Playing God : The Horrors of Genetic Engineering

[Guest guest]

Playing God : The Horrors of Genetic Engineering

JoAnn Guest

Jun 27, 2004 21:11 PDT

 

IVU News

Playing God The Horrors of Genetic Engineering

http://www.ivu.org/news/2-97/genetic.html

---

Biotechnology can now cross animals with plants, leaving the

vegetarian confused.

 

The scientific world today has the power to alter the very

fabric of nature, not only by transferring characteristics between

plants, but by cross-altering animals, plants and human beings.

 

Genetic engineering, which is without ethical limitation, has a

serious impact on the environment of animals and plants.

 

It violates our relationship with the natural world. Most people

believe that animals have a right to live their lives free from

human interference with their original genetic structure.

 

Also, animals can never serve as models of human disease because

they are much too different. But scientists still keep trying after

all, the human transplant market is worth well over $6 billion per

year!

 

 

Biotechnology in recent years has been progressing by leaps and

bounds.

It represents a quantum leap in the exploitation of animals,

allowing humans to move genes from one species of animal into

another totally different species.

 

Scientists and biotech companies in some major countries of the

world

want to create new animals which will produce more and better meat,

give valuable products such as wool more easily, and have organs

that can be used in human transplants.

 

And it doesnt stop there: many of the genetically modified crops now

being field-tested in the United States and around the world could

not only have a devastating Jurassic Park type impact on the global

eco-system, but could also hit agriculture-based third-world

economies dependent on cash crops.

 

Genetic engineering is a one-dimensional reductionist science which

ignores the wider dynamics of life systems.

 

 

Genetic engineering primarily involves the introduction of genes

containing DNA (dioxyribonucleic acid) procured from humans or

animals

into the cells of bacteria, yeast or other animals. One of the

outcomes is termed a transgenic animal.

 

These transgenic animals cannot be bred

by natural/traditional selection or artificial insemination.

 

Donor females are given hormone injections and hormone-impregnated

sponges are also inserted directly into their reproductive tracts,

so as

to make them produce lots of egg cells. This process has been termed

super-ovulation.

 

The eggs are then artificially inseminated either manually or

surgically. Next the embryos are collected by further surgery or

slaughter. The embryos are then injected with foreign DNA containing

genes for preferred traits, and then transferred into foster

mothers, again by surgery.

 

It takes 80 donor and recipient animals to produce just one

transgenic

cow if everything works perfectly, which is very rare. Once the

transgenic animal has been produced, its suffering begins: for

example, non-porcine genes have been added to pigs, producing

animals with

gastric ulcers, liver and kidney disorders, lameness, damaged eye-

sight, loss of co-ordination, susceptibility to pneumonia and

diabetic conditions.

 

Genetic engineering research is most often carried out on animals

such

as mice, pigs, sheep, other farm animals and fish, as well as on

plants such as tomatoes, tobacco and corn.

 

Vegetarians around the world are seriously wondering whether the

food they are eating is actually vegetarian.

 

In the case of the Flavr Savr tomato, as they are usually called,

the tomatoes are genetically altered by introducing genes from a

fish, the Arctic flounder, so as to reduce freezer damage and give

them a longer shelf-life, to make them ripen longer on the tree

while remaining firm at the time of picking and transportation, and

to make them bigger and tastier as well.

 

No layman can tell the difference between Flavr Savr and a normal

tomato, which is primarily why staunch vegetarians want the altered

tomatoes labelled.

 

Other such experiments with vegetables include chicken genes

introduced

into potatoes for resistance to disease and to increase shelf-life

and size,

 

tobacco altered with mouse genes to reduce impurities,

or with a gene from fire-flies which makes the leaves glow at night.

 

Some biotechnologists go to such lengths that playing around with

the

genes of animals becomes a game for them. This might result in some

ghastly creature produced just to satisfy someones whims and fancies.

 

Scientists in the U.S. have bred a mouse called the oncomouse,

which

has been genetically engineered to develop cancer and in due course

to die a slow and painful death.

 

The first oncomouse was bred in 1981; yet 15 years later a cure for

cancer still seems to elude scientists. Genetic engineering on mice

does not stop there.

 

A mouse specially created to lack an immune system has been used to

grow human organs, such as ears, externally and even internally. The

absence of an immune system ensures that the mouse will not reject

human tissue.

 

 

 

Scientists make a look-alike mould of a human organ, such as an ear,

with biodegradable polyester fabric or other polymers. They then

transfer the bone/muscle cells into the form and transplant it on to

the

mouse. When ready, the organ is grafted from the mouse, who somehow

manages to remain alive after the ear is removed.

 

 

Similarly, scientists have managed to grow liver, skin, cartilage,

bone,

ureters, heart valves, tendons, intestines, blood vessels and breast

tissue with such polymers. But if the idea of reversing the

experiment (replacing the mice with humans)

were contemplated, people would call it blasphemous.

 

There is no thought for the animals involved. The extent to which

these

experiments will go is uncertain. A change will only come about when

scientists acknowledge the animals right to live a normal healthy

life without man tampering with their genes.

 

 

Pigs are also grown transgenically so that their organs can be

transplanted into humans. Transgenic pigs were first produced in

1985.

Scientists have succeeded in making the required organs in pigs

capable of producing human cells.

 

These proteins, they hope, will trick the human immune system while

transplanting the organ(s) so that the recipient does not react to

the foreign tissue.

 

Another example is that of sheep which have been injected with

hormones

bioengineered to cause wool-shedding so as to produce the so-called

self-shearing sheep. This is done in Australia where, unfortunately

for the sheep, the climate is mostly hot and sunny. As a result,

some sheep experience an increased rate of abortion.

 

Where on earth will it all end? Talking of sheep, Welsh mountain

clone sheep are living proof that life can be created without sperm.

A scientist at Rosalin Institute created them by fusing a cell grown

in the laboratory with an empty sheep-egg through a spark of

electricity.

 

Imagine growing a sheep in a lab dish! Ironically, when pondering

about doing the same with human beings, scientists find it

unethical.

 

In another bizarre experiment, Indian scientists at the Nimbalkar

Research Institute, Phaltan, Maharashtra, have created, by

artificial

insemination, an animal with the head of a goat and the body of a

cow.

This animal grows fatter faster and the volume of meat is therefore

increased.

 

Scientists claim that they can and will make genetically altered

animals that will help cure human diseases and illnesses. Transgenic

research has been going on for nearly 20 years, but it still has not

cured a single human illness,

 

although illnesses such as diabetes, blindness, lameness and cancer

(among others) have all been produced unexpectedly in animals

subjected to these ridiculous experiments.

 

Genetic engineering going to lengths such as these is a symbol of

consumerism gone berserk. Is it really fair that animals and their

environment should bear the brunt of our

insatiable curiosity?

 

[Reprinted from Compassionate Friend published by Beauty Without

Cruelty, India]

 

More about Genetic Engineering - from the Article Index

[Guest guest]

JoAnn,

Acres USA is always looking for more guest writers, I think they would

love to hear from you!

Tell them a r sent you. Nora G

-

" JoAnn Guest " <angelprincessjo

 

Monday, June 28, 2004 12:20 AM

Playing God : The Horrors of Genetic

Engineering

 

 

> Playing God : The Horrors of Genetic Engineering

> JoAnn Guest

> Jun 27, 2004 21:11 PDT

>

> IVU News

> Playing God The Horrors of Genetic Engineering

> http://www.ivu.org/news/2-97/genetic.html

> ---

> Biotechnology can now cross animals with plants, leaving the

> vegetarian confused.

>

> The scientific world today has the power to alter the very

> fabric of nature, not only by transferring characteristics between

> plants, but by cross-altering animals, plants and human beings.

>

> Genetic engineering, which is without ethical limitation, has a

> serious impact on the environment of animals and plants.

>

> It violates our relationship with the natural world. Most people

> believe that animals have a right to live their lives free from

> human interference with their original genetic structure.

>

> Also, animals can never serve as models of human disease because

> they are much too different. But scientists still keep trying after

> all, the human transplant market is worth well over $6 billion per

> year!

>

>

> Biotechnology in recent years has been progressing by leaps and

> bounds.

> It represents a quantum leap in the exploitation of animals,

> allowing humans to move genes from one species of animal into

> another totally different species.

>

> Scientists and biotech companies in some major countries of the

> world

> want to create new animals which will produce more and better meat,

> give valuable products such as wool more easily, and have organs

> that can be used in human transplants.

>

> And it doesnt stop there: many of the genetically modified crops now

> being field-tested in the United States and around the world could

> not only have a devastating Jurassic Park type impact on the global

> eco-system, but could also hit agriculture-based third-world

> economies dependent on cash crops.

>

> Genetic engineering is a one-dimensional reductionist science which

> ignores the wider dynamics of life systems.

>

>

> Genetic engineering primarily involves the introduction of genes

> containing DNA (dioxyribonucleic acid) procured from humans or

> animals

> into the cells of bacteria, yeast or other animals. One of the

> outcomes is termed a transgenic animal.

>

> These transgenic animals cannot be bred

> by natural/traditional selection or artificial insemination.

>

> Donor females are given hormone injections and hormone-impregnated

> sponges are also inserted directly into their reproductive tracts,

> so as

> to make them produce lots of egg cells. This process has been termed

> super-ovulation.

>

> The eggs are then artificially inseminated either manually or

> surgically. Next the embryos are collected by further surgery or

> slaughter. The embryos are then injected with foreign DNA containing

> genes for preferred traits, and then transferred into foster

> mothers, again by surgery.

>

> It takes 80 donor and recipient animals to produce just one

> transgenic

> cow if everything works perfectly, which is very rare. Once the

> transgenic animal has been produced, its suffering begins: for

> example, non-porcine genes have been added to pigs, producing

> animals with

> gastric ulcers, liver and kidney disorders, lameness, damaged eye-

> sight, loss of co-ordination, susceptibility to pneumonia and

> diabetic conditions.

>

> Genetic engineering research is most often carried out on animals

> such

> as mice, pigs, sheep, other farm animals and fish, as well as on

> plants such as tomatoes, tobacco and corn.

>

> Vegetarians around the world are seriously wondering whether the

> food they are eating is actually vegetarian.

>

> In the case of the Flavr Savr tomato, as they are usually called,

> the tomatoes are genetically altered by introducing genes from a

> fish, the Arctic flounder, so as to reduce freezer damage and give

> them a longer shelf-life, to make them ripen longer on the tree

> while remaining firm at the time of picking and transportation, and

> to make them bigger and tastier as well.

>

> No layman can tell the difference between Flavr Savr and a normal

> tomato, which is primarily why staunch vegetarians want the altered

> tomatoes labelled.

>

> Other such experiments with vegetables include chicken genes

> introduced

> into potatoes for resistance to disease and to increase shelf-life

> and size,

>

> tobacco altered with mouse genes to reduce impurities,

> or with a gene from fire-flies which makes the leaves glow at night.

>

> Some biotechnologists go to such lengths that playing around with

> the

> genes of animals becomes a game for them. This might result in some

> ghastly creature produced just to satisfy someones whims and fancies.

>

> Scientists in the U.S. have bred a mouse called the oncomouse,

> which

> has been genetically engineered to develop cancer and in due course

> to die a slow and painful death.

>

> The first oncomouse was bred in 1981; yet 15 years later a cure for

> cancer still seems to elude scientists. Genetic engineering on mice

> does not stop there.

>

> A mouse specially created to lack an immune system has been used to

> grow human organs, such as ears, externally and even internally. The

> absence of an immune system ensures that the mouse will not reject

> human tissue.

>

>

>

> Scientists make a look-alike mould of a human organ, such as an ear,

> with biodegradable polyester fabric or other polymers. They then

> transfer the bone/muscle cells into the form and transplant it on to

> the

> mouse. When ready, the organ is grafted from the mouse, who somehow

> manages to remain alive after the ear is removed.

>

>

> Similarly, scientists have managed to grow liver, skin, cartilage,

> bone,

> ureters, heart valves, tendons, intestines, blood vessels and breast

> tissue with such polymers. But if the idea of reversing the

> experiment (replacing the mice with humans)

> were contemplated, people would call it blasphemous.

>

> There is no thought for the animals involved. The extent to which

> these

> experiments will go is uncertain. A change will only come about when

> scientists acknowledge the animals right to live a normal healthy

> life without man tampering with their genes.

>

>

> Pigs are also grown transgenically so that their organs can be

> transplanted into humans. Transgenic pigs were first produced in

> 1985.

> Scientists have succeeded in making the required organs in pigs

> capable of producing human cells.

>

> These proteins, they hope, will trick the human immune system while

> transplanting the organ(s) so that the recipient does not react to

> the foreign tissue.

>

> Another example is that of sheep which have been injected with

> hormones

> bioengineered to cause wool-shedding so as to produce the so-called

> self-shearing sheep. This is done in Australia where, unfortunately

> for the sheep, the climate is mostly hot and sunny. As a result,

> some sheep experience an increased rate of abortion.

>

> Where on earth will it all end? Talking of sheep, Welsh mountain

> clone sheep are living proof that life can be created without sperm.

> A scientist at Rosalin Institute created them by fusing a cell grown

> in the laboratory with an empty sheep-egg through a spark of

> electricity.

>

> Imagine growing a sheep in a lab dish! Ironically, when pondering

> about doing the same with human beings, scientists find it

> unethical.

>

> In another bizarre experiment, Indian scientists at the Nimbalkar

> Research Institute, Phaltan, Maharashtra, have created, by

> artificial

> insemination, an animal with the head of a goat and the body of a

> cow.

> This animal grows fatter faster and the volume of meat is therefore

> increased.

>

> Scientists claim that they can and will make genetically altered

> animals that will help cure human diseases and illnesses. Transgenic

> research has been going on for nearly 20 years, but it still has not

> cured a single human illness,

>

> although illnesses such as diabetes, blindness, lameness and cancer

> (among others) have all been produced unexpectedly in animals

> subjected to these ridiculous experiments.

>

> Genetic engineering going to lengths such as these is a symbol of

> consumerism gone berserk. Is it really fair that animals and their

> environment should bear the brunt of our

> insatiable curiosity?

>

> [Reprinted from Compassionate Friend published by Beauty Without

> Cruelty, India]

>

> More about Genetic Engineering - from the Article Index

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