With the recent advent of interest and research in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering, scientists are now able to extract DNA from one or more existing organisms, and insert them into the genes of another organism. These organisms can be plants, animals, or even fungi. Using the process of genetic engineering, scientists are capable of creating new, never before seen organisms that have never walked this Earth. These organisms have combined genes from two or many more other organisms. Genetic engineering has now evolved to the point where scientists are able to create organisms that specifically are what humans are looking for. In other words, scientists can create organisms exactly how they want to. For example, there are tomatoes that have fish genes inserted into them to allow them to survive cold better. Also, most of the corn we eat in America is actually BT corn, genetically engineered to grow faster, stronger, larger, and survive disease and frost.
A large debate is currently ongoing about whether or not genetic engineering is moral or whether it should be allowed. One of the main reasons critics argue against it is because they say it "ruins everything nature has built up naturally over millions of years, destroying the ecosystem." Isn't that a perfect description for invasive species as well? What if the powers of modern day genetic engineering is combined with the destructive forces of invasive species? If there is enough motivation (which war would create), scientists would theoretically be able to create invasive species with combined traits. For example, they could create kudzu combined with hydrilla, creating a type of kudzu that grows on land and in water, doubling the destruction. Or, scientists could create Asian tiger mosquito combined with Asian long-horned beetle, producing an Asian long-horned beetle capable of transmitting deadly diseases as well as kill trees by the millions. It is almost scary to imagine what would happen if this possibility became a reality.
Wait! We are not done! My essential question poses a hypothetical situation about war, which is not in full state right now. So, we must consider what genetic engineering will be like in the future, when it is even more developed. Scientists estimate that in the near future, biotechnology and genetic engineering will allow us to have even more freedom in the creation of new organisms. So, it would not be too far of a stretch to estimate that within the next 200 years at most, humans will have gained the ability to not only alter the traits of an organism, but also enhance the desirable traits. What if this logic was applied to the invasive species mentioned before? Invasive species would be bigger, better (or worse), and stronger.
A large debate is currently ongoing about whether or not genetic engineering is moral or whether it should be allowed. One of the main reasons critics argue against it is because they say it "ruins everything nature has built up naturally over millions of years, destroying the ecosystem." Isn't that a perfect description for invasive species as well? What if the powers of modern day genetic engineering is combined with the destructive forces of invasive species? If there is enough motivation (which war would create), scientists would theoretically be able to create invasive species with combined traits. For example, they could create kudzu combined with hydrilla, creating a type of kudzu that grows on land and in water, doubling the destruction. Or, scientists could create Asian tiger mosquito combined with Asian long-horned beetle, producing an Asian long-horned beetle capable of transmitting deadly diseases as well as kill trees by the millions. It is almost scary to imagine what would happen if this possibility became a reality.
Wait! We are not done! My essential question poses a hypothetical situation about war, which is not in full state right now. So, we must consider what genetic engineering will be like in the future, when it is even more developed. Scientists estimate that in the near future, biotechnology and genetic engineering will allow us to have even more freedom in the creation of new organisms. So, it would not be too far of a stretch to estimate that within the next 200 years at most, humans will have gained the ability to not only alter the traits of an organism, but also enhance the desirable traits. What if this logic was applied to the invasive species mentioned before? Invasive species would be bigger, better (or worse), and stronger.
Essential Question
"Could a genetically engineered invasive species potentially be used in warfare?"