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Christian view on genetic engineering and the benefits of genetic engineering to human beings

Answer Text:
(d) Genetic Engineering as an issue related to Science and Technology.
- Genetics is the science dealing with heredity.
- Genetic engineering is the change made to hereditary features by deliberately altering the structure or position of individual genes.
- In other words, genetic engineering involves inserting a new gene into an organism.
- Genes can be defined as hereditary units which determine characteristics of organisms.
- Genetic engineering is a powerful technique in applied genetics and biotechnology. For
example, production of human beings without involving human sperm cell in the reproductive process (human cloning).
- Genetic engineering has many benefits to human being. For example:
(i) To transfer genes of human insulin that plays a vital role in the regulation of
blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.
(ii) To manufacture human growth hormone that is used in the treatment of dwarfism and restoring near-normal heights in children suffering from growth hormone deficiency.
(iii) Enable couples with reproductive health challenges such as infertility or low sperm count give birth to children (external-fertilization)
(iv) To increase the rate of growth and maturity of livestock.
(v) To produce genetically
engineered bacteria that is used for clearing up oil-spills and polluted surfaces.
(vi) To originate genetic finger printing for forensic work in crime busting and criminal trials.
(vii) To determine the biological parent in
cases of disputes on babies.
(viii) To classify blood during screening before it is transfused to another person.
Christian view on genetic engineering.
- Christians support genetic engineering that is beneficial to human beings. For example:
(i) The cure of genetic diseases, production of new kinds of drugs, plants and animals.
(ii) Increasing rate of growth in plants and animals.
(iii) Determining biological parents of a child.
- However, Christians oppose some aspects of genetic engineering such as cloning and test-tube babies.
- They argue that God is the source of life and that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. Any attempt to change or modify their make-up would be challenging God’s creative work.