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Evaluating the Impacts and Future Implications of Genetic Engineering

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Evaluating the Impacts and Future Implications of Genetic Engineering Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session Forum: Environmental Commission Issue: Evaluating the Impacts and Future Implications of Genetic Engineering Student Officer: Jai Joshi Position: Deputy Chair Introduction In the past century, humanity has made revolutionary developments that have worked together to form society as it’s known today. New advancements allow the world in general to grow, with technological development leading the way into the future. Technological developments can have very large impact on the social, economical and environmental factors of the world, and although technology does have positive implications for these factors, many can portray negative impacts for the future. In light of this, it is important to evaluate the impacts and future implications of new technologies. Genetic engineering poses a good candidate for this evaluation. Its applications are limitless, yet there are many environmental, economical and ethical barriers that need to be addressed. Genetic engineering is the artificial alteration of genetic information in an organic life form in order to produce a desired trait. The technology can be used to create foods with bigger sizes or greater longevity in order to help eradicate issues such as famine or poverty, to produce animals with traits of another, or to develop bio-weapons that can cause conflict and mass genocide. There is no debate about whether genetic engineering is becoming more prominent over time, as in the past fifteen years, the area of land that GMO crops now use has tripled, 67 to 189 million hectares. Genetic engineering has also seen revolutionary changes in the growth of certain crops, the top 3 being cotton, soybean, and corn. Genetic engineering has a large amount of varying uses, with some being highly beneficial for human growth, and others not. Genetic engineering can have vast implications for the future, yet the technology may have horrifying impacts as well. It is the Environmental Commission’s duty to regulate the development and usage of the technology, but to also aid in the implementation of genetic engineering in order to resolve issues such as famine and malnutrition. It is essential to place restrictions on the technology, as there can be disastrous conseQuences if misused, such as the development of bioweapons, the risk of negative health effects and possible mutations. Although genetic engineering is a controversial technology, with the help of UN bodies and the support of member nations, it could pose as a revolutionary path to a better future. Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session Definition of Key Terms Genetics Genetics is the scientific field that studies genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms. Genetics is a part of biology, and geneticists study the basis of all living beings. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution The Theory of Evolution, proposed by Charles Darwin is the development of species by passing on beneficial mutations. Those with better genetic traits would be more likely to survive, leading to them to pass on said genes to their offspring. CRISPR CRISPR is a gene editing technology, which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. Derived from a bacterial defence system, CRISPR provides a new, more efficient method of genetic editing. DNA DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid, which is the chemical substance that makes up an organism’s genetic structure. Genetic Engineering Genetic engineering is the practice of altering one’s DNA through genetic editing methods. The process is used in order to edit the characteristics of an organism, in order to achieve a desired trait. Genetically Modified Organisms A Genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism that has had their DNA of genetic structure altered through a method of genetic engineering. GMOs can be used for anything, from food with extra nutrition, to genetically modified biological weapons. Characteristics These are traits or features that an organism has, which is passed on from their parents. These are controlled by genes, which are passed onto offspring through reproduction. Genetic Variation Genetic variation is defined as the difference of genetic traits or characteristics. This can be seen as two siblings may share the same parents, yet they may have varying characteristics, such as different eye colours. Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session Species A species is a group of living things that have the ability to reproduce together in order to produce offspring of the same species. Species have similar traits and characteristics, yet variation does still exist within a species. Mutation Mutations are changes in the genetic structure of an organism, that affects the characteristics of it. Mutations can be either positive, negative or neutral, and are vital in the process of evolution. Augmentation Augmentation is the action or process of changing. Key Issues Ethical boundaries Genetic engineering is the modification of an organism’s genome in order to produce a desired trait. With this, the process is essentially changing the genetic structure of a species and its millennia of adaptation and natural growth. Many may argue that the practice is unethical, and many may refer to the practice as ‘playing god,’ or messing with natural development. There are many who believe that genetic engineering and GMOs can be referred to as disrupting natural processes such as natural selection, as well as Darwin’s theory of evolution. Many cultures may disagree with genetic engineering as it may challenge their beliefs, or it may be seen as unnatural. One of the largest challenges with implementing genetic engineering is public opinion and how it can affect the world’s willingness to go forward with the development of the technology. From a more sceptical viewpoint, one might suggest that these genetic modifications may result in the creation of dangerous species that could result in numerous casualties. This raises ethical concerns as seems as if the technology could prove to be too dangerous and ultimately a practice that should be heavily restricted. As well as this, the development of genetic engineering technologies could amount to the specified modification of species including humans. This raises more ethical concerns as it challenges the idea of fairness, and could leave the human race as an idealist society. Human modification Although far-fetched and unlikely, human modification and human DNA alteration are possible outcomes of the growing development of genetic engineering technologies. The technology has extremely controversial implications for humanity’s future, as well as ethical worries, as discussed Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session earlier. The idea of human modification is the practice of genetically engineering human DNA, in order to get desired traits. The concept of designer babies has recently been idealised, with many thinking of its implications for society’s future. The idea is that in the future, people will have the option to have their children designed with specific traits, through the use of genetic engineering. However, the controversy behind the process is that it challenges the idea of individuality, and could result in ethical problems. The popularisation of this concept in pop-culture and science fiction have led the public to have a negative attitude towards biotechnology and genetic engineering, and therefore puts forward the issue of public opinion and perspective. Biological weaponry Another issue with the integration and application of genetic engineering is the threat of new types of weapons being developed. Genetic engineering could provide a new type of weaponry that can be used in conflicts, and could have a devastating effect on the world. Biological weaponry is the engineering of bacteria or any other pathogen, in order to make it have certain traits to enable it to be used as as weapon. Bio- weapons have the ability to affect numerous people at once, spread automatically, and can be programmed to stay dormant and undetected. For example, some of the most famous cases of bio-weapon usage were the 2001 Anthrax bioterror attacks, which took place shortly after the 9/11 tragedy. In these attacks, letters were sent containing the deadly bacteria known as anthrax, to random American citizens. This caused public outcry and panic, due to the ability to stay undetected that bio-weapons had. The attacks left 22 people hospitalized, with 5 casualties. Although the anthrax had not had any genetic modifications, it was still able to cause devastation. With this in mind, if genetically modified bio-weapons are developed, the devastation caused can be even more dangerous and even more contagious. In fact, genetically engineered bioweapons have been rated by specialists as the world’s most dangerous type of weaponry. Bio-weapons can be used during conflicts to inflict mass casualties in a much more controlled and devastating way. The development of weaponry is another issue, as although it may be unethical, it is a practice that militaries around the world partake in. Health and nutrition Nutritionally speaking, genetically modified organisms can, in theory, provide a solution to the world’s health and nutrition problems. In food, certain traits can be applied through the use of genetic engineering, such as making the crops grow larger, enabling them to grow in different conditions, and modifying them to contain nutrients. However, many debate the fact that GMO products are healthy, while many more refute them, and actively seek out no-GMO foods and products. GMOs are seen by many as unhealthy, and there is a large number of health risks that are associated with the consumption and growth of GMOs. Dubai International Academy Model United Nations 2019|11th Annual Session Human health Genetically modified organisms are associated with a large number of health risks, which can potentially lead to bodily harm. Firstly, studies have linked the consumption of genetically modified foods to organ damage, immune disorders and instances of infertility in animals.
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