Topic > Genetic Engineering: Is the Human Race Ready? - 1455

It's amazing to see how far genetic engineering has come. Humans, plants and any living organism can now be manipulated. Scientists have found a way to change humans before they are even born. They can remove, add or alter genes in the human genome. Making things possible that humans (even thirty years ago) would never have imagined. Richard Hayes states in SuperSize Your Child? that genetic engineering must have limits. That genetic engineering should be used for medical purposes, but not for “genetic modifications that could open the door to high-tech eugenic engineering” (188). There is no doubt that genetic engineering can lead to great things, but it could lead the human race without limits towards a future that no one today could even imagine. Agriculture is an industry that has definitely been changed due to gene manipulation. Food can be grown indoors rather than growing it from the ground. EPCOT, a part of Disneyworld in Florida, is a great place to see it in action. They actually grow some vegetables suspended in the air without their roots planted in anything. They have an entire ride dedicated to showcasing the innovative new ways Disney is growing plant life. It is a truly unforgettable experience to see a plant hanging from the ceiling without any type of pot attached. The usual scene for a plant is in the ground or in a pot, not hanging from the ceiling with roots hanging below. They also had an intricate hydroponic system to ensure the longevity of the plants. A tank was placed atop a spiral of plants segmented six to eight inches apart from each other. This irrigation system irrigated plants with water falling from the tallest plant, then dripping through each plant to…halfway through the paper…until it was unrecognizable to people today. If this alteration of human genes is to be allowed, someone will have to ensure that it is used for the good of the people, and nothing more. Ultimately, the government would be in charge of regulating genetic engineering, but people would also have to be actively involved. Laws would need to be put in place to ensure the technology cannot be legally used in harmful ways. Medical experts should be consulted at every stage of the process, to ensure that people's best interests are taken into account. Even with all the precautions listed above, someone somewhere would find a way around them. The wonderful prospects that this technology could offer to mankind should not be completely ruled out for this reason. However, it should be emphasized that people continue to proceed with caution