• Question: How will genetic modification and engineering impact upon adult humans in the future [what are the additional applications or potential developments of the technique?]

    Asked by snacks2 to Chris, Kay, Kerstin, Lorna, Liv on 23 Mar 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Kerstin Zechner

      Kerstin Zechner answered on 23 Mar 2010:

      Well, it’s my hope that it will be used only to really do good. However, in the USA, GM crop strains have already more or less taken over the farming industry and I’m not sure if that’s the best thing. I believe these crops should be and hopefully will be used in poorer countries, where the soil isn’t as rich. GM will probably also constantly be used in plants and animals to adapt to changes in the climate, which I guess will be good, as we won’t be running out of food.

    • Photo: Olivia Hibbitt

      Olivia Hibbitt answered on 24 Mar 2010:

      Hey snacks2,

      Genetic modification and engineering are the basis of modern biology! Everything done in our labs involves some sort of modification! So I suppose the answer is there will be a huge impact!! Treatments for disease, understanding disease all of this involves genetic modification!

    • Photo: Kay Penicud

      Kay Penicud answered on 24 Mar 2010:

      GM will hopefully produce better crops so we can feed more people.

      For medical stuff, in the very long term hopefully we would be able to correct faulty genes – for example correct the mutations that lead to cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anaemia and many hereditary cancers.

      However, the danger is we’ll use the technology to create ‘designer babies’ and go beyond correcting hereditary diseases. Its very important to regulate this new technolgy, while still allowing it to reach its potential.

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