How can recombinant DNA technology be a threat?

4 Comments

1. kara says:

   November 9, 2009 at 6:34 pm

   The potential danger associated with use of recombinant DNA technology is becoming a prominent issue. When recombinant DNA is produced there is the possibility that perilous new pathogens might be created or there is the possibility that hazardous cells might be transferred into bacteria or viruses.

   In an attempt to prevent all this, a set of guidelines as formal regulations were adopted by the US and other countries in the 1980’s. The new regulations were intended to protect laboratory personnel from infection and to prevent microbes from accidentally leaving the lab. As a precautionary measure all microorganisms involved in genetic work has been genetically crippled to ensure they cannot survive outside of the lab.

   There has been a growing concern on genetically modified organisms used as food. In 1999 the European Union prohibited the production of new genetically modified crops and in 2000, 130 countries agreed on a protocol that requires exporters to declare if the crops they are exporting contain genetically modified organisms.

   Transgenic plants have raised a lot of controversial issues. It is alleged that transgenic plants may be able to pass their new gene to other plants in surrounding areas via pollination. If these transgenic plants were made resistant to herbicides, diseases or insects, the offspring of the transgenic and non transgenic plants may become super weeds that are very difficult to control.
   Genetic engineering in plants has also been attributed to the loss of crop genetic diversity thus increasing the risk of famine.

   It also claimed that transgenic plants can produce pollen which are toxic to butterflies; A 1999 laboratory study found that genetically modified corn produced pollen that killed monarch butterfly caterpillars. Genetic engineering is also used in the production of virus-tolerant crops. Recombination can occur between the plant-produced viral genes and closely related genes of incoming viruses which may lead to the creation of viruses that can infect a wider range of hosts or that may be more powerful than the parent viruses.

   Animal right activist are concerned about the suffering which genetic engineering techniques inflict on animals. In many situations the transgenic animal does not pass on the desired gene to its offspring so repeated experiments are necessary in order to develop the desired line for breeding purposes, thus increasing the plight and suffering of the organism involved.

   Fish which are genetically engineered can raise problems if they interbreed with fish that have not. Scientists fear this may cause the behavior of the wild fish produced to become unpredictable and undesirable. Fish which have been genetically modified may compete with other fish for food, thus causing the extermination of certain species of fish.

   The use of genetically engineered Bovine Somatotropin used to increase the yield of milk in diary cows has raised many questions. Critics are concerned about the cows that are injected with it and the humans which drink the milk from these cows. It is found that Bovine Somatotropin increases a cow’s likelihood of developing mastitis and other infections of its udders.

   Genetic engineering is claimed by certain individuals to affect biodiversity in a negative way. Plants that are genetically modified can cause certain animals such as birds and insects that depend on certain plant parts for food to become endangered. The introduction of foreign genes to plants could also have serious consequences for wildlife. For instance genetically engineered rice could endanger certain animals like deer and sloth who feed on them.

   All allergies are caused by proteins and since genetic engineering involves the addition of modified proteins into new organisms it may be able to cause allergic reactions in certain individuals. A possible consequence of genetically engineered foods is an alteration of the nutritional content of the resulting product. It has been proposed that genetically modified plants may have lost nutritional value even though the crop shows no outward sign. Iatrogenic illness from drugs made by genetic engineering, e.g. insulin, has also been a cause of concern as well the creation of superviruses by viral recombination in human cell culture.

   The mapping of the human genome raised a lot of ethical questions. Many people question the right of others to examine someone else’s gene and to modify them, altering the manner it which it was created by GOD. DNA technology has been used as an excuse by certain individuals to dominate the earth and do as they please with plants and animals.

   Through the process of genetic engineering scientists extract stem cells from a human embryo approximately five days after conception, which can serve as replacement cells to treat Alzheimer’s and other diseases. When the stem cells are extracted from the embryo it is destroyed. The embryo is considered to be a human life and when it is destroyed, this is considered to be murder by certain people. This has recently a lot of controversy between the advocate and opponents of this procedure.

   Today around the world the regulatory agencies in many countries are trying to facilitate the use of DNA technology in various industries while at the same time trying to ensure its safety.
2. tsfoosh says:

   November 9, 2009 at 6:34 pm

   Recombinant DNA…I assume if i’m answering this question correctly…has to do with Genetically Modified Organisms? If it is then I know a LOT about this..so just send me a message over Yahoo
3. reincarnation says:

   November 9, 2009 at 6:34 pm

   if you fuckup the DNA it could render the organism non fertaly and they would all die off making earth a big dust bowl.

   if you play God isolate it and make sure you know what the fuck you are doing. never force GE foods on people who dont want it, so you pervnt stravation. you should isolate the GE from the nature ones. and let people choose with their own free will, always keep natures plants. cause i fuckup in the GE could wipe out all life.

   personally if rDNA can cure death, i’m all for it. =)
4. mani says:

   November 9, 2009 at 6:34 pm

   yes