Annotated Bibliography

Should genetic engineering in animals be accepted in society for its medical purposes or banned due to its morality issues?

Kaplan, Karen. "Stem Cell Method Finds Cure". Los Angeles Times 7 Dec 2007: n.p. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. 9 Dec 2008. .

Karen Kaplan is a science writer for the Los Angeles Times, a daily newspaper distributed throughout western United States. Her article talks about how scientists have cured sickle cell anemia in rats by creating “healthy, genetically matched” tissue through its cells. She also writes about how scientists successfully cloned healthier mice that had no signs of the diseases their genetic twins had. Kaplan argues how sickle cell anemia is only the first of many diseases that could be treated through the cloning of stem cells. She also states that scientists hope to “create cardiac cells...or nerve cells” to treat human injuries. However, for this regenerative medicine to be tested on humans, “several rounds of animal experiments would need to be done”. Although engineering stem cells can find cures, it will take some time for such cures to become a reality to the world of medicine. This article will demonstrate that in order for genetic engineering to become a treatment for diseases in the world of medicine, it must be tested on animals. Thus, society would benefit through all the new cures that would be available.

Velasquez-Manoff, Moises. "A New Step Toward Synthetic Life.” Christian Science Monitor 29 Jun 2007: n.p. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. 9 Dec 2008. .

Moises Velasquez-Manoff is a journalist at the Christian Science Monitor, an independent daily newspaper about the current events internationally and in the United States. In his article, he argues that scientists have “successfully transplanted the entire genome of one bacterium species into another,” which creates genetic replicas. Manoff also states that “nature already offers plenty of starting points” to boot up a cell system from organisms. He shows how bacteria can freely swap genes as shown in the first cloned sheep, Dolly, which would allow scientists to put a nucleus from one cell into another to grow a viable animal. This process would further ensure that genetic engineering could be used to grow a replicated healthier animal. Finally, Manoff claims that intervening with nature could raise ethical and safety issues. This article gives me information about genetic engineering and how it would benefit society if it was accepted.

Lovins, Amory. “New Technology a Graduation Test for the Species.” Global Viewpoint 8 Aug 2000: n.p. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. 9 Dec 2008. .

Amory Lovins, a recovering physicist, is the co-founder and CEO of Rocky Mountain Institute and his improvements have been recognized by a MacArthur fellowship and he has received many “Alternative Noble” prizes. In his article in the Global Viewpoint, Lovins claims that “our species has developed at least three technologies that pose a danger to its own future”. In his opinion, one of these three “technologies” is genetic engineering. He states that we are speeding up evolution by about a billion times through biotechnology. Although our society could improve from the medical benefits of genetic engineering, Lovins argues that simple “mistakes can quickly escape and multiply”. Lovins also argues that we are changing the goal of evolution and turning it into something dire. His stance illustrates that genetic engineering is immoral which opposes the other sources’ arguments.

Batra, Karen. "Genetic Engineering Promises to Improve Medicine, Food and the Environment." BIO 18 Sep 2008. 9 Dec 2008. .

Karen Batra is a writer for BIO which represents over 1,200 biotechnology institutions, organizations, and centers across the United States as well as thirty other nations. Her article contains information on the multiple benefits of animal genetic engineering. She argues that after many years, “technologies have the proven ability to provide solutions for public health through biomedical application.” Genetic engineering is advancing human health since animals could have “pharmaceutical proteins and replacement tissues” which could cure many diseases including cancer. Batra also argues that genetically modified animals would meet the global demand for more efficient sources of food. She claims that animals could “contribute to improving the environment by consuming fewer resources and producing less waste” as well as enhancing their “disease resistance traits.” Her arguments demonstrate the capabilities of the future of genetic engineering and how it would improve our liver and make them healthier.

Pollack, Andrew. “Initial Benefit from Genetic Engineering Likely to be Medicine.” The New York Times 30 Jul 2007. 9 Dec 2008. .

Andrew Pollack is a journalist who has covered the business and science of biotechnology articles for The New York Times since 2000. In this article, he talks about how a herd of goats have been genetically engineered to “to produce a therapeutic human protein called antithrombin in their milk” which keeps blood from clogging. Pollack also asserts that other companies are working on using transgenic animals for medicine. More and more transgenic animals are being produced to help cure diseases but most of the companies are experiencing “financial or technological” setbacks. The author argues that genetic engineering animals would also be regulated like drugs, with guidelines that “cover at least the creation and testing of the drug-bearing creatures.” The genetic engineering technology could still become a medical reality; creating a healthier society.


Bowman, Chris. “Research Alter Goats with Human Genes.” Sacramento Bee 3 May 2008: n.p. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. 9 Dec 2008. < http://www.sirs.com>.

Chris Bowman writes articles frequently for the Sacramento Bee. This article is the most recent article and it talks about how scientists have tried to genetically engineer a goat with human genes. As a result, transgenic goats provide “lysozyme” which destroys bacteria that claims “more than 2 million impoverished young lives.” Bowman also argues that this genetically engineered milk is one of the first food products designed to improve health. He also insists that this altered goat milk needs several more studies to assure food safety regulations. However, recent studies show that this new milk “would provide comparable protection for children.” Finally, Bowman claims that more experiments are not only trying to prevent illnesses, but treat them as well. This article’s facts illustrate the use of animals to further improve medicine, which could greatly increase the health rate among many of the poorer regions across the world.