The advantages of using genetic engineering far outweigh the risks. Discuss.

Essay by shen19791031F, May 2004

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With the rapid development of science and technology, people's lives are also happened to it, especially the field of medicine. The discussion about whether or not gene therapy should be used to cure life-threatening inherited illnesses in people's body. Therefore before giving my opinion, I think it is important to look at the argument on both sides.

Gene therapy is a technique for correcting defective genes responsible for disease development. Many people argue that it has some advantages to correct abnormal genes in people with life-threatening inherited illnesses, like cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that affects the lungs, digestive system, sweat glands, and male fertility. It is a genetic disease, meaning it is caused by a defect in the person's genes. In cystic fibrosis, if the CFTR gene mutates, it can stop lung cell keeping its stability of mucus. Moreover, it can also damage the power to resist bacteria.

Thus it will result in appearance of grume and chronic infection. In order to eradicate cystic fibrosis, scientists not only try to transport additional copy of "healthy gene" to pulmonary organization, but also they decide to retrieve it during the CFTR protein according to abnormal gene to make. If two ways can success, some people with cystic fibrosis and their offspring will shuffle off harassment of inherited illnesses. In addition, with some inherited illnesses are cured by gene therapy, life quality of people can be also improved.

On the other hand, there are also many opponents who strongly technology of using gene therapy isn't still mature. The therapy gene cannot be guided to a specific location in the genome, but may interfere with the function of a neighbouring gene. This may cause the cell to develop into a cancer cell. Besides this, the cost of gene therapy is...