The Tangled Helix: Getting a New Pair of Genes

Paper Summary:

This paper explains the term germline manipulation and discusses this method of genetic engineering. Gene manipulation techniques are discussed, as well as the challenges and uncertainties that gene therapy might bring with its advantages. The paper studies the laws and rights governing germline manipulation in countries such as Canada and China. With the view that germline manipulation represents an infinite potential for treating genetic diseases such as Huntington's, the paper advocates more flexible laws, support and research so that future generations can reap the benefits that germline technology has to offer. This paper includes figures.

Outline:
Comparison of Gene Manipulation Techniques
What is Nuclear Cloning?
Use of Animals
Techniques Used
Hope For Huntington's disease
Opposition
Fearing the Future
Opportunity to Cure
Laws and Rights
An Open future
Recommended readings

From the Paper:

"The strongest drive built into every living organism is survival, consequently it should be of no surprise that we want to be healthy and live longer. Life is a tricky term to define. If we do attain the power of immortality by engineering our genes to keep replicating indefinitely, then will we still be alive? Then again cancer cells replicate indefinitely, yet ironically their immortality leads to our death. Such are the reasons why one must take caution when approaching newly developing technologies like germline therapy."

Sample of Sources Used:

• S. Anitei. 2007. Farming Is at Least 8,000 Years Old. Softpedia. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Farming-is-at-Least-8-000-Years-Old-47555.shtml
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• R. Bohlin. 2000. Human Genetic Engineering. Leadership U. http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/humgeneng.html
• H. Herweijer and J.A. Wolff. 2003. Progress and prospects: naked DNA gene transfer and therapy. Nature, 10: 453-458
• The Human Genome Project. 2008. Public Understanding of Biotechnology. http://www.pub.ac.za/factfile/hgp.html

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