Encyclopedia of Social Problems

Genetic Engineering

Contributors: Linda MacDonald Glenn

Edited by: Vincent N. Parrillo
Book Title: Encyclopedia of Social Problems
Chapter Title: "Genetic Engineering"
Pub. Date: 2008
Access Date: September 19, 2016
Publishing Company: SAGE Publications, Inc.
City: Thousand Oaks
Print ISBN: 9781412941655
Online ISBN: 9781412963930
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412963930.n232
Print page: 399
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Genetic engineering is the concept of taking genes and segments of DNA from one individual
or species (e.g., a spider) and inserting them into another individual or species (e.g., a goat).
The biotechnology of genetic engineering has created a broad spectrum of ethical issues,
ranging from genetically modified organisms, as in crops, to animal and human cloning,
genetic screening for diseases, prenatal and preim-plantation diagnosis of human embryos,
xenotrans-plantation, and gene replacement therapy.

Genetic engineering presents an exciting range of possibilities. For example, genetic

engineering can give plants and crops desirable traits, such as drought resistance and
additional nutrients. Such promises are not without their potential perils some environmental
groups raise concerns that the creation and use of these genetically engineered plants
amounts to genetic pollution and that they should not be released into the environment until
there is a full scientific understanding of their long-term impact on the environment and
human health.

The stakes rise even higher when applying genetic engineering to animals or humans or
animal-human combinations. For example, by inserting a spider's gene into a goat embryo, a
biotech firm created Biosteel, a unique high-performance spider fiber, prized for its toughness,
strength, lightness, and biodegradability. Possible applications include the medical, military,
and industrial performance fiber markets. However, bioethi-cists raise concerns about crossing
species boundaries and question whether or not we are creating long-term effects on the
environment, inflicting harm on these creatures that we create, and whether or not we should
place some ethical, social, and legal controls or reviews on such research.

The engineering or combination of animal and human genes (also referred to as

transgenics) represents a booming aspect of biotechnology. For example, genetically
engineered pigs provide potential organs for transplantation (known as xenotransplan-
tation). Researchers are also exploring the use of cell transplantation therapy for patients
with spinal cord injury or Parkinson's disease. However, several drawbacks to
xenotransplantation exist, for example, the small but significant risk of the transmission of
usually fatal zoonotic diseases, such as bovine spongi-form encephalopathy (also known as
mad cow disease). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned xenotransplantation
trials using nonhu-man primates until adequate demonstrations that the procedure is safe
and sufficient public discussion of the ethical issues take place.

Some groups advocate the use of genetic engineering for the enhancement of the human
species, but this raises the specter of eugenics, once used as an excuse for genocide and the
creation of the perfect race. Others call for a ban on species-altering technology enforced by
an international tribunal. Part of the rationale for a ban is the concern that such technology
could create a slave race, that is, a race of exploited subhumans. In April 1998, activist
scientists opposed to genetic engineering applied for a patent for a humanzee, part human
and part chimpanzee, to fuel debate on this issue and to draw attention to potential abuses.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied the patent on the grounds that it violated the
13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits slavery. These activists appealed
the decision, but the appeal has not yet reached a court, and it may never do so, because the
appeal may be dismissed on other technical grounds.

A question for the future is how the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetic
engineering will challenge traditional notions of personhood.

Linda MacDonald Glenn

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http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412963930.n232
See also

Eugenics
Genetically Altered Foods
Genetic Theories

Further Readings
Baylis, Franoise and Jason Scott Roberts. 2006. Primer on Ethics and Crossing Species
Boundaries. Washington, DC: American Institute of Biological Sciences. Retrieved December
26, 2007 (http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/baylis_robert.html).
Glenn, Linda MacDonald. 2004. Ethical Issues in Genetic Engineering and Transgenics.
Washington, DC: American Institute of Biological Sciences. Retrieved December 26, 2007
(http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/glenn.html#Primer).
Rasko, John, Gabrielle O'Sullivan, and Rachel A. Ankeny, eds. 2006. The Ethics of Inheritable
Genetic Modification: A Dividing Line? Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
Rollins, Bernard E. 1995. The Frankenstein Syndrome: Ethical and Social Issues in the
Genetic Engineering of Animals. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

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