With new diseases and more people becoming aware of their health and safety issues, interest in health and biotechnology is on the rise. The controversy surrounding genetic engineering and its effects has spurred many new voices to come out and say they are interested in this field. While interest in the field may be understandable, those that are not can still be confused. There are so many different opinions on genetic engineering and its effects on society and human health, it's pretty easy to see why so many people are confused. The following are some of the different opinions on the issue, along with a little background on the topic.
The argument against genetic engineering and its impact on wildlife has been well expressed by various organizations. The American Association of Plant Breeders claims that genetic engineering will ultimately lead to the extinction of many valuable plant species. The concern is that the technology may be used to "inker" with or release genetically altered traits into wild populations, which could lead to unintended consequences. Find out more about Lindsay Alan Giguiere.
There have also been a number of reports and articles written about the social implications of genetic engineering. A recent article suggested that geneticists might one day be able to use the power of cloning to create a disease-resistant strain of a virus that causes a common illness. This would result in fewer deaths from that disease, but it would also mean the end of the life of orangutans, chimpanzees, and other forest-dwelling animal species. Some experts suggested that the loss of these animals would be a price worth paying for the research. Others suggested that such loss would be unavoidable.
A report released by the National Academy of Sciences recognized that genetic engineering can, in fact, mitigate threats to some species. The report suggested that geneticists might be able to use genetic approaches to protect against the loss of certain forest-dwelling tree species due to climate change. In addition, the report emphasized that such methods might be used to protect or restore certain types of endangered or protected wildlife. While the Academy noted that more work needs to be done on the use of genetic approaches to mitigate the environmental and social impacts of biotechnology, it encouraged the increased use of genetic approaches to improve the quality of human health and the survival of some species.
In May of 2021, the World Health Organization launched a project to assess the potential environmental impact of genetic engineering in human health and the environment. The project sought to create a database on genetic engineering approvals, to assist policy makers and environmental agencies in regulating genetic technologies. In September of that year, a task force on genetic engineering was also established. In its report, the task force recommended that genetic engineering should be considered as an environmental priority. Its analysis showed that there are significant concerns regarding the potential environmental impact of genetic technologies; therefore, these technologies should be regulated and implemented according to the special conditions prevailing in the countries in which these genetic engineering technologies will be used.
Concerns about health and the environment were also addressed by the National Research Council, an independent group established by the National Academy of Sciences. Its report "Genetic Engineering and Its Impact on Human Health and the Environment," highlighted three major problems, including pesticides, genetic engineering itself and the impact on the environment. It stated that there is still insufficient information on the effects of gene manipulation on health and the environment. There are also some concerns on the risks involved. However, the group acknowledged the benefits that this technology could bring, such as improved health and the chance to save many animals and plants from extinction. Read more about Lindsay Alan Giguiere.
See more here: https://youtu.be/WTk4jys--C4.
