Double-Edged Sword Essay Example

and the creation of artificial human cells. Infertile couples may benefit from human reproductive cloning by having children with some of their DNA. Furthermore, people could potentially clone themselves to create a "perfect descendant" or recreate lost loved ones to ease bereavement. However, there is a strong argument against using human clones to save another's life due to ethical and moral concerns.

A human clone, although artificially created, should be considered as a living organism similar to any other human being. Using it for our own purposes and later killing it would be considered a sin. Additionally, early cloning attempts are prone to various clinical failures which could lead to several miscarriages, abortions or the birth of deformed offspring. However, the greater problem arises if cloning succeeds in producing a healthy child and joins the already available reproductive technologies. This leads to socio-ethical concerns regarding the treatment of human clones. Gene therapy is another outcome of several years' research in genetic engineering and aims at curing genetic disorders by inserting normal or genetically manipulated genes to fix the damaged or missing genes in cells and tissues.

Gene therapy is considered a potential solution for many genetic ailments, such as hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, and severe combined immunodeficiency. By inserting genes and artificial chromosomes into embryos through germ-line gene therapy, behavioral disorders, like schizophrenia, as well as genes that boost intelligence or athletic performance can be cured. The positive genetic changes would also be inherited by future generations. However, gene therapy is not without its drawbacks and has resulted in the death of several patients seeking to address their genetic problems. Unfortunately, the use of viruses, which are

the preferred carriers during most gene therapy studies, poses several complications to patients, including toxicity and immune and inflammatory reactions.

The medical procedure being discussed in the film has limitations. It is short-lived and only suitable for diseases caused by a mutation in one gene. It would be difficult for it to treat multi-factorial disorders like heart disease and diabetes. These are caused by variations in multiple genes. The next technique shown in the film, RNA interference, can silence gene expression and inhibit the function of specific target genes. This includes genes involved in causing diseases like cervical cancer and hepatitis.

Like gene therapy, diseases with a simple genetic basis have a higher likelihood of success with RNA interference, while complex multi-gene disorders have lower probability. Synthetic RNA delivery is more effective in diseases that are easier to access. Improvements in RNA interference are ongoing to selectively target cancer cells and avoid destroying normal cells. Stem cell therapy presents immense potential for medical treatment of various conditions including heart and brain diseases, due to stem cells' capability of differentiating into all types of cells.

Studies indicate that adult stem cells exhibit great potential and success in various applications. Specifically, heart disease patients who have undergone stem cell therapy have demonstrated significant advancements in the normalization of their cardiac tissues. Despite this, embryonic stem cells are a topic of controversy because they possess a wider scope of differentiation potential than most adult stem cells. Additionally, they divide at an accelerated rate, allowing for the generation of more therapeutic cells. Due to their remarkable versatility, scientists are exploring the possibilities of using embryonic stem cells to create new organs

in the future.

Although genetic modification of humans has been touted as a way to enhance well-being and address serious illnesses, it presents a moral quandary for society. The collection of embryonic stem cells could result in the sacrifice of human lives, even if clone embryos are utilized. This approach raises ethical concerns for some who find the idea of using such an immoral method to save lives difficult to accept. Nevertheless, progress in genetics might enable us to design our own genetic profiles by enhancing our physical and mental abilities, selecting traits for our offspring, and producing seemingly flawless superheroes.

Despite advancements in the field, our understanding of morality is still limited. Genetic engineering presents socio-ethical problems that our current ethical values cannot adequately address. Scientists and ethicists are at odds as proponents argue that genetic engineering can prevent and cure diseases while ethicists believe the risks outweigh the benefits. Misuse of genetic technologies is inevitable due to humans' tendency to abuse. Designer babies may be a way for parents to achieve their aspirations for their children, but altering genetics can undermine individual uniqueness and humanity as a whole.

The concept of gene manipulation is of concern due to its potential to transform children into mere commodities sought after by ambitious parents. Furthermore, the perceived act of playing God through genetic engineering raises alarm bells as it may have disastrous social consequences. If genetic modification creates a divide between those with enhanced abilities and those without, the latter may be relegated to a lower social status within a problematic society. Despite the promising future offered by genetic advances, society must consider and address ethical dilemmas

in order to avoid being blindsided by unintended consequences of nature's wrath.

The use of gene manipulation can be compared to a double-edged sword that is capable of causing harm to one's enemies, but also carries a significant risk because it could harm the person who is utilizing it.