Rogerian Argument Supporting Genetic Engineering

Genetic Engineering

A child is born with Huntington’s disease but the family does not know until the child is in his mid-thirties. The disease gets worse and the family is torn in despair wondering which one of the children also has the disease. These cases are sad, but what makes it even more tragic is that thousands of infants are born with a congenital disease such has Huntington’s disease every year. That is why genetic engineering research should be supported: millions of lives will be saved from suffering and premature death. Down Syndrome (lifelong mental retardation), Tay-Sachs Disease (progressive loss of neurons), Sickle Cell Anemia (distorted blood cells), Cystic Fibrosis (eventual lung failure), and Huntington’s Disease (progressive degradation of the brain) are all congenital diseases that can be eliminated through genetic engineering. (“Diseases”) Scientists will have to prevent congenital diseases from passing on to the next generation by replacing, removing, or modifying certain genes in the human germ. (O’Donnell)Although genetic engineering can help save lives, there are some concerns over the risks that further advancement of genetic engineering may create. However, controlled advancement of genetic engineering by law will help prevent abuse of the technology.

In 1986, when scientists were able to successfully modify a bacterium’s genes to so that the bacterium resists ice from forming, there was not a lot of opposition. The public didn’t care very much and accepted genetic engineering research as beneficial since the modified bacteria would help the agricultural industry by keeping fruits alive. (Thompson) However, when scientists started to tinker with human genes, the general public became concerned. Many questions were raised and fear of the unknown began to mislead people to biased generalities about genetic engineering. There is also no doubt that the media has played a large role in making the general public more wary and cautious about genetic engineering through movies such as Resident Evil where a genetically engineered virus mutates and turns infected people into zombies. The fact is that, most of the people against genetic engineering either fear it or are misformed.

The potential of genetic engineering is undeniable. In fact, nearly everyone in the United States has probably been exposed to it or knows more about it than they think. For example, people with diabetes either do not have insulin hormone in their body or their body refuses to absorb the hormone: insulin is essential for the body to convert glucose into energy. Diabetic people who do not receive insulin will have no chance of living a long healthy life. (Type 2) However, Scientists have been able to make synthetic insulin from common bacteria, usually Escherichia coli, through genetic engineering. (“How”) Genetic engineering gave diabetic people a chance at a normal and healthy life. In 2007, about 35.7 million people in the United States had diabetes. (“National”) The chances are high that you have met a diabetic who uses genetically engineered insulin. Many of these people would have died already or lived miserable lives if it wasn’t for genetic engineering research.