Genetic Engineering1
Fetal DNA modification, what is it? Fetal DNA Modification is a type of germ line gene therapy, but it is only performed on fetuses. This is because of their abnormalities of their gene makeup that could cause hereditary disease. If a genetic disease is found during the test of the amniotic fluid, then Fetal DNA therapy could be an excellent choice. Since the human genome project is nearly completed there is now the knowledge of where each gene in the human body is located and what its use is. With this knowledge Scientists can take viruses and change their genetic makeup to be able to fix the abnormalities that the growing fetuses have due to their genes. Due to evolution viruses have evolved to be able to penetrate the cell membranes and take over their reproductive capabilities of a cell. In doing so the cell reads the viruses genetic coding rather then its own and replicates with the viruses DNA. If we can successfully inject virus DNA that has its genes sequence changed so what was abnormal with the original fetus is now fixed in the viruses' genetic code. We would then be able to change the fetuses genetic makeup and the child to be born would no longer have the hereditary disease, or th
The second credential that it needs to meet is nonmaleficence. This is that it will not risk hurting anyone. This is one thing that fetal DNA modification might not meet, although it is a choice it can hurt the fetus. So, if there were a risk then it would not fit into nonmaleficence. For instance if the procedure is performed and we don't know that multiple genes could affect a disease, and the viruses DNA was not fixed for the gene then sever mutations could occur to both the genetic structure and it also risks retardation. The possibility is if the viruses with the correct genetic structure is injected the developing immune system of the fetus could reject it and scientists are not sure about what this could do to the developing fetus. Due to these risks fetal DNA modification would not meet the ethical credentials of nonmaleficence. My topic fetal DNA modification is a great advance in scientific knowledge and disease treatment but it also has its problems. Although it does have potential to cure so many it also has its drawbacks. One great things about fetal DNA modification is if you refine the treatment it will be able to save thousands if not millions of lives each year. For instance, recently scientists found the gene that causes 75% of Cystic Fibrosis cases and they also developed a way to implant a virus into a fetus and have it change the genetic coding so that the gene to cause Cystic Fibrosis is no longer turned on. Scientists have also discovered with help of the human genome project how to do that with dwarfism, Huntington's disease and some forms of colon and breast cancer. The way you need to evaluate biotechnology to determine if it is ethical is make sure it meets 4 credentials. They are Autonomy, which is, if you have the choice to do it or not. The second is nonmaleficence which is saying it isn't ethical if it risks harming or is going to harm someone, the third is beneficence which questions if it going to help many in the future and will the number of people it helps be much greater then what it hurts. This is different then nonmaleficence, although it may not sound that different. The difference is nonmaleficence looks at it in a negative light, but in beneficence it is looked at positive so if it is over all positive it meets that third credential. The fourth and final credential that must be met for a part of biotechnology to be ethical according to Kormondy is Justice. Justice is sa
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1653
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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