SS
121-I: Composition and Writing
Tuesday 21st September, 1999
For many of us recalling the science fiction cartoon “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” will bring to mind Master Splinter, the four Turtles and Rocksteady and Beebop, the main characters of the show. They were a generation of mutants made what they were by exposure to harmful chemicals. Something similar is happening close in reality. Whereas these characters mutated due the presence of harmful substances in their surroundings, we humans are also doing some controlled mutations better referred to as ‘engineering’ (in technical terms) of our own. Genetic Engineering is a new field with uncharted territories to explore harboring in it possibilities of abuse. Just as the above mentioned characters were the victims of neglected and careless use of chemicals, in the near future it might not be surprising to hear about abuse of genetic engineering. Hence we need to define laws and pass regulations so as to govern the practice of Genetic Engineering and curb any malpractice.
Before I move on let me just briefly describe what genetic engineering is all about so that one will be able to comprehend the matter’s gravest concerns in a better frame of mind. Genetic Engineering, as the name implies, refers to the branch of biology that deals with the engineering or manipulation of the most fundamental blocks of life, the DNA and the genes. By manipulation I am referring to the changes that can be made in the behaviour and the functions of these fundamental building blocks by altering their underlying structures. It is on account of these changes that a particular cell or an organism displays behaviour different from what nature had programmed it to perform. An exciting example would be the genetically engineered mice that have fluorescent blood, blood that glows in the dark!
But there are better things that can be done with the immense potential of Genetic Engineering. From its application in the agricultural sector to design better pest and disease control drugs to developing varieties of crop which are themselves resistant to such menaces. We have all heard of varieties of sugarcane, which have been genetically modified to give resistance to a certain disease thus resulting in financial benefits for the farmer. Many drugs have been developed by the genetically modifying an actual virus or bacterium thus offering better ways of combating human ailments and diseases. The advancements have been beneficial to the human life. But what if this potential is put to the wrong use. Some thing developed by mistake or on purpose which hinders or interferes with the course of human lives. For example, weeds which become immune to weedicides, or viruses immune to the best drugs.
Here we must not forget about the malicious user who (with the proper knowledge and equipment) can program or genetically alter the contents of say the milk we drink or the food we eat and instead of reinforcing us it just weakens us. Is it not a frightening notion? Similarly a sane idea falling in the wrong hands can be disastrous. Another very ‘innovative’ idea that has been tested on some cows was to add extra strength and flexibility to the skin. The cow was made “Bullet Proof”! It had such strong and flexible skin that a bullet shot at it would just bounce back, no harm done. But do you expect the army to be glad to see this capability in the hands of its adversary that will have a virtually indestructible army.
And here’s the best part. We have nearly mastered the technique of ‘cloning’ living organisms. Already the topic of numerous science fiction movies and novels, cloning is science fiction no more. Thanks to Dr. Ian Wilmut, in 1997 he shook the world with his announcement that he has cloned a sheep and has named it Dolly. Dolly is an exact replica of its mother whose cells were used to create her.
The long term applications and benefits of this achievement are numerous. For example human parts can be cloned for replacing severed human organs or transplants. But wait a minute. Immediately after Dr. Ian Wilmut announced the creation of Dolly and even before his results had been verified, a Harvard trained physicist Richard Seed ‘announced’ that he will use the same cloning technology to clone humans for commercial purposes. As he grandiosely declared “(cloning is) the first step towards becoming one with God”
Now what are the implications of such a declaration? As Dr. Bernard Healy puts it “Dolly shakes our ethical foundations, our social norms, even our religious beliefs.” If cloned humans were to come into existence still there will be many unanswered questions. What is the role of clones in society? Can they become human slaves or organ donors? Who are their parents and relatives? Are they made in Gods image or in Man’s? Are they an asexual variant or incest? But again what does it all imply? Would it be right to clone your loved dying one’s? Or suppose that this technology fell to wrongful use. Do I have a guarantee that my best friend sitting next to me is the same person I lent my homework to? Will cloning be a technology for the wealthy and the depraved, sneaking up on the rest of the world without its understanding? The scenarios arising from cloning humans are far too delicate to be mishandled.
It took two nuclear bombs to figure out the adversity of the misuse of nuclear technology. Will it take a Genetic Holocaust to open our eyes to the impending reality? Will one wait for the first cloned human infant to be produced by Richard Seed and then raise a voice, when many of his counterparts might be doing the same elsewhere? We certainly do not want treatment resistant viruses to come into existence nor would we want a copy of ourselves walking right into our face from across the street.
Something has to be done while the technology of Genetic Engineering (and not just cloning) is still in its infancy, when its use is just restricted to research laboratories and not the common hospital labs. In this regard we need monitoring bodies which can monitor the current activities of people and labs involved in the process of engineering genetic materials. We need to enforce tougher laws, legislations and regulations and are in a need of redefining the medical code of ethics to prevent any scenarios relating to the misuse of the capabilities of genetic engineering. Any lapse in these security procedures and the human race might as well finally be heading for its often-predicted destiny: complete destruction.