Sage A.
Peter G.
Bowen B.
Period 2
Genetic Engineering Concept: Alzheimer's Disease
Stage of Life: Old Age
Genetically modifying human genes in order to cure diseases like Alzheimer’s would be beneficial for people who suffer from the disease and it could also be used to completely make Alzheimer’s disease nonexistent for any future generations. The only controversial aspect of gene therapy and genetic engineering is how effective it is, and how it will affect the patient’s life. For example, when Mrs. Clemens (nursing teacher) was interviewed, she said that the issue is not about morality; it’s about paying the price for knowing the truth. If an individual knows that he will develop Alzheimer's disease later in his life, it is possible that he will lose his drive for life, which in turn may negatively impact the people around him. In addition to that, Maria Sorensen, a biology student at West CTA, considers genetic engineering immoral, regardless of the supposed benefits, because genetic modification,“tampers with a person’s original genetic code.” Alzheimer’s has the potential to become a problem for anybody, because one out of every three individuals will develop Alzheimer's disease after the age of 85, so from a financial aspect, Alzheimer’s treatment through home and respite care ranges from $3,000 to $6,000 a month. There is no given price regarding genetic treatment, but the process is probably very expensive and time consuming. Humans should definitely consider redesigning life; it may ultimately help mankind.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer’s is a disease where certain parts of brain cells no longer function normally. Dr. Fini Corina Grema also added that it was a form of dementia, it is commonly associated with memory loss, and that the environment may play a key role in predisposing an individual to Alzheimer's disease. However, Jackson Bigelow, a student of Ms. Giffords, believes that the environment is not a factor of the disease. The disease starts off mildly, but over the years, it progresses and causes severe memory loss. As of now, there is still no cure for the disease. However, genetic engineering may provide an answer to fighting and curing Alzheimer’s. Genetic engineering may allow the body’s immune system to fight the disease and genetic engineering is giving scientist a better understand of the disease itself. Furthermore, scientists have identified one gene that causes plaques to be created, which is the reason, some scientists believe, why the brain cells die in the first place. Genetic engineering could help to replace that gene so that it won’t create plaque anymore. However, there is no concrete evidence that the gene alone cause the plaque build up. Several scientists believe that chromosome 10 has a gene that may predispose individuals to Alzheimer’s disease but, this has not be proven completely. Furthermore, some individuals (such as Yra Bognot, a student in the Nursing Program at WCTA, and Patrick Gomez, a Bio-Tech student) believe that steps could be taken to avoid Alzheimer's disease altogether.
The benefits of genetic engineering Alzheimer’s disease are that older individuals would no longer have to worry about losing their memories and minds as they grow older. Both Mrs. Giffords and Mrs. Sabataso (two teachers involved with the medical field of study at West Career and Technical Academy) believe that a cure for Alzheimer's will be achieved because of the current research that is taking place. Both educators hope that the disease will become curable in the future, since many elderly suffer from the effects of Alzheimer’s. If a cure for Alzheimer’s disease is discovered by genetically modifying the next generation of humans, individuals suffering from the disease would have an improvement in their quality of life. Genetic engineering has a very good chance of reversing and curing Alzheimer's. Even if genetic engineering does not completely cure Alzheimer's disease, it may be able to prevent the disease and help patients live a more enjoyable life. However, just like all other forms of genetic modification, it’s dangerous to change a person’s genetic makeup. It would be easy for scientists to make mistakes, especially with their limited knowledge about the genetics of Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, it is interfering with the natural evolution of humans. Overall, it is not fully known if genetic engineering can cure Alzheimer's disease.
Genetically modifying human genes in order to cure diseases like Alzheimer’s would be beneficial for people who suffer from the disease and it could also be used to completely make Alzheimer’s disease nonexistent for any future generations. The only controversial aspect of gene therapy and genetic engineering is how effective it is, and how it will affect the patient’s life. For example, when Mrs. Clemens (nursing teacher) was interviewed, she said that the issue is not about morality; it’s about paying the price for knowing the truth. If an individual knows that he will develop Alzheimer's disease later in his life, it is possible that he will lose his drive for life, which in turn may negatively impact the people around him. In addition to that, Maria Sorensen, a biology student at West CTA, considers genetic engineering immoral, regardless of the supposed benefits, because genetic modification,“tampers with a person’s original genetic code.” Alzheimer’s has the potential to become a problem for anybody, because one out of every three individuals will develop Alzheimer's disease after the age of 85, so from a financial aspect, Alzheimer’s treatment through home and respite care ranges from $3,000 to $6,000 a month. There is no given price regarding genetic treatment, but the process is probably very expensive and time consuming. Humans should definitely consider redesigning life; it may ultimately help mankind.
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