Name: Wilenfaye S.

Molo
Subject: Science, Technology and Society
Schedule: MW, 7:30-9:00 am

What is gene therapy?

Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease, this technique
may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using drugs or
surgery. Researchers approach to gene therapy includes replacing a mutated gene that causes
disease with a healthy copy of the gene, inactivating, or “knocking out,” a mutated gene that is
functioning improperly, and introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease.

Advantages:

Gene therapy helps give someone that is born with a genetic disease or who develops cancer the
chance at a normal life. Giving someone a chance at a normal life should be enough for many of the
people that oppose this technique to change their minds. The possible reason that makes these people
oppose to gene therapy is because they see it as something foreign and scary. But still, it has the ability
to replace defective cells, has remarkable therapeutic potential it promises, and can help eradicate
diseases.

Disadvantages:

The basis of gene therapy is find a gene that is not functioning right and to insert a healthy portion into
that gene. To find these genes, scientists must perform genetic tests or genetic screening to see I f the
gene that causes for example, cystic fibrosis, is present. This genetic testing is producing much
controversy and raising many ethical and legal problems. Many believe that this is an invasion of
privacy. Gene therapy could possibly change the human gene pool permanently if it was done to a
certain degree. Aside from this, this type of treatment will most likely be for the rich only, indefinitely
making the rich richer and the poor poorer. It would modify human capabilities and has the potential to
give rise in other disorders.

What is GMO?

GMO stands for genetically modified organism, where organisms had their characteristics changed
through the modification of their DNA. The exact definition of a genetically modified organism and what
constitutes genetic engineering varies, with the most common being an organism altered in a way that
“does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination”. GMO is the result of a laboratory
process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of
an unrelated plant or animal. The foreign genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or
even humans. Because this involves the transfer of genes, GMOs are also known as “transgenic”
organisms.

Advantages:

They offer more useful knowledge for genetics, add more value to crops, decrease the prices of food,
safe for human consumption. In fact, study shows that they are even safer compared to traditional
crops.

Disadvantages:

The process of growing GMOs includes the addition of new genetic material into a crops genome, and
similar to bacterial genetic engineering in agricultural ecology, this means the introduction of new genes
in crops. The process of growing GMOs includes the addition of new genetic material into a crops
genome, and similar to bacterial genetic engineering in agricultural ecology, this means the introduction
of new genes in crops, can pose a threat to the insects that are important to the ecosystem. They are
believed to change the field of agriculture in a negative way.

Examples of common GMO:

Alfalfa, Canola, Corn, Cotton, Soy

What is Gene Therapy?

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Gene therapy is an experimental technique that
uses genes to treat or prevent disease. In the future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a
disorder by inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using drugs or surgery. Gene therapy is the
method of replacing defective genes with healthy ones. Basically, genes are the basic elements of
heredity, coming as triplets of nitrogenous basis that form amino acids, which compose proteins that
play a vital role in the bodily functions. This means that defective genes can cause malfunctions in
metabolic pathways, which can cause diseases that are deeply rooted in the human genetic design.

Disadvantage of Gene Therapy:

The basis of gene therapy is find a gene that is not functioning right and to insert a healthy portion into
that gene. To find these genes, scientists must perform genetic tests or genetic screening to see i f the
gene that causes for example, cystic fibrosis, is present. This genetic testing is producing much
controversy and raising many ethical and legal problems. Many believe that this is an invasion of
privacy. They believe that if prenatal tests are performed that these could lead to an increase in the
number of abortions.

Advantages of Gene Therapy:

The advantage of this technique is to give someone that is born with a genetic disease or who develops
cancer, a chance at a normal life. I think this is an advantage that far outweighs any of the
disadvantages that have been presented against gene therapy. Giving someone a chance at a normal
life should be enough for many of the people that oppose this technique to change their minds.

What Exactly Is GMO?

GMO stands for "genetically modified organism," and it can refer to a plant, animal, or microorganism
that has been genetically changed in a lab through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also
called genetic engineering, or GE). Different species are crossed to produce animals and plants not
found in nature, so they take on new traits meant to make them grow faster, resist insects and weed
killers, and stay fresh longer.

Disadvantages of GMO:

It is proven by scientific studies that GMO foods contain substances that may cause diseases and even
death to several kinds of species in this world, including us humans. For instance, mice and butterflies
cannot survive with these foods. Though it is claimed by many experts that genetically modified foods
are safe for the environment, they actually still contain several kinds of substances that are not yet
proven to be such. These substances are remained hidden to the public.

Advantages of GMO:

There have been a great number of studies tracking the effects of GMOs on animals. Overwhelmingly,
these studies indicate that GMOs are safe to consume and it is heavily tested. GMOs allow plants to be
modified to grow in environments that would be normally inhospitable. Easier farming means more food
which, in turn, means less expensive food. This is not only beneficial for the average consumer, but it
can have global implications. Less expensive food makes it easier to feed hungry populations around
the world.

Five Examples of GMO:

Five examples are wheat, tomato, sweet Corn, rice and cotton.