthttp//amnh.org/exhibitions/genomics/3_choosing/e
  nhance.htmlgt
• Gatica. Dir. Andrew Niccol. Perf. Ethan Hawke and
  Uma Thurman. Columbia Pictures, 1997.