Frankenstein

As people in this time period, we truly are growing into, and becoming Frankensteins. Promising concepts have emerged, including the genetic modification of foods, cloning, and human engineering. Based on them, we aim to improve the quality of life for current and future generations. However, blinded by ambition, we fail to recognize that dangers and flaws arrive with the new developments.

For more efficient agricultural practices and better foods, scientists have introduced Genetically Modified foods. A fruit or vegetable with more desirable characteristics can be formed through the alteration and insertion of genes. They can be made to withstand cooler temperatures, to be resistant to damage, to have a greater nutritional value, and to have a prolonged length of freshness (Whitman). Adding a gene from an insecticide to a potato will produce a new and improved product: a potato that repels and kills pests.

Although these foods appear to be an improvement, they are actually a threat to both human and environmental health (Unknown). In the case of the modified potato, the vegetable is not only classified as a potato. It is also classified as a pesticide, making it unadvisable for consumption. The materials that are used have never been a component of a human’s food supply, and without long term testing, safety is not guaranteed (Ticciati). The effects of consuming these foods may not even present themselves for decades. However, possible ones include harm from an increased concentration of toxins, allergic reactions, and side-effects that may be fatal (Whitman).

In addition to being harmful to humans, these engineered organisms are hazardous to the natural environment. The ecological balance will become distorted since there will be competition to survive between the new organisms and the natural ones (Ticciati). If genetically

engineered plants made to withstand herbicides, cross breed with other plants, the gene that allows for the protection from herbicides will be transferred. Though this process, the gene mentioned could be transmitted to the originally targeted weed of the herbicide, making the pest killer ineffective (Batalion). In a situation like this, people may opt for stronger herbicides to be used, which will further damage the environment.

At this point in time, we humans also have the knowledge and ability to produce animals with the most advantageous traits. This can be achieved by cloning animals with the best characteristics of its species. As a result, all the beef-cattle would be fast growing, would be disease resistant, and would produce lean but tender meat. Dairy cows and goats would provide large quantities of milk, and sheep would produce high-quality wool (Bren). “Through cloning, it would be possible to predict the characteristics of each animal, rather than taking the chance that sexual reproduction and its gene reshuffling provide” (Bren).

Since animal cloning is relatively new, many dangers exist for the animal during and after the process, assuming that it is successful. The survival rates of fetuses are low, and there are risks of health problems such as lung and heart disease for those who survive (Bren). Cloned calves and lamb are born larger than normal ones (Gralla 87) and “even seemingly healthy animal clones may have subtle genetic abnormalities with unknown consequences”