Genetic Engineering

Two years ago, genetically engineered bacteria, which unexpectedly killed beneficial

soil fungi, escaped into sewers through human error and have become toxic to plants and

survived when expected not to. These are the sorts of consequences that come with

playing God. DNA, the chemical compound that makes up genes and determines

types of proteins a cell can make, is the core of genetic engineering. It can be

manipulated in ways we could never dream of such as a new species of a cat woman or

fish man.


There are many questions researchers must ask each other before making any

sort of decision that would affect the future of genetic engineering toward humans. The

risks of DNA combinations can be enormous and unexpected such as the formation of

bacteria resistant to antibiotics, linkage of DNA molecules with tumor-causing viruses

and the introduction of toxin-formation or antibiotic resistant genes. Thus all risks must

be taken into...