The article “Artificial skin could benefit people with medical alert jewellery” was posted on 21st of April in magazine “Ice Gems”. Researchers from the University of Granada in Spain revealed that the skin was developed using tissue engineering and the findings can be applied in future research and help to avoid laboratory testing on animals. Just like this, genetic engineering can make people beneficial on many sides of human’s life. Genetic engineering, based on biological science, engineering and medical science, makes damaged biological tissues recover and improves the function of organs. In 1980s, this kind of study started to win public recognition though, it is not ready to be activated.

          I believe that genetic engineering is promising. An organ transplant in these days has limits in many quarters, but this tissue engineering can be alternative to the organ transplant by reasons of solution for an organ shortage, safety to patients’ body and replacing animal testing.

          First, tissue engineering can resolve a problem of an organ shortage. Currently, there are more than 7,000 serious cases who are waiting donors. They have to wait for at least a year or two. However, tissue engineering extracts cells from the patient and can make the new organ by using extracted cells, so it is much more efficient.

          Second, tissue engineering is safer than existing organ transplant. There are few people who have suitable genes with patients. Tissue engineering can solve the problem, because it uses patient’s own gene. It doesn’t have any rejection to the patient’s body. So it is much easier and safer way than old ways.

          Finally, tissue engineering could replace animal testing. Pharmaceutical, medical, and cosmetic applications need to be tested, so countless animals are sacrificed each year in labs. However, If they develop tissue engineering, they can make some kinds of things which are genetically similar to the biological tissue of the animal. It bleeds and feels just like an animal does. Tissue engineering can solve an animal cruelty which is morally issued in society.

          Some might argue that tissue engineering can violate human dignity and ecological system. Unlimited cloning of organs and germ cause a trend to make light of human life. However, I disagree with it. It is because we should respect the sanctity of patients who lose hope before worrying about abuse of the technology first. I want to ask them who are against tissue engineering as the same reason, “which is more important?” The ethical issue is a serious problem that cannot be ignored, but we can not give up benefits of tissue engineering.

          Also, other objectors might say that genetic engineering is not needed, because existing organ transplant’s survival rate makes no difference with tissue engineering’s survival rate. Still, for organ transplant, donors must be young and their shape of cellular tissue must be fitted well to patients, which means organ transplant has complicated conditions.

          Therefore, I believe that tissue engineering is very important and precious to our future of medical science so we should support genetic engineering.