Talking About Green

The modification of the genetic material in an organism to alter the traits at the chromosomal level itself is genetic engineering.

Genetic engineering can prove to a blessing for the environment if used wisely. It has led to remarkable application in medicine. Now there is a cure for terminal diseases like cancer and other genetic disorders.

It can be exploited to conserve the environment in the following ways:

To save the endangered species
Certain species are fast disappearing from the world like African elephant, tigers etc. Clones can be created to maintain their dwindling numbers.

Genetically modified crops
High yield crops can be artificially created by recombinant DNA technology. Such crops are resistant to extreme weather conditions, to pests etc. Crops can be made disease resistant. This is an answer to increasing food problem of population increasing manifold. This leads to reduce usage of chemicals pesticides etc on crops. Livesock production can also be increased at a lower cost.

Decreasing the level of pollution
Scientists have been able to create transgenic organisms which when released consume the metallic wastes, harmful gases, oil etc. These save the environment from all the pollutants and other hazardous matter.

Disadvantages:

Introduction of genetically modified variant could alter the food chain forever. Serious ecological imbalances can occur. The pest resistant species can kill the pests and insects, which thrive on the crops. This results in the food scarcity for animals living on insects. Thus ruining the food chain.

When the mutant varieties are released in to the habitat, they may multiply with the naturally occurring species, it may lead to eventual wiping out of the original gene pool. Hence the genetic diversity is destroyed. The new organisms come into being which transform the natural habitat.

Human beings are also at a potential risk form the genetic engineering. Cloning is unethical. World would be full of disease free, human beings with all the desirable traits. It would lead to serious scarcity of space since every one would live for long .It would be interference with nature.