Benefits of Human Genetic Engineering

We read benefits of human genetic engineering on Tv, newspapers nearly everyday. Successful cloning of different mammals and after the completion of the Human Genome Project (H.G.P), scientists from different countries are sharply researching the various different aspects of human genetic engineering. Continuing advancements have allowed science to dig more deeply to understand DNA, its function in pharmacology, medicine, reproductive technology and many other fields.

One of the brightest benefits of H.G.P is gene therapy. This is a technique for the treatment of a disease by replacing imperfect genes or introducing therapeutic genes that can fight the disease. For past few years, some heart and autoimmune diseases have been successfully treated with gene therapy. Diseases such as ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease are caused by a bad gene. It is expected that soon many diseases will be cured by modifying the defective gene, inserting therapeutic genes or by performing genetic surgery. Hope is that many genetic diseases will eliminate and that even non-genetic diseases will also be treated with an appropriate gene therapy.

These days, many pregnant women choose to have their fetuses tested for any genetic defects. Fetuses screening for genetic defects allow the physicians and parents to get ready for the coming of a child who may require special treatment before, during and after delivery. There can be many possible future benefits of H.G.H, which can include treatment of a defective fetus, curing of it before it is born, etc.

Study of genetic engineering also helps in creation of pharmaceutical products, which are better than their predecessors. The new pharmaceuticals products are created by cloning certain genes. At the moment bio-engineered insulin is available, which was previously obtained from cows or sheep. Human growth hormones are also available, which were previously obtained from cadavers. It is expected that in the future scientists will be able to grow fruits or plants that will contain a drug by manipulating their genes.

Human Genetic engineering is a very important field of study and research and is growing very fast. With fast of advancement of the research in this field, new facts and results are cause for bringing several benefits for us in the future. However, the benefits and risks associated with it must be given attention to, in light of their legal, spiritual, moral and ethical perspectives.