Can you share some genetic engineering horror stories related to animals?

One genetic engineering horror story is the idea of creating 'designer babies' gone wrong. If genetic engineering is misused to select for extreme traits like super intelligence or extreme physical strength in an unethical way, it could lead to a society divided into the 'genetically elite' and the 'natural' ones. This could cause social unrest and discrimination.

Well, there have been concerns about genetic engineering in medicine going wrong. For instance, in some cases where gene therapies were being tested, patients developed severe immune reactions that were not predicted. It's like the body was fighting against the very thing that was supposed to heal it. And then there are stories of genetic engineering being used for unethical purposes, like creating 'designer babies' with enhanced physical or mental traits at the expense of other important aspects of human nature.

Strict regulations are key. Governments need to ensure that any genetic engineering in medicine is thoroughly tested and approved. For example, in the case of gene therapies, multiple phases of clinical trials should be mandatory.

One success story is the production of insulin through genetic engineering. Scientists inserted the human insulin gene into bacteria. These bacteria then became little factories, producing large amounts of insulin. This made insulin more readily available for diabetics. Before this, insulin was mainly sourced from animals, which had some drawbacks like potential allergic reactions in patients.

A real - life story of genetic engineering is the creation of golden rice. Golden rice is genetically modified to contain beta - carotene, which the body can convert into vitamin A. This is very important for regions where people have a deficiency in vitamin A.

One success story is gene therapy for certain genetic diseases like ADA - SCID (Adenosine Deaminase - Severe Combined Immunodeficiency). By inserting a functional copy of the ADA gene into patients' cells, it has helped some individuals develop a normal immune system. Another is the use of genetic engineering in agriculture to create crops with enhanced nutritional value, such as Golden Rice which has been genetically modified to produce beta - carotene, a precursor to vitamin A.

Sure. 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley is a classic. It presents a world where genetic engineering is used to predetermine the social class of individuals. Another one is 'Jurassic Park' by Michael Crichton. It involves the cloning of dinosaurs through genetic engineering, which leads to all kinds of chaos. And 'Altered Carbon' by Richard K. Morgan also has elements of genetic engineering in its futuristic setting.

Genetic engineering has also been successful in the area of tissue engineering. Scientists have been able to genetically modify cells to grow into specific tissues. For example, they can engineer skin cells to grow into sheets of healthy skin for burn victims. This reduces the need for traditional skin grafts and improves the quality of life for those patients.

Another one is the engineering of bacteria to clean up oil spills. Scientists have modified bacteria so that they can break down hydrocarbons found in oil more efficiently. These engineered bacteria can be used in environmental remediation projects to clean up polluted areas more quickly than natural processes would allow.

One great book is 'Jurassic Park' by Michael Crichton. It's a classic that involves genetic engineering as scientists bring dinosaurs back to life through cloning and genetic manipulation. It's full of adventure and explores the potential consequences of playing with nature's genetic code.