science of biotechnology makes a lot of amazing things possible.
Crops can be to be more nutritious; terrible diseases
can be treated; industries can replace harsh chemical processes
with environmentally-friendly GE processes.
science does not stand alone though. Along with all the possibilities
of genetic engineering come some serious
questions. One of the most basic ethical questions is whether
we should pursue genetic engineering at all.
critics say that the process of changing genes, and mixing genes
across species lines is wrong. Other critics say the science
itself is not wrong, but the possible applications are, for
instance human cloning.
this caution from a clergyman, "[Just] because we can do
something, does not mean we should do something." And as we
move into the future, everyone in our society will have to wrestle
with the complex questions raised by genetic engineering.
a 1985 experiment, a group of pigs had the gene for human growth
hormone engineered into their DNA. More
Chicago artist stirred up a lot of controversy when he hired French
scientists to genetically engineer a rabbit. More
managed to genetically engineer a gene from a fluorescent jellyfish
into a potato. Why? More
in the Milk
is thinner than a strand of hair, yet stronger than than a strand
of steel? You might be surprised by the answer. More
Market to Market Links
Fish Raise Concern
This week calls were emitted from Washington that a genetically
altered species was invading the environment and threatening the
nation's wild fish populations.