GM Food Vs. Genetic Health Technology

While the technology for making Genetically Modified food organisms and the technology developed for human health seem similar, there are a few key differences setting them apart. The technology for GM humans like designer babies is much more hypothetical and complicated than the GM food technology.  Genetically modifying humans raises more ethical and societal questions while the GMOs argument raises health questions, as well as debates over the size and power of farming and bio companies like Monsanto. The actual process of genetically modifying food crops is simple. First, the part that is chosen to be modified is isolated. Scientists have to study the isolated gene very carefully to determine the genome of the trait. After analyzing the genome, scientists insert the desired trait into a different genome using enzymes.

Powell, Chelsea. "How to Make a GMO." Science in the News. Harvard University, 9 Aug. 2015. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.

The last part of the process may sound familiar because it uses plasmids like in recombinant DNA, pictured below.
 
Recombinant DNA was used in the bodies of people with diabetes. Scientists isolated the gene that produces insulin, inserted it into a plasmid, and then inserted the plasmid back into a cell. Nowadays, diabetic people take biosynthetic insulin that perfectly matches their bodies. Iowa Public Television. "Recombinant DNA: Example Using Insulin." Explore More Genetic Engineering. Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust and the USDE Star Schools Program, 2004. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.
Designer babies are the hottest topic regarding GM human health technology. Although most of the technology is hypothetical, the process would most likely be similar to GMO technology in that it would involve taking parts of a genome and inserting it into the embryo's genome.
"The Science Behind “Designer Babies”." Women's Bioethics Project Book Club. Women's Bioethics Organization, n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.

Human Genome Project (HGP)

  The Human Genome Project, or HGP, was a project launched in the 1980s with the main goal of mapping out the entire homo sapiens genome. According to a website devoted to HGP, "The HGP, completed in April 2003, mapped the location of each of the genes in the human genome and sequenced--decoded--each gene's instruction. The project was overseen by both the [National Institute of Health] and the Department of Energy." 
  Now that the entire human genome was mapped out, it made it easier for scientists to study genes and go more in depth into gene manipulation. The HGP helped us to get one step closer to fully understanding our genes.


"An Overview of the Human Genome Project." An Overview of the Human Genome Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.

"Revolution in Progress: Human Genetics and Medical Research." Revolution in Progress: Human Genetics and Medical Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.

The Lowdown on Gel Electrophoresis

The process known as "Gel Electrophoresis" sounds complicated and daunting and way too advanced for high school freshman to comprehend. Not to worry, while the name seems scary and very "Star Trek" the process of Gel Electrophoresis isn't too much to handle. The Layman's explanation for gel electrophoresis is separating DNA into fragments, arranging the fragments by size, and analyzing the results.  Why would scientists do this? Isn't it a pain to separate tiny DNA into even tinier pieces? This process is used  frequently in forensics; a detective or CSI will collect a sample of DNA from a crime scene (like hair or blood) and send it to a lab to be analyzed. The lab worker will take the sample and see if it matches with the potential Suspects' DNA to find the felon. The function is easy enough to understand, but the science is where it gets more complicated. In order to separate the DNA from the crime scene into fragments, the scientist puts it into the Electrophoresis apparatus, pictured below.

Vincour, Jeffrey M. Gel Electrophoresis Apparatus. Digital image. Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 21 Apr. 2006. Web. 13 Jan. 2016.

A special gel ,with the help of a buffer, is added to the apparatus which is then plugged in to start the electrical current. The current combined with the gel separates the DNA sample(s) by charge and size. The positively charged DNA moves towards the negative side and vice versa. The results can be analyzed using a UV light and gel imaging.  In forensics, scientists analyze which DNA fragments match. In the image below, you can tell that the DNA match is 1 and 6 because of their similar arrangement.

Alaska BioPrep. Gel Electrophoresis DNA sample. Digital image. Alaska BioPREP Virtual Textbook. University of Alaska Fairbanks, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2016.

Gene Splicing: Simplified

Gene splicing is when a particular piece is taken out of a DNA sequence and inserted into another gene. Restriction enzymes cut the DNA at a certain part and leave sticky ends.  Sticky ends are, "a single-stranded end of DNA or RNA having a nucleotide base sequence complementary to that of another strand, enabling the two strands to be connected by base pairing", according to dictionary.com.  What that basically means is that sticky ends are a versatile puzzle piece which can connect two otherwise different puzzle pieces.  Gene splicing is used so that a single gene can code or fit with many different proteins.


"Gene Splicing - Alternative Splicing, Spliceosomes, Splicing Out Introns, Other Splicing Events, Recombinant Dna Technology, Applications Of Gene Splicing." - JRank Articles. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2016.

Our Stance on Gene Therapy

"Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease," according to the Genetics Home Reference.  This means that, potentially, different genetic diseases could be cured by using this technology.  This works by inserting a new gene into the patient's damaged DNA. We believe that this practice should be allowed and encouraged. We think the government should fund gene therapy research because it has the potential to save lives in a less invasive manner than surgery or medication. This is different from designer babies because it is used only for the purpose of saving people, and not for superficial reasons. This process could help people with diseases like inherited disorders, certain types of viral infections and even some types of cancer.

"What Is Gene Therapy?" Genetics Home Reference. US National Library of Medicine, 4 Jan. 2016. Web. 6 Jan. 2016.

Our Stance on Designer Babies

We believe that the process of making a designer baby should be outlawed. Although designer babies can sometimes be a good thing, we believe they cause more harm than good.

Designer Babies: Angelic or Demonic?

     Now that you've gotten the scoop on what a designer baby actually is, we have to determine whether or not they're a good idea.  In other words, should parents be able to change the traits of their unborn children?  In the world of science and medicine,  designer babies are a huge leap in genetic technology.  This technology can positively impact the lives of many parents and children by decreasing the risk of genetic diseases including Alzheimers, Down's Syndrome, Huntington's Disease, and Cystic Fibrosis.  Designer DNA technology can also decrease the risk of inheritable cancers such as breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer.  This technology would additionally be able to improve the health and standard of living for hundreds of individuals by potentially increasing the human life span up to 30 years.  While these are all incredible medical and genetic advancements, the testing for Designer Babies, led by the genetic ancestry and health company 23andme, hasn't received a patent yet.
     This is due to the ethical arguments that are prevalent in the topic of choosing babies' traits.  Medical societies including the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) think that even choosing a baby's gender would impact sexism against women, let alone choosing a baby's physical and inner attributes.  Many scientific ethicists think that parents would use Designer DNA technology for superficial reasons, like having a blonde-haired blue eyed baby.  This could easily create (or reinforce) a gap in society that discriminates certain races and appearances.  Another ethical problem raised is that human individuality would be lost and everyone would be similar or the same (more on clones later).  People also believe it's wrong to impact your baby's personality and traits, for example making her athletic rather than smart, before they have a chance to choose for themselves.
     To sum it up, Designer Babies are an amazing medical and scientific advancement but, like most discoveries, they come along with many imperative ethical and societal questions and concerns.
   


Ghose, By Tia. "Children to Order: The Ethics of 'Designer Babies'" LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 13 Mar. 2014. Web. 05 Jan. 2016.

How Gel Electrophoresis Works

Gel Electrophoresis is a way to see DNA fragments separated by size. This process allows scientists to compare DNA to crime scenes, and to look for problems in DNA. The steps of Gel Electrophoresis are as follows:
1.Make sure there is enough sample DNA through the process of PCR
2.DNA is added to the container that holds the gel
3.Gel and DNA is submerged in liquid.
4. An electric current is passed through the liquid which allows the different sizes of DNA to move to different points in the container.
5.The gel and DNA is looked at under a UV light for analyzing.

"Gel Electrophoresis." National Genetics and Genomics Education Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Jan. 2016.