Genetic Engineering Human Race - 2497 Words

Andrew Leicht 8/24/2014 Genetic Engineering Genetic engineering is a compelling argument that mankind was destined to be upgraded. Most humans find attraction in being faster, smarter, stronger, happier, and healthier. With this being said, sometimes it is better to let nature run its course. An unaltered human race may be for the best decision when accounting for the longevity of humans. Genetic engineering by definition is â€Å"the group of applied techniques of genetics and biotechnology used to cut up and join together genetic material and especially DNA from one or more species of organism and to introduce the result into an organism in order to change one or more of its characteristics† (miram Webster). This technology has given the human race the ability to design and manufacture the ideal human being. While manipulating and rearranging cells, scientists can transfer characteristics and traits from one living organism into another’s genes. Human genes have a very specific and unique way of coding information about someone’s look, height, behavior as well as other traits and characteristics (USE SOURCE HERE). With genetic engineering’s current abilities, decoded genetic information can be introduced into another human. Scary thought. This process is done by using the DNA of an already living donor and applying them with a separate set of DNA while acquiring only a set list of desired traits. These new changes of traits in the second set of DNA can be done from aShow MoreRelatedGenetic Engineering And The Human Race1974 Words   |  8 PagesHopes of Human Genetic Engineering are Dreadful If the world had the possibility to be a healthier one, one can rest assure that it would make that possibility a reality. However, the world already has been having that possibility through genetic engineering, but at the same time, it has remained a possibility and not a reality. With this in mind, one must wonder why; why has it remained a possibility? In order to successfully answer this, it is important to understand what genetic engineering is, andRead MoreGenetic Engineering : The Future Of The Human Race994 Words   |  4 PagesGenetic Engineering? No Way The future of the human race is in your hands. Though it may not feel that way in your everyday routines, the decisions you make will distinctively impact your children’s live, their children’s lives, etc. Genetic engineering is sparking questions among the human race whether or not it is the next step. Creating a test tube baby I in order for parents to conceive a child is one thing but genetically modifying the human race is against human nature. Genetic engineeringRead MoreGenetic Engineering And The Human Race1912 Words   |  8 PagesFrankenstein, frogs with three legs and mice with two heads, that’s what comes to mind for most people when they hear the word genetic engineering. But the reality of it is genetic engineering is much more than mad scientists sewing together monsters. Made by the exploits of science, genetic engineering can be used to help people in many more ways than most expect. Genetic engineering is used for anything from making enzymes to clean up oil spills that endanger our environment, to making crops that canRead MoreGenetic Engineering: Is the Human Race Ready? Essay1466 Words   |  6 Pageshow far genetic engineering has come. Humans, plants, and any living organism can now be manipulated. Scientists have found ways to change humans before they are even born. They can remove, add, or alter genes in the human genome. Making things possible that humans (even thirty years ago) would have never imagined. Richard Hayes claims in SuperSize Your Child? that genetic engineering needs to have limitations. That genetic engineering should be used for medical purposes, but not for â€Å"genetic modificationRead MoreGenetic Engineering: Humanities Saving Grace or the End of the Human Race?1215 Words   |  5 PagesGenetic Engineering: Humanities Saving Grace or the End of the Human Race? This is the first time history that humans can directly manipulate an organism’s genome to our own benefit. The first genetically modified organism, or GMO, was created in the seventies and has led to GM crops and GM medical treatments. The whole ideology is not new to humans. Artificial selection bred well mannered wolves into man’s best friend. And yet, the controversy has only arisen in the past decade or so. Those whoRead MoreHuman Genetic Engineering Essay977 Words   |  4 PagesGenetic engineering is a practice commonly used in food to produce yields of superior size or quality. Recently this technology has been tested on humans. The human race will now be able to improve upon itself and their offspring. With this technology disease can be disposed of and normal people can become better than average. Not all technology needs to be utilized. Genetic engineering that should not be used in humans unless done to prevent or treat disease until it is fully understood since theRead MoreGenetic Engineering Of Food Products Essay1769 Words   |  8 PagesGenetic engineering of food produce is considered a miracle technology. Many speculate that this discovery has the possibility to end world hunger. By mass producing and marketing produce, the associated costs will decrease. With lower production costs for crops, healthy options will not only be more accessible, but more affordable for customers as well. Some even contend that the overall health of the general population will improve. How does this affect the healthcare industry? If we can geneticallyRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms By Margaret Atwood926 Words   |  4 Pagescould be completely safe and we could all be fearing a wonderful advancement in society with no solid evidence to back up our fears. But wouldn’t we be better off to choose being safe over being sorry? Atwood seems to explore the ways of genetic engineering throughout Oryx and Crake. Staring in the beginning of the novel, she begins to show that this unethical altering of living things is simply for the monetary profit of mankind. It’s not difficult to link this back to how our world, economy,Read MoreThe Potential Benefits Of Genetic Engineering1721 Words   |  7 PagesGenetic engineering is a recent development that has gained tremendous commercial appeal. The potential benefits of genetic engineering have captivated the general public and clouded their moral values. The ultimate goal of genetic engineering is to create a utopian society where problems such as disease and world hunger no longer exist. Genetically engineering humans to be ideal beings may eventually lead to the creation of a â€Å"super race.† A super race is a race of strong, healthy, and highly intelligentRead MoreThe Bioethics Of Human Genetic Engineering And Modification1589 Words   |  7 P agesof Human Genetic Engineering and Modification Humans are marvelous creatures no other animals compare in intelligence or general abilities. As humans, we never have enough, we always are in search of self-improvement and personal gain. Our lives are based on the pursuit of personal gain and to help better the human race as a whole. Sometimes we must sacrifice everything and other times it comes as little to no price to achieve something greater for ourselves and others. Genetic engineering is an

The American Dream And The Sun - 1075 Words

The American Dream and â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† America is the land of the free where there is ample opportunities for individuals to achieve any goals they put effort into obtaining. Many individuals immigrate to America to have the American Dream that is offered to all its citizens. The dream of owning their own house, having a job that gives them the opportunity to move up the career ladder, financial stability, having a family, owning a car, ability to receive an education, and having freedom and equality. Is this American Dream really attainable for everyone? Some groups of American citizens seem less likely to ever achieve this dream even if they work hard. Society and their circumstances are against them either because of†¦show more content†¦In â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† by Lorraine Hansberry, the Younger’s cannot fully achieve the American Dream due to societal obstacles they experience based on their race when trying to obtain a good paying job, buying a house and receiving an education. For the Younger family, having a good paying job is a part of their American Dream, but sadly they have a difficult time trying to achieve this aspect of the dream due to their race. Most African Americans during the 1950’s made significantly less money than White Americans. â€Å"The average black household income in 1955 ($2,890) was 55 percent of that of white households ($5,228)† (Fuller par. 4). This difference in income was because of the jobs that were open for colored individuals. Like Mama, Ruth and Walter, most Blacks had service jobs that usually served Whites. For instance, Walter is a chauffeur for a white man. This low paying job barely allows him to provide for his family and definitely does not fulfill his American Dream. Walter states â€Å"I open and close car doors all day long. I drive a man around in his limousine†¦. That ain t no kind of job†¦. Sometimes it’s like I can see the future stretched out in front of me†¦, just wait ing for me† (Hansberry 477-478). Walter aspires for a better job, which leads him to want to use Mama’s money to invest in a liquor store, but his race keeps him confined to blue-collar jobs. Back

Still a Threat to the United States Free Essays

The tenth anniversary of the 9/1 1 attacks prompted reflections on the current status of the terrorism threat to the United States. One aspect of an assessment†the threat posed by biological weapons†is especially challenging because of the unique character of these weapons. A prime distinction is the fact that exposure to minute quantities of a biological agent may go unnoticed, yet ultimately be the cause of disease and death. We will write a custom essay sample on Still a Threat to the United States or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Incubation period of a microbial agent can be days or weeks; unlike a bombing, knifing, or chemical dispersion, a bioattack might not be ecognized until long after the agent’s release. Accordingly, bioterrorism poses distinctive challenges for preparedness, protection, and response. The use of a pathogen for hostile purposes became a consuming concern to the American people soon after 9/1 1 . About a half-dozen letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to Journalists and polltlclans beginning one week after the jetliner attacks. Four letters with spores and threat messages eventually were recovered. All were postmarked Trenton, New Jersey, which meant that they had been processed at the postal distribution center in nearby Hamilton. Two letters were postmarked September 18, one addressed to Tom Brokaw at NBC-TV and another to the editor of the New York Post. The other two letters were stamped October 9 and addressed to Senators Thomas Daschle and Patrick Leahy. As people became infected in September, October and November, local responses revealed gaps in preparedness for a biological attack. For example, the first confirmation of an anthrax case was on October 4, more than two weeks after the initial letters were mailed. Retrospective assessments later indicated that by then nine people had already contracted the disease. Their illness previously had been misidentified because of faulty diagnoses or erroneous laboratory In the end, at least 22 people had become infected, five of whom died. Meanwhile, scores of buildings were belatedly found to be contaminated with spores that had leaked from the letters. At least 30,000 people who were deemed at risk required prophylactic antibiotics. [2] Millions more were fearful, many of them anxious about opening their own mail. Since the anthrax attacks, the U. S. government has spent about $60 billion on biodefense. A large portion of those dollars has gone to biodefense research under he auspices of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The NIAID budget for biodefense research has grown from $200 million in 2001 to an annual average of $1. 6 billion since 2004. United States safer from a bioattack now than at the time of the anthrax attacks? Has the spending been worth it? Key Questions, Discrepant Answers Opinions on these questions differ. While concerned about the danger of backsliding, the authors of an article in Politico now felt â€Å"reassured about our preparedness† for a biological attack. [3] At the same time, an opposing assessment was emblazoned in he title of a New York Times Magazine cover story: â€Å"Ten Years After the Anthrax Attacks, We Are Still Not Ready. [4] A review of biodefense efforts during the past 10 years in Science magazine blandly acknowledged the obvious: â€Å"debate continues over how much safer the country The congressionally chartered Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism (WMD Commission) issued a report card in 2010 on efforts to address several of its previous recommendations. The administration’s failure to â€Å"enhance the nationâ⠂¬â„¢s capabilities for rapid response to revent biological attacks from inflicting mass casualties† merited a grade of â€Å"F† (meaning that no action was taken on this recommendation). Almost as bad was the â€Å"D*† given for continuing inadequate oversight of high-containment laboratories. Reasonable arguments can be made to support varied views about these issues, and all conclusions bear a degree of subjectivity. Yet an assessment of several broad critical contentions can offer clarification. The criticisms are largely expressed in the form of five contentions. Contention #1 : Funding for biodefense has meant fewer dollars for other deserving reas such as public health infrastructure and basic science research. In 2005, 758 microbiologists signed a letter to Elias Zerhouni, then director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), objecting to the diversion of funds from public health research to biodefense projects. Zerhouni, Joined by NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, rejected the letter’s premise of â€Å"diversion. † An assessment of disputed interpretations suggested that spending on biodefense benefited non-biodefense research as well, but the numbers were so â€Å"convoluted† that a clear determination was elusive. [7] An analysis of the biodefense budget for fiscal year 2012 indicates that only 10% of the proposed $6. billion is dedicated exclusively to civilian biodefense. The other 90% is for projects with both biodefense and non-biodefense implications. The non- biodefense goals, according to analysts Crystal Franco and Tara Kirk Sell, include â€Å"advancing other areas of science, public health, healthcare, national security, or international security. â€Å" [8] This tilt toward dual-track benefits has been reflected in past budgets as well. A report in Nature magazine indicated that of the $60 billion pent on biodefense in the past decade, only about $12 billion went for programs have benefited substantially from biodefense projects. Fiscal woes in recent years have in fact resulted in reduced resources for public health and related programs. Economic pressure threatens to shrink biodefense funding as it does funding for much else in the federal budget; however, it is not clear now, nor was it in the past, if fewer dollars for biodefense would necessarily translate into more for public health, basic research, or any other health-related programs. Contention #2: The growing number of facilities for research on select agents specified pathogens and toxins) has heightened chances of an accidental release. Statistics alone make this assertion unassailable. The chances of something going wrong in any enterprise, assuming no change in operational security, increase with the size of the enterprise. As the number of research facilities increases, so does the chance of an accident. A continuing weakness is the lack of clarity about the number of high security laboratories. In 1983, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designated four levels of safety for laboratory work with biological agents. A Biosafety Level-I (BSL-I) laboratory allows for work on relatively innocuous agents and a BSL-4 laboratory on the most dangerous. The two highest containment facilities, BSL-3 and BSL-4, require special security measures including restricted access, negative pressure to prevent air from flowing out of the room, and protective outerwear for operators. BSL-4 laboratories require additional safeguards such as entry through multiple air-locked rooms and positive pressure outerwear with a segregated air supply. A BSL-4 laboratory is required for work on agents that cause lethal disease for which here is little or no treatment (for example, smallpox and hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola and Marburg). At present, there are 15 such U. S. facilities planned or in operation, triple the number operating in 2001. [10] Other dangerous agents, including the bacteria that cause anthrax and plague, are worked on in BSL-3 laboratories. The number of these laboratories has skyrocketed since 2001, although the actual figures are uncertain. While an estimated 20 BSL-3 facilities were operating before the anthrax attacks, in the decade since the number has grown to between 200 and an astonishing 1,400 or ore. [11] The huge discrepancy is attributable in part to varied methods of calculation. Some assessments have counted all BSL-3 laboratories in an institution as a single BSL-3 facility, while others have designated each laboratory as a separate entity. Furthermore, some laboratories with a BSL-3 designation may lack safety features found in others, such as double doors and a requirement that two persons must be present. No national authority is now empowered to mandate a single system of counting or that even the lowest estimated number of BSL-3 laboratories (200) represents a 10- old increase in the past 10 years, and that safety precautions at some BSL-3 facilities are less rigorous than at others. Contention #3: The growing number of investigators with knowledge about select agents has increased the chances that an unsavory scientist could launch a bioattack. Along with more high containment facilities has come more scientists who handle select agents. Concern about dangerous individuals among them was heightened in 2008 when the FBI named Bruce Ivins as the perpetrator of the 2001 anthrax attacks. Ivins was a veteran scientist who for decades had worked on anthrax at the U. S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Before charges could be brought he committed suicide, so his guilt or innocence could never be established in a court of law. Still, evidence of his aberrational behavior, including alcoholism, depression, and self-described bouts of paranoia, evidently went unnoticed by his superiors. The Ivins case highlighted questions about the screening of workers with ready access to select agents. The number of those workers Just prior to the anthrax attacks has been estimated at about 700. By 2008, however, the figure had climbed to more han As some have suggested, the greater numbers mean that â€Å"the odds of one of them turning out to be a bad apple has increased. â€Å"[13] Ironically, Ivins was not a newly minted investigator, but a long-respected fgure in the army’s biodefense program. Days after Ivins’ death, a USAMRIID spokesperson acknowledged that officials may have been unaware of his problems because they relied in part on self-reporting. [14] In 2011, a mental health review panel concluded that â€Å"Dr. Ivins had a significant and lengthy history of psychological disturbance and diagnosable mental illness at the time he began working for USAMRIID in The Ivins case has raised concerns that other troubled or nefarious individuals might be working in U. S. laboratories. A recent government-sponsored forum on biosecurity called for periodic behavioral evaluations of personnel with access to select agents that include drug testing, searches for criminal history, and completion by selectees of a security questionnaire. 16] Even while acknowledging the necessity of security measures, the right to privacy and freedom of scientific inquiry must be respected to the extent possible. In any case, behavioral monitoring can never provide absolute protection against the acts of a lever miscreant. Contention #4: Money for biodefense has been misapplied or otherwise failed to produce desired results. Project BioShield was established by congress in 2004 to acquire medical countermeasures against bio logical, chemical, and radiological vaccines and other drugs that have not necessarily been tested for efficacy on humans. Beyond the loss of time and money, the VaxGen failure was a public embarrassment. It became a symbol of ineptness early in the new program. Other biosecurity programs have also drawn criticism, including a $534 million surveillance project called BioWatch. This program included the placement of air amplers for detection of anthrax spores and other agents in more than 30 major U. S. cities. A committee convened by the National Academy of Sciences concluded in 2010 that the program was faced with â€Å"serious technical and operational challenges. † Others flatly criticized its funding as wasted. How to cite Still a Threat to the United States, Papers

Efficiency And Effectiveness Of Our Criminal Court System Essay Example For Students

Efficiency And Effectiveness Of Our Criminal Court System Essay Our court systems have, in recent years, been said to beinefficient, sometimes ineffective, and even backlogged to thepoint where cases have to be dismissed because of how long ittakes for them to get to court. After my trip to court, theseare my opinions and observations on the Efficiency andEffectiveness of our Criminal Court System. The court procedures of provincial court are very systematicand are carried out very swiftly. It is much like a tennismatch, the ball, or control in the court, is volleyed back andforth between the judge (and court clerk) and the lawyers. Thecourt clerk arraigns the accused, the defence lawyer responseswith how the accused pleas, if it is not guilty, the courtclerk asks how the Crown lawyer wishes to proceed and so forth. However, this is not so in the Ontario Supreme Court (TrialDivision), though similar in methodical procedures, the courtcases are longer and much more time is spent on each individualpart of the case, from presenting the evidence to cross-examination of the witness, this is because of the amount ofinformation involved. The general atmosphere and behaviour in the ProvincialCourtrooms were general loose and calm. The people, lawyers,judge, clerk and recorder seem to know each other very well. They joked openly, even while the court was in session, thedefence lawyer asked if he could persuade the judge into alighter sentence after the judge had already made a decision in avery easy and friendly tone of voice, something seemlyunprofessional that caused chuckles throughout the courtroom. Where in the Ontario Supreme Court the atmosphere was much moreserious, professional, strict and at times high in tension. Our current bail system, in either monetary terms orpersonal recognizance, seemed pretty successful in ProvincialCourt, though not observed in the Ontario Supreme Court, all thepeople did show up for their trial, which included two people onbail for possession of marijuana cigarettes. As a final note, nobench warrant was every called for by the judge for people whomfailed to attend their trial. The necessity of the duty council is for those who donthave a lawyer and is for their benefit that they discuss legaloptions that the accused might have before proceeding, howeverthis part of the system is not very efficient as the court mustadjourn for this and thus waste valuable time that could beotherwise used for processing other court cases. The Crown Attorney in provincial court was, on the whole,fairly well prepared, efficiently bring relevant facts toattention, friendly and well acquainted to the defence lawyers aswell as the judge, and quick to get to the point that he wastrying to prove. There was little time wasted, between thearraignment and the sentencing, on the part of the CrownAttorney. In Ontario Supreme Court, the Crown Attorney thereseemed well prepared, efficient, and quick, however there seemedto be a lack of personal evolvement in the case, rather he seemedemotionless, just doing his job, not being familiar with thejudge or other people in the court room. By the way he presentedand dressed, he appeared far more strict and serious in conductand appearance than his Provincial Court counterpart. Calling a remand can be helpful in that it allows witnesses,especially key witnesses, to be present at a later date when itis possible for them to attend the trial, as duty may call themto do otherwise. The disadvantages, however, are mostly on theaccuseds part, as s/he must remain in custody longer in order tobe brought back to trial. .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed , .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed .postImageUrl , .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed , .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed:hover , .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed:visited , .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed:active { border:0!important; } .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed:active , .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubf43e222b27e43bd65a479b903f9a8ed:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Inuit People EssayThe necessity for a lawyer for minor offences can sometimesoutweigh the cost the accused must pay for them because thelawyer understands the law and how the system works, he might beable to point out some small discrepancies or may suggest whattype and how much punishment is suitable for the accuseds crime. The lawyer may also point out that if the person has a record,how old it really is, as records older than 5 years old that arenot cleared are disregarded by the judge. They also help thecases progress faster as an accused legal options will be alreadymade clear to him by his/her lawyer. Lawyers are absolutely necessary for major cases, as theaccused may not understand his legal rights clearly or may notknow how to defend himself correctly in the correct the mannerduring trial in court. Court judges in Provincial Court were generally looser thanthose in Ontario Supreme Court as that the one we saw in SupremeCourt seemed more serious, lacked in emotional expressions, butalso easily bored. However in Provincial Court, they wereserious but there was room for humour and understanding of theaccuseds situation. Over all they looked like they enjoyedtheir jobs. All in all, the system we currently have cannot be anybetter as it is efficient as humanly possible without violatingany individuals rights as in the Charter.