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GENETIC ENGINEERING

GENETIC ENGINEERING: THE PROMISE OF PERFECTION

We have become a population of specialists, with each person so deep in his chosen field that he scarcely realizes the existence of other fields. Perhaps biology is ignored more than most other fields because of its stereotypical image. When people think of biology, they picture a scientist wearing a white lab coat (complete with pocket protectors), carrying numerous volumes of big, pictureless books, and muttering confusing, multisyllabic words. Although this is one type of biologist, most scientists do not fit this description. Regardless of their appearance, these scientists' labors cannot be ignored-especially in the field of genetics--because they affect everyone: philosophers, lawyers, priests, and laypersons. Geneticists, specifically genetic engineers, propose to alter the genetic constitution of the human race, and in so doing, end genetic disease, mental illness, and hunger.

Although a relatively young discipline, genetics has assumed a position of central importance in biology. No so long ago, biology was fragmented into many camps that rarely communicated with each other. Cell biology, physiology, embryology, and evolution were all separate fields without a real unifying concept. Today, however, "every biologist must be a bit of a geneticist, because the findings and techniques of genetics are being applied in all fields" (Suzuki 2). Genetics, in fact, provides the modern paradigm for all of biology. In addition to this powerful unifying role, genetics has gained great importance in human affairs. The findings of genetic research have had

considerable impact, not only in the applied areas of biology, medicine, and agriculture, but also in such areas as philosophy, law, and religion (Suzuki 9). Thus, the gene, and its study, affect all of us.

The gene is the "basic unit of inheritance ... a given trait may be due to the action of one gene or of many" (...

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GENETIC ENGINEERING. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 04:50, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1680631.html