Movie Review Film And Co Produced By Steven Spielberg

The movie I have chosen for my movie review paper is Schindler s List. The film was directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg. The movie is American made but was filmed in Poland. I chose this movie because I am interested in history and World War 2. The setting of the movie takes place primarily in Krakow, Poland during World War 2 (1939-1945). Poland was under German occupation at the time. The setting of the film shows us the Holocaust and the mistreatment of the Jews. This makes it of historical importance in understanding its social stratification value. It became especially emotional for Steven Spielberg because he is also Jewish and his family has direct ties to the Holocaust. The social stratification concepts I chose to select are social differentiation, social inequality, and the stratification systems. Specifically the slave and social class systems. Social Stratification is defined as â€Å"A form of inequality in which categories of people are systematically ranked in a hierarchy on the basis of their access to scare but valued resources.† (Thompson, Hickey 199). Concepts of social stratification revolve around inequality, differential treatment, and unequal access to wealth, power, and prestige. The plot of the movie revolves around these concepts with the differential treatment of the Jews by the Nazi Germans. This is what makes these stratification concepts sociologically important. The plot shows how the Jews were stripped of their wealth, power, andShow MoreRelatedThe Movie I Have Chosen For My Review949 Words   |  4 Pages The movie I have chosen for my review paper is Schindler s List. The film was directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg. Schindler s List is an American made movie although it was filmed in Poland. I chose this movie because I am interested in history and in World War 2. The setting takes place primarily in Krakow, Poland during World War 2 (1939-1945). Poland was under German occupation at the time. The se tting of the film shows us the Holocaust and the mistreatment of the Jews. This makesRead MoreLeonardo Di Caprio2187 Words   |  9 PagesLeonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11, 1974)[1] is an award winning American film actor. He gained worldwide fame for his role as Jack Dawson in Titanic and has starred in many other successful films including Romeo + Juliet, Catch Me If You Can, and Blood Diamond. He has appeared in Martin Scorseses recent films Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and The Departed, causing people to compare this relationship to that from which actor Robert De Niro benefited early in his career.[2] DiCaprio isRead MoreMovie Marketing6914 Words   |  28 PagesCONTENTS Media, messages and styles used by Indian marketing communicators of Films 1. 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Before films were even narrative forms in the sense that they are recognised today, industrial concerns funded the making of what film scholar Tom GunningRead MoreProduct Placement10670 Words   |  43 PagesRecent scholarship in film and media studies has drawn attention to the fact that product placement was a common feature of many of the earliest actualities and cinematic attractions that characterised the first ten years of cinema history [7] [8] [edit] Placement in movies Recognizable brand names appeared in movies from cinemas earliest history. Before films were even narrative forms in the sense that they are recognised today, industrial concerns funded the making of what film scholar Tom GunningRead MoreStatement of Purpose23848 Words   |  96 PagesUniversity Writing Center  © 2011 IV. Arts (Fine Arts, Music, Film, Theatre, and Dance) ............................................................ 38 Music..................................................................................................................................... 38 Music (Acoustic) ................................................................................................................... 39 Film ...............................................................Read MoreTop 1 Cause for Project Failure65023 Words   |  261 PagesManagers. The programme as you can imagine suffered from scope creep or actually scope cuts to meet continuing slipping go-live dates. The Programme PMO has had in 18 months had seven different PMO Managers. There was poor co-operation between the different Programme entities. Nobody seemed to have overall authority and lack of accountability allowed the Programme to severely slip and go over over budget. 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The Hero’s Journey Essay - 1012 Words

The Hero’s Journey Watching a film, one can easily recognize plot, theme, characterization, etc., but not many realize what basic principle lies behind nearly every story conceived: the hero’s journey. This concept allows for a comprehensive, logical flow throughout a movie. Once the hero’s journey is thoroughly understood, anyone can pick out the elements in nearly every piece. The hero’s journey follows a simple outline. First the hero in question must have a disadvantaged childhood. Next the hero will find a mentor who wisely lays out his/her prophecy. Third the hero will go on a journey, either literal or figurative, to find him/herself. On this journey the hero will be discouraged and nearly quit his/her quest. Finally, the†¦show more content†¦He meets fellow inner-city dweller and full time recluse, William Forrester. Forrester is a writer famous for writing one book, a masterpiece, and then falling from the public eye, never to write again. The unlikely p air, mentor each other in this film, Forrester turning Jamal into a well-developed writer, and Jamal helping Forrester break out of his protective bubble and experience life again. Throughout the movie the odd couple each must face tests and tribulations, culminating in a spectacularly moving finale. Although the film does not fall into the epic/action category, the hero’s journey surely can be found. The hero’s journey usually follows a certain rubric with little variation. These films are no exceptions. In â€Å"Star Wars,† Luke Skywalker is without a doubt a disadvantaged youth. His parents have died, and he lives under his aunt and uncle who spurn his attempts to leave the farm and make it on his own. Through a chance meeting, Luke finds himself a mentor, the wise recluse, Ben Kenobi. Kenobi tells Luke of amazing battles throughout the galaxy, sparking his inborn interest in the stars. 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The main characters have different characterizations; however, they all follow the basic structure of the Hero’s journey archetype. There are many similarities and differences between the stagesRead MoreThe Stages of Heros Journey1184 Words   |  5 PagesHeros Journey Introduction Heros journey is the transition that a normal man goes through to become a hero. There is a set pattern of events that take place and thus this journey forms the basic template for all the stories and folktales that have been narrated since the beginning of times. From the very fundamental bed time stories to the traditional and popular tales, heros journey is the path that has been observed to be followed by the narrator of the story. In the book called The Hero withRead MoreJoseph Campbell : The Journey Of The Heros Journey1073 Words   |  5 Pagesan American mythologist, writer, and lecturer, the words â€Å"Hero Journey† are described as â€Å"A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man† (1949). Campbell was the first person to define this words, stating that the hero journey basically is a pattern that is dedicated to popular stories and

An Analytical Report on the Factors Influencing Consumer Behavior in A

Questions: The Consumer Journal Report requires to analyse the internal and external factors influencing the consumer decision making process for a major purchase e.g. a car or a holiday. The analysis MUST be based on reality and within Australian market. The assignment should be in report format. It is important to be analytical and NOT descriptive, demonstrating an understanding of which theories were at play in this purchase situation. Marking Criteria. Description of Internal Influences (Perception, Learning, Motivation, Personality Attitude). Description of External Influences (Group Influence, Culture). Analysis and demonstration of understanding. Answers: Executive summary Buyer behavior is very crucial for the survival of a business, hence the reason why the factor influencing customer purchase of certain goods should be researched on. This report aims to delve into and explore the various influencing factors (both internal and external) that lead up to the making of a virtually big decision by individuals. It tries to bring an analytical perspective into these factors particularly in the Australian setting or rather consumership. These research aims at explaining that not only the financial factor should be consider as the one affecting the consumer behavior but a lot of things too. It further explain how these internal and external factors affect the consumer when purchasing an apartment in Australia. Introduction The concept of consumer behavior is all about the study of individuals and the various cognitive as well as non-cognitive processes that buyers engage themselves into before coming to a decision of buying a certain product or service. The human tendency that makes us edged towards perfectionism and satisfaction in whatever we do has it that keen and well though through decisions are almost necessary whenever we want to buy anything especially is the said product or service costs a considerably high amount of money. Psychologically we are aware that such decisions dont just occur but instead are driven by a number of influences that concurrently run through our minds whenever we want to buy something. This thoughts and pre-eminent conditions are principally responsible for whatever final decision we end up with. The typical process of consumer decision making, or rather what goes into account during the decision making process begins with the need recognition and awareness that as a consumer you need to have a certain product or be rendered a given service. A number of both internal as well as external influences that well analyze later in this report play a role into the arousal of these needs amidst our inner selves. The development of interest comes in as the second step in the process where we actually gain interest into what we want to buy and begin to gather relevant information such as how much it would cost us and even where we would find whatever we are looking for. The next step in the process would take the form of alternative evaluation where we try to evaluate what other options are in our disposal before moving ahead to purchase the desired product or service. The last step in the consumer decision making process I would argue is the reason why most of us take keen interest and put a lot of thinking before making our next purchase. I say this because this is where consumers make their own self evaluation into the decision they just made it is where consumers can gauge their satisfaction into the product or service and subsequently their decisions. The various influences that come to ploy The Australian economy I would beg to argue has led to the rise of the ethical consumer. This can be principally attributed to the fact that the economy hasnt been that friendly to the consumers and every once in a while theyve had to make some tough choices and end up being a bit wary regarding their own financial wellness. A common scenario that I would like to use as a case example that Australian consumers are likely to face every once in a while is that of making the decision on the ownership of their own homes or apartments especially in a vibrant city such as Sydney. Euro monitor (2016) reports that Australian consumers of late have had to deal with escalating house prices which mean that consumers will have to put in more thoughtful effort before coming to a decision. An Australian consumer looking to owning a home during such unfriendly economic times would be influenced by two main forces; the internal influences and the external influences. In these scenario we look at con sumer decision making when purchasing an apartment. The consumer decision when purchasing the apartment is influence by both the internal and the external factors as discussed below. Internal factors A buyers personality trait is one of the internal influences that predetermine the individuals drive towards taking interest on a particular product in this case an apartment. It is the thoughts, emotions, intentions and behavior that we express as we move through our environment (marketingteacher.com .2016). If the individuals personality feeds into the need to buy a home then it is likely that he or she will make up his or her mind about buying and try to counter anything that tends to oppose what is aligned with their personality. The consistency theory of decision making argues that people (in this case our house buyer) seek comfort from their internal alignment and the internal alignment it is referring to is the alignment to our internal personalities (our thoughts, emotions and intentions about something we want) and therefore it has a big of an influence when it comes to consumer decision making. Perception is yet another internal factor influencing how decisions turn out. In the case of our house buyer in Sydney, it is hard to see how he/she can end up with the decision of buying the apartment yet they never had a positive perception towards the idea in the first place.it is all about noticing something and assigning meaning to it and the side of the scale (be it positive or negative) that it falls under determines whether it can be given any attention in the mind of an individual. It would therefore seem that this factor and the theory of explanatory coherence can be tied together based on the fact that they both relate what we want to a simple explainable hypothesis like a simple positive perception towards something. Day to day interactions with other people creates a tendency of adopting new ideas and norms or mentalities from those whom we interact with and it ends up being a learning process that affects how we perceive things and generally molds our decision making processes. In the case of the home buyer, if he/she through the various interactions with friends gradually learnt that it is a basic necessity and a must have to own an apartment or a house in Sydney then its probably apparent that the individual will go for the house. I would argue that this is determined to a large extend by popular opinion among those we interact with and would therefore make it appropriate if I tied it with the involvement theory of decision making which posits that interactions leads to generation of norms. When an individual is making a decision to buy a house in Sydney, personal motivation plays a very critical role in ensuring the fate of the final decision. It is motivation that acts as the energizing force that drives behavior and attitude. Maslows hierarchy of needs posits that for whatever we consider a need, there are positives gained and at the same time negatives reduced. This therefore means that the urge to fulfill or achieve something we think of as a need will act as a motivator that most of all drives us towards an aligned decision. Since housing is considered as one of the basic human needs, it would be substantial to note that an individual intending to buy a house in Sydney is likely to be motivated by the sheer fact that this is a basic need and therefore a must have. As the last of the internal influences, attitude of an individual towards may seem like an external influence but in real sense it is all about an internal evaluation simply expressed outwardly about an idea at hand. Attitude sort of pre-determines the fate of a decision to a large extent because it doesnt only affect how we make decisions but also the interactions with whom we make especially for our case of a house buyer in Sydney. We cant expect that he/she will see the idea through with a negative attitude towards the idea of buying a house in Sydney. A theory that is in action in this particular instance is the consistency theory of decision making because in essence someone with a negative attitude towards the idea tends to block it out completely even though it would be seen by others as a brilliant move. External influences Group influence follows a normative approach of interactions among and within groups. It is through these group interactions that group norms and values are created and gradually gather prominence among the members. The social influence theory of is one of the key theories that come to mind in this context with respect to the case of an individual opting to buy a house in Sydney since the theory revolves around group think and influence. This therefore insinuates that a decision is likely to be hugely affected by group influence. Cultures posses distinct norms and core values that are highly held by respective individuals and therefore in some way or another they depict the kinds of decisions we make. For instance a Muslim would easily opt for beef meat rather than pork because of his/her culture. The theory of commitment argues that people feel obliged to fall in place to their cultural norms or to the majority norms and therefore an individual traditionally raised in the outback would most likely make the decision to forgo the idea of buying a house in Sydney for his/her conventional outback. Conclusion Generally, consumer behavior is influenced by a lot of factors when purchasing an apartment or any other significantly expensive item.Its good for a producer to be aware of such influence so that they can produce goods that attracts their customers. From the above discussion financial factors are not the only things that influence the decision making when purchasing an apartment. The family too plays a big role when, buying an apartment since they have to decide the location and the size. Different commodities are influenced by different factors when a customer wants to purchase them. So the business should find out what factors are likely to influence a commodity to be purchased, since these factors are not the same for all the products. References Anon, (2016). Consumer Decision Making. Changingminds.org. (2016). 2016]. Euromonitor.com. (2016). Consumer Lifestyles in Australia. Friesner, V. (2014). Internal Influences - Emotion and Perception - Marketing Teacher. Friesner, V. (2014). Friesner, V. (2014). Internal Influences - Lifestyle and Attitude - Marketing Teacher. Friesner, V. (2014). Internal Influences - Motivation - Marketing Teacher. Friesner, V. (2014). Internal Influences - Personality - Marketing Teacher. Oregonstate.edu. (2016). Social Influence Theories.

Evaluation of the Companys Current Marketing Strategy Essay Example

Evaluation of the Companys Current Marketing Strategy Essay Cable TV segments their market by customers interest and need. They provide wide variety of TV plans to customers according to their interests. In short, Cable TV adopts the psychographic segmentation which divides buyers into different groups based on social class, lifestyle or personality characteristics. Variety of TV programs to suit different lifestyle and personality. For example, financial channel broadcasts up-to-date financial news is of investor typical interest. National Geographic and Discovery channels provide natural and geographic news to target on audience who like to acquire knowledge by watching TV. And most people watching Cable TV are on the purpose of entertainment only. So this is the largest and biggest segment. Also, Cable TV divides buyers into active buyer and passive buyer. It segments the market by imposing different price strategy in these two groups. For example, the price is cheaper if the sales are conducted by road show or outbound calls which they are segmented as passive buyers. In contrast, active buyers have to bear the basic price which is slightly higher then special price if it the customers directly contact Cable TV to apply for pay TV service. Targeting Cable TV mainly targets on the customers who are interested in the news, movies and sports. Nowadays, as there are an increasing number of customer demands for the informative programs, and a large number of male customers would acquire cable TV because of the broadcasting of live-sport programs while female customers would like to acquire it due to the 24 hours non-stop broadcasting of more up-dated movies and all these explain why cable would have such targeting. Product Positioning Cable TV positions its service as Pay TV equals to Cable TV. When people think of pay TV service, they would immediately think of Cable TV. To broadcast largest number of TV programs, it maintains as an industry leader in Hong Kong. Moreover, Cable TV positions its service as the best home entertainment to encourage more families to subscribe Cable TV. Marketing Mix Product The main advantage of Cable TV is provide consumer friendly service. It provides 67 24-hours non-stop broadcasting and less advertisement shown. Various channels are provided to suit different needs of users. The channels can be divided into several categories and basic and premium channels. We will write a custom essay sample on Evaluation of the Companys Current Marketing Strategy specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Evaluation of the Companys Current Marketing Strategy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Evaluation of the Companys Current Marketing Strategy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer (Exhibit 2)The main categories are sports, news and movies. Other fields include entertainment program, documentary, adventure program, adult program, and composite program for different countries. The variety programs can initiate people to acquire Cable TV service. Cable TV offers different plans for users. They are Cable TV Basic Package, Super Family Pack, Super Movie Pack, Super News Pack, We-Wet Entertainment Pack, Discovery Mega Pack, International Pack, Zee Pack and CAT6 pack. (Exhibit 3)However, these plans are not flexible and consumers cannot their favorite programs only. News channels are popular and can retain many current users due to its continuous updating and broadcasting. These news channels provide latest news and financial information in many countries. The updated information provided is extremely useful in nowadays world because of the increasing importance of service and information industry. Movies channels broadcast local and international movies. These movies are comparability new and they can satisfy many people who like watching movie. Cable TV wants to target on people who are interested in sports. It has many sports channels showing different sports events all over the world. The most attractive part of the sports channels is live and exclusive football matches of the four biggest soccer leagues in the world to satisfy users interests. Besides these three aspects, Cable TV notices people tend to know more about other countries, it introduces many international channels in recent years. There are 2 types of converters, analogue and digital converters. The rental fee is for both is the same but some of the channels can only be watched with the use of the digital converter. The variety of channels can satisfy consumer but the inefficient hotline dissatisfies consumers as it is very difficult to have direct connection to the customer service representative. Price Cable-TV offers a special monthly price for users if they prepaid one-year fee. And it offers discount to the Basic Package users to acquire other packages and premium channels. Larger discount is offered for first time users to attract them to try. For example, new users only pay $198 instead of $298 for the Basic Package in the first year of service. For different packages, they are with different prices. (Exhibit 3)However, the price of the packages is too high and this will discourage lower income group to install Cable TV. Besides the package fee, new customers need to pay rental fee of $30 for the converter. Customers can pay extra to watch the premium channels. If customers want to have one more Cable TV in their home, they need to pay extra fee for this additional outlet. The amounts of charges paid depend on the package used by customers. They need to pay extra half of the original price if they are using Basic Pack, Zee Pack, International Pack and all premium channels. They need to pay double if they use other packages. If customers want to terminate the service, Cable TV will offer a discount to attract them not to do so. This is useful as many consumers are concern with price. Promotion Booths Cable TV sets up a lot of temporary booths on new residential area to attract new customers. Very often, plans promoted from the booths are with a promotional discount, as an attraction. Owing to the large promotion coverage of the booths in Hong Kong, this promotion channel could impress consumer most. Unlike promotions on media, booths could actively reach consumers and wont be bound by media constraints. The performance of booths is fair. Although some consumers are attracted to the promotion or discount provided by these booths and initiate them to acquire Cable TV, some consumers have negative feelings toward them. Sometimes consumer may think that salesperson is annoying, as there are too much salespersons approach them in a short distance. Some say that the salespersons are immoral, they boost sales by providing untrue information induce consumer to purchase which in turn avoid consumers from renewing the contract. Door to door Promotion It is an active promotion launched occasionally in residential area, especially before big events like World Cup and Olympics. Each successful visit last around 15 to 30 minutes. It allows salesperson to have a better communication and contact with consumers, enable them to understand consumer better and take appropriate promotion words. It also enables cable TV to target those families who are not using cable TV according to the customer record. This is more cost and time effective, as only people who are interested would let salesperson to have a further conversation with them. Door to door promotion also allows information approach and stimulates consumers need at the right time. Before World Cup and Olympic, many consumers have the short-term need of getting cable TV. In addition, in home, consumer would have a better sense of security and would be more open and comfortable which constitutes a good environment for them to listen and talk to the salespersons. However, the coverage of this method is rather small, and the time cost is very high. Advertisement on Media Advertisement on media is a passive promotion. Consumers could select what they want to pay attention to and what they want to avoid. Several creative TV ads could successfully impress consumers. One interviewee could memorize the TV ads with a man singing Free Super Offer which is one year ago. Distribution Channel The distribute procedure is the consumer register first. Then salespersons will help consumer to call for installation and delivery of necessary devices. There are four ways of acquiring the service: Phone More than half of the interviewees acquire Cable TV actively by phone. Consumers reflect that the procedure is generally smooth, except they could not be directed to customer service officer when they make the call. Online download of form In Cable TV website, application form is in PDF form. Consumers could only print out the form and sent or fax back to Cable TV. This is not a user-friendly channel. Booths Except promotion, booths on street are also act as a distribution channel. As mentioned in the promotion, quality and quantity of booths should be controlled and adjusted. Door-to-door promotion Like booths on street, if the salesperson could successfully initiate consumer to acquire service through visiting their homes, they distribute the product. Recommendations Immediate actions: To increase its market shares in the industry, some strategies are applied in order to attract potential customers. Potential customers: Online Application This kind of application is very convenient and easy for the customers to use which would increase the sale by attracting more customers to apply for the services. In addition, the cost of this kind of distribution channel is also very low. But the problem is that, some strategies should be used to motivate the customers to apply Cable TV online. Promotions which can initiate consumption decision According to the survey, most of the users consider the variety of programs offered and price are the most important factors for their buying decision. As a result, it can stress on these aspects when launching promotions. Moreover, special discount period should be provided to an extent that above Just Noticeable Difference so that potential customers intention to acquire Cable TV will be increased. However, providing discounts will lead to decrease in profits and so it cannot be used as long-term strategies. Upgrade to digital converter This can help Cable TV prevent unauthorized user to free ride the pay TV service. There are some unlicensed TV converters that enable to watch Cable TV illegally. It is because the use of unlicensed TV converter will decrease current user or decrease customer intention to acquire Cable TV service. Current customers It is far more easy and profitable to retain current customers than attracting new customers. As a result, achieving customer satisfaction is very important. To achieve this, react to customer needs and so following recommendations are advised. Improve customer service As the majority of the customers dissatisfy with the customer service according to the findings. It is suggested that the number of staffs answering for phones should be increased and more training should be provided to staff to fasten the serving time and be consumer friendly. Introduce paid local film channel The findings show that the local movie channels are criticized as out-dated and repeated too frequently. However, providing latest film is costly, so it is suggested to introduce paid channel to satisfy consumer need and balance the costs. However, it has the direct competitors such as cinemas, which can give the audience better atmosphere. In addition, VCD is also anther competitor and it is very cheap and the latest films are also available. Yet, by introducing local film channel, it has the competitive advantages of convenience as the audience can just stay at home and enjoy the movie. The time and cost of searching information of customers reduces. Change to digital converter Analogue converters cannot watch some of the programs in basic plan nowadays which will dissatisfy current customers. Nevertheless, changing all converters is quite expensive and not all the users are willing to pay for the charge. Quantity of advertisements From the survey, most of the users thought that one of the advantages of Cable TV less advertisements. However, the amount of advertisements about Cable TV is increasing within the channels. It should pay attention to the quantity of advertisements to retain the customers. Launch female-favored channel Cable TV should launch a new channel targeting on the female. Programs that suit female include local shopping discount guidelines, or beauty news should be broadcasted. Long term Directions: In long run, Cable TV should improve its overall service include: Provide video-on-demand (VOD) service Video-on-demand service is a system based service that audiences can select watching any programs in any time. The new service can allow customers to enjoy a variety of programs on the interactive platform by offering more interactive application channels. The advantage of this service is that it can eliminate the restriction on the time schedule of different programs, thus it can satisfy audience instant gratification of specific TV program and they need not to wait for any time slot. In Hong Kong, people have an instant- need noodle culture which means that they demand instant food fulfillment with minimum cooking time. As the rhythm of their lifestyle is very fast, they are impatient to wait for a TV program on schedule. The disadvantage of this action is that it requires a higher cost to develop and apply this technology and Cable TV also need the technical support by other countries such as Japan and US. Channel based selection plan Consumers can acquire particular channels instead of paying a lump sum fee for a basic plan which included many channels. Base on the research, as many current basic plan users only watch a few channels and hence they would like to complain for pay the lump-sum fee. If Cable TV charges their price by the number of channels watched, people from lower income group would also apply for pay TV service due to the lower fee charged. As there are more combinations of customer to choose, Cable TV consumption plan become more flexible and consequently their market share in the pay TV service would be enlarged. However, as Cable TV provide many channels with different TV programs; consumer may not have a better understand of the nature content of that channel. So it requires more promotion effort to introduce to customer. For example, they can adopt a trail one time policy to let the potential consumer to try Cable TV service. Develop High Definition TV (HDTV) High Definition TV (HDTV) provides high quality TV picture. Now, the picture of Cable TV is restricted to 480I resolution. They can increase to 1080I resolution which is just the standard of TV resolution in Japan. Include more exclusive programs Cable TV should buy more patent from foreign TV channels and productions. To remain their high competitiveness and uniqueness, they need to provide more exclusive channels and productions which can not be broadcasted by their other direct competitors. Conclusion Cable TV, having the largest market share of pay TV service in Hong Kong, is facing increasingly keen competition since the introduction of Now Broadband TV. The main competitors changed from free TV service in the past to the broadband and other pay-TV services now. By our in-depth interview and literature review, pay TV users has an interesting characteristics and behaviours which enable us to base on the findings to suggest recommendations to help Cable TV fight against other pay TV service companies. Many competitors build up their marketing strategies from the aspects that Cable TV underperformed. Therefore, Cable TV has to revise its current marketing strategies and implements short term and long term actions that are recommended in order to maintain the market share and to the industry leader.

Position Paper of Morocco to Frozen Conflicts free essay sample

Nowadays, there are hundreds of conflicts which are in a frozen state all around the world. Most of these conflicts based on ethnic separatism which greatly complicates the task of solving them, headed by the whole nationality. The former Soviet Union alone has 4 frozen conflicts. Some political analysts believe, that the armed conflicts in the region of the Black Sea and South Caucasus emerged due to the disintegration of the Soviet Union, as well as not fully thought out the division of the lands between the new states. As evidenced of it the presence there is not one or just two conflicts in the former Soviet Union, but as many as 4. The modern worlds attention is focused on the open conflicts and military showdowns, but we should not forget about the frozen conflicts, which are fraught with the danger of instantly break the frozen state and move into a phase blitzkrieg side. We will write a custom essay sample on Position Paper of Morocco to Frozen Conflicts or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Frozen conflicts of the Black Sea and South Caucasus affect countries such as South Ossetia, North Ossetia, Ingushetia and Georgia. Another centre of the conflict is a clash of interests of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is geographically located in Azerbaijan, but the majority of its population are Armenians. But we shouldn`t talk about the lack of attention of the world community and political institutions to the frozen conflicts in these regions. Since one of the main functions of the UN Security Council is the maintenance and preservation of the peace, of course the UN has made and is making peacekeeping measures in the past. UN adopted 4 resolutions to stop illegal occupation of the territory of Azerbaijan: April 30, 1993 Adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 822, which requires an immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces from Kelbajar district and other recently occupied areas of Azerbaijan. July 29, 1993 Adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 853, which requires the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the occupying forces from the district of Agdam and all other recently occupied areas of the Republic of Azerbaijan. October 14, 1993 UN Security Council passed Resolution 874, calling on the parties to refrain from any hostile acts and from any interference or intervention which would lead to escalation of the conflict and undermine peace and security in the region. November 11, 1993 UN Security Council adopted Resolution 884, which requires an immediate cessation of hostilities and hostile acts, unilateral withdrawal of occupying forces from the Zangelan district and the city Horadiz and withdrawal of occupying forces from other recently occupied areas of the Republic of Azerbaijan. June 12, 1995 the EU Council adopted a project of common position on the Caucasus. In this document, among other things, noted that the Union should help Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan to overcome the difficult period of transition to democracy, based on a market economy. Thus, we have no rights to say that the European Union and the world community did not take part in the settlement of the conflicts peacefully. However, putting on hold military action, but without reaching consensus in resolving disputes or frozen conflicts, not only inhibits geopolitical development of the participating countries, but also serves as a prerequisite for the destabilization of the entire system of international relations. Our country is not an exception and we also have a hidden conflict over Western Sahara, which, due to its geographical position traditionally is a disputed territory, the possession of which at one time claimed Spain and France. Our country is embroiled in armed conflict in 1957 58 with Spain, the rise of nationalism also contributed to the tense situation in the region among the people of Western Sahara, and consequently, the formation of the Popular Front (POLISARIO) in May 1973, which launched an armed struggle against the Spaniards. As a result, in 1975, were entered into the Madrid Agreement and the Western Sahara territory was divided between our country and Mauritania. But POLISARIO immediately declared the independence of the Arab Democratic Republic and supported by Algeria began fighting against our country and Mauritania. However, the neighbouring countries have given up their rights to part of the territory of Western Sahara, allowing us as a more economically and militarily powerful country to continue to fight for the right to possess the territory. Interest in the territory of Western Sahara is due not only to national-ethnic factor, but also a lot of subsoil resources are located in the area. On September 6, 1991, UN a truce was arranged, but so far the conflict finally settled as a referendum on independence has not been conducted. Search for solution to the frozen conflict is of interest to our country in view of the growing possibility of a conflict with Spain, whose city enclaves in the territory of our country. But the number of the Moroccan population in these cities is gradually increasing over the Spanish. This situation can be a starting point for separatist thoughts. So we need to develop a general model without resolving the frozen conflicts on the basis of precedent, at least learn how to prevent and deal with them at the local, sub-national level.

media sex essays

media sex essays Sex and Manipulation by the Media Most people know that sex appeal is used on us every day, but few realize that they are also being manipulated through certain words and writing techniques. The number one method of selling many consumer goods is the use of sex appeal in advertisement. Of all the methods used in advertising, sex appeal catches the attention best, because it is our second strongest drive, next to our drive for survival. It is used to sell countless items such as cars, make up, clothes, cologne and alcohol. It is used everywhere, on billboards, in magazines, and on television. It was not difficult to find several examples of when and how it is used to persuade us to buy that certain product. Laws have been made to protect consumers from the lies that advertisers would feed to us, but advertisers are always finding a way around them. No advertisements are useful if they fail to catch our attention. Sex appeal is very versatile; it can be used to sell nearly every product. Charles A. O'Neill states, "The desire to be sexually attractive to others is an ancient instinct, and few drives are more powerful"(163). One ad for Hanes†° pantyhose has only the picture of a woman wearing nothing at all, or so it seems at first glance. It seems strange that the advertisers would put a nearly nude woman in the ad when they are trying to attract the attention of females not men who would most likely notice it. Women and men will see the ad and once you found out that it advertising pantyhose, you'd continue flipping but not before you sa...

Critical theory, philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Critical theory, philosophy - Essay Example that part of a person’s imagination which is justified through the knowledge he or she garners via various life experiences like reading, interaction as well as seeing and hearing. This understanding is a part of one’s overall perspective and subsequent take on life. Therefore, this book is an important one as human understanding is deeply connected with the written word and the way it has been written. If those words, whether in a philosophical text or otherwise, manage to justify an individual’s personal truth, or appeal to his or her sense of balance in life, then it contributes to his or her understanding. In this way, the choice of Locke’s text is an important one for this paper. Locke’s text starts with a study of innate notions. This portion of the book is a study of the elements that lead to speculation and a subsequent formation of perspective. Throughout this part, Locke has managed to hook the reader on to the idea that speculation is an element that must be used in very discreet doses as more of it can damage the practical side of things in one’s mind. (Locke, 2007) As a philosophical notion, this is an ideal that is true to writing. In writing, it is imperative to stick to a certain balance between factual information and a small amount of speculation. This holds on to people’s imagination and memories. Therefore, in this part of the book, Locke has merely described a style of writing. Further into the book, one will find ideals that are connected with principles in the mind. The mind is an organ that churns out thoughts and expressions of the same. These expressions are a part of the basic mental setup of the person concerned. While every individual does not need to be a writer, it has been said often that there is a book in everybody. This is largely an overthrow of the fact that literary skills have been highly respected in many people. It is a desirable quality. This quality, in turn, springs from an ability to form a successful

Advantages of the constitutional system of the United States Essay

Advantages of the constitutional system of the United States - Essay Example Such anomaly in law can be answered only when there is a practical guide who helps identify the basis of all laws formulated. Being a developed country, there is bound to be a shift in government from time to time. In contrast to a monarchy, it ensures that there is change in the ruling government after every fixed period. However, each government has its own notions and ways of working. Therefore, whenever there is a shift in government, the policies which it follows is bound to change and as such new legislation is introduced time and again. This poses a great threat to the American population, because the â€Å"greatest good for the greatest number† theory is bound to hurt somebody’s rights and interests. To jeopardize even a single person’s rights is to question a whole systematized form of governance. To check this illegal infringement, the constitution in its written form is a policing authority which safeguards the extent of change that can be brought about. Whatever is a written word is not easily erased off the face of an independent nation’s bill of rights. To be written is to be laid and accepted. To alter any such stance any individual or body will need to follow due procedure followed by law. This entails a lot of questions and answers about the new alterations, making the entire procedure tedious and hectic and thus affording no scope for unnecessary intrusion. Being a world power, the US will in all probability have one form of tiff with one country or another from time to time. The written constitution helps define the extent of the rights recognized by such state and limits of both national as well as state authority. The constitution holds the authority and declares the United States as a republic, free from all encumbrances of any sort. This means that it gives to its people a free form of government where citizens are free to elect as well

Case Study Analysis Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Analysis Paper - Case Study Example The fact is that the summer is approaching and Arthur does not have a reliable pool of workers (replacement or otherwise) to run his business during this period. He is likely to face a high turnover and incur heavy losses because of a lack of workers to keep his business operational. His losses are likely to stem from spending more than he is earning – the replacement workers are actually more expensive than his normal permanent employees. Arthur’s turnover is too high to keep his business running during the summer. Since summer vacations are quite long, the losses incurred must be incredibly high during this period. An interesting fact is that turnover is higher in replacement employees than permanent workers who normally work for the company. Since his fulltime workers always return at the end of the summer or when they recover from their various illnesses, Arthur cannot afford spending a lot of money on temporary workers who are not always available and are too expensive to keep on the payroll. The solution to this problem is to do away with temporary workers permanently (Uhl, 2013). The solution is to develop a schedule whereby there are two pools of workers: permanent and fulltime. However, the replacement workers are only hired during the summer and paid decent wages to keep them on the job. Arthur’s method of looking for new workers every summer is flawed and will only lead to losses in productivi ty and revenue. He should always have replacement workers on standby. Ideally, they should be working in all the other seasons except summer, when they replace all the permanent workers. So, regardless of whether a permanent worker is sick or on vacation, there is a steady pool of replacement employees ready to take their place (Bridger, 2014). Arthur should change the summer vacation to a permanent off season for permanent workers. As soon as summer reaches all the permanent workers are given leaves and they only return

Incentives in Human Subject Research

Incentives in Human Subject Research Reka Zsilinszka The use of incentives permeates throughout all aspects of medicine; from bonuses for holiday or overnight shifts, to loan forgiveness programs for physicians practicing in underserved areas, incentives serve an important role in promoting patient care. In the vast majority of situations, the use of incentives in medicine is an unproblematic and elegant solution to issues with staffing or access to care. However, when employed in human subjects research (HSR), the use of incentives is often uncharted territory[REM1]. There are limited formal guidelines that delineate the correct application of incentives and compensation in research, and the issue remains largely unresolved. Thus, the ethics [REM2]of compensation often boils down to the specific type of patient population under study. In this paper, I will discuss the differences between vulnerable and non-vulnerable patient populations, and expound on the use of incentives in each of these populations in the context of modern medical ethical codes. Definitions As stated previously, the use of incentives in most aspects of medicine is rarely considered unethical. It is only when incentives – monetary or otherwise – are used as undue [REM3]influence in order to promote participation in a study that the use of incentives can cross an ethical boundary. Oxford English Dictionary defines undue influence as â€Å"influence by which a person is induced to act otherwise than by their own free will or without adequate attention to the consequences.†[1] Therefore, one of the most important concepts in a discussion about the ethics of incentives in human subjects research is that of a vulnerable subject, because it is this population of patients that is most sensitive to the â€Å"undue influence† of incentives. We learned in Dr. Looney’s lecture â€Å"Research with Vulnerable Subjects† that there are several categories that define this population. In general, a vulnerable subject would be anyone that has limi tations on either their mental capacity or their voluntariness to participate in research; it is this latter definition that is most sensitive to undue influence. Thus, some examples of vulnerable subjects include people in emergency situations, children/infants/embryo, the mentally ill, people of a low socioeconomic or educational status, people with terminal illness, and people in hierarchical organizations where there are power differentials. While this list is by no means exhaustive, it gives an important sampling of patients that are often recruited by researchers, and who might be especially susceptible to undue influence by means of compensation in order to participate in a study[REM4]. Ethical Codes In order to properly discuss the ethics of incentives in HSR, it is imperative to also determine a set of ethical codes by which the issue of incentives can be judged. One of the most well known frameworks for medical ethics was the Belmont Report, drafted in 1979.[2] While there exist many other criteria for ethical research, such as the 7 Requirements posed by Emanuel et al[3], the Belmont Report is still considered to be one of the most widely known and widely cited works of ethical research involving human subjects. In the Report, there are three key ethical principles pertaining to human research: those of beneficence, respect for persons, and justice. Briefly, beneficence is the ethical duty to provide some sort of benefit to research subjects; in other words, this concept implies that the research in question minimizes risks and maximizes potential benefits to participants. Next, respect for persons is closely related to the principle of autonomy, and implies the right of the subject to be left alone[REM5]. Thus, the principle of ‘respect for persons’ is crucial when considering the voluntariness of an individual to consent to or refrain from participating in a study. Lastly, the principle of justice refers to the right of the individual and populations to be selected fairly for research, allowing all populations equal access to the benefits of research as well as ensuring that vulnerable populations are not being unfairly targeted. In presenting arguments about the ethics of human subjects research, we will therefore use the 3 main ethical principles of the Belmont Report to examine incentives for both vulnerable and non-vulnerable populations. Incentives in Non-Vulnerable Populations With respect to incentives in a hypothetical non-vulnerable population, we will examine whether there are any conflicts with the aforementioned ethical codes. Of course, the definition of a non-vulnerable population is a subjective one, as most human interactions have some level of a power differential between the participants; thus there are very few situations in research where a subject is completely non-vulnerable and not subject to some form of a power dichotomy[REM6] When considering the principle of beneficience, there is little violation of this code with regards to incentives in human subjects research, if the research has been deemed to have a reasonable risk: benefit ratio. With a non-vulnerable and competent consenting subject participating in research that has been IRB-approved and appropriate, there is no real ethical quandary between incentives and beneficience[REM7]. Next, we consider respect for persons, or autonomy. In a population where power-differentials have been minimized, the patients should have no effect on their free will to choose whether or not to participate in a study[REM8]. Thus, a fair and appropriate incentive would not make them go against their own best judgment to participate in the study, since this latter point would be considered a form of coercion or undue influence. For example, I propose this hypothetical situation: if there were a study that required a number of blood draws and the incentives in this case were monetary, then targeting a population that is financially stable would likely not significantly affect their autonomy; they should be able to weigh the risk and benefits and decide to participate based purely on their own best judgment. However, this situation might be very different when primarily targeting a low income population, where the subjects might have major qualms about needles or getting their blood d rawn, but would feel forced[REM9] to agree to participate due to their need for financial resources. Finally, we consider the juxtaposition of the ethical principle of justice and incentives in non-vulnerable populations. Once again, as with the beneficience, there are really no ethical quandaries in this situation, as there should be fair and equal subject selection with no large variations in access too research. It is only when dealing with vulnerable or â€Å"difficult to reach† populations (i.e., underserved minorities, prisoners, children, people of low socioeconomic status) that there might be issues with the concepts of justice and compensation. Thus, it is clear that when considering non-vulnerable populations, there are no real issues with using incentives to promote participation in approved human subjects research[REM10]. The real ethical quandaries arise when there are major differences in power, status, or ability to make autonomous decisions. Incentives in Vulnerable Populations We will now revisit our familiar ethical codes and discuss them in a different light, focusing on vulnerable populations and using specific historical examples when applicable. In the case of beneficience, it is mostly the job of the research team and governing boards to minimize risk and maximize benefit; thus the use of incentives does not really enter into play here. The only situation in which incentives might alter the researcher’s concept of beneficience, is if, for example, there was a study with a high risk and variable benefit, but the compensation was also comparably large; in this situation, the research team could therefore argue that it is up to the participants to decide the level of risk they are willing to take in exchange for a gain[REM11]. Respect for persons goes hand in hand with autonomy and voluntariness, and it is possibly the most difficult ethical principle to reconcile with incentives in vulnerable populations. In class, there are a few scenarios where incentives to vulnerable populations have resulted in abuse of certain research participants. For example, there was the instance of the US Public Health Service Guatemala STD study, where prisoners (a vulnerable population) were incentivized with prostitutes to participate in a study assessing syphilis and gonorrhea transmission; while this study also had major problems with the informed consent process, it also brings to light the issue that in certain populations such as prisoners, almost all incentives (sexual favors, better rooms, etc) can be considered undue influence because of the significant power between[REM12] the incarcerated participants and researchers. There is another famous example of the Willowbrook School, where parents were encouraged to enrol l their mentally retarded children into a hepatitis research project in exchange for admission into a highly competitive residential facility for the children. In this case, the vulnerable populations were both the children who were often too young and mentally incompetent to make autonomous decisions, and the desperate parents who were subject to the undue influence of admission to the facility to make a decision that might have gone against their better judgment. On the other hand, it is important to remember that, for some research participants, the various incentives gained from research are an invaluable source of income and other benefits. A fellow third year medical student is currently conducting HIV- research in the Dominican Republic, and her population of interest is sex workers; for these workers, the only way to incentivize them to participate in this research is to reimburse them for their time, and it is also an opportunity to provide valuable antiretroviral medication and education[REM13]. Additionally, there is a lot of important medical and epidemiological knowledge to be gained from HSR, which often justifies the use of incentives to boost enrollment in studies, even in vulnerable populations. Thus, in these various situations, it is crucial for the researcher to respect and understand the values and beliefs of the populations they are enrolling and studying. The research team must be sensitive and aware that some incentives may be simply too good to refuse for certain vulnerable populations, and that these people might be acting against their better judgment to participate in research. This sensitivity may require the team to abstain from offering lucrative and tempting offers to vulnerable participants in high-risk and low-reward research settings, even though the enrollment potential of the study may be therefore limited[REM14]. The last principle left to discuss in the context of vulnerable populations is that of justice, especially in the context of fairness in the subject selection. In this case, the populations that are most likely to be affected are either the poor sector, or ethnic minorities. This is due to the fact that people of a low socioeconomic status are sometimes more likely to be targeted and exploited for research participations, due to a potentially lower cost of incentives for certain studies. The converse can also be true when testing out advanced medical innovations where people who are of a lower socioeconomic status or have less access to medical care might not initially be recruited to the benefits of such a study. Another interesting issue that has arisen due to the US history of mistreatment of certain minorities (most notably African-Americans in the Tuskegee syphilis experiments) is that there is a certain level of mistrust among minority populations towards human subjects researc h.[4] However, in order to adhere to the principle of justice, there must be fairness in subject selections as well as equal access to the benefits of research. Due to misdeeds of the past, these seeds of mistrust can prevent certain groups from participating in research, and one of the easier solutions is to offer greater compensation in order to elicit participation. This practice is not fair, since some subjects are receiving greater compensation in order to convince them to participate in studies, and this can blur the ethical lines of both respect for persons as well as justice. This is a yet unresolved issue; on the one hand, we need subjects of different races and ethnicities to participate, but it is not fair to compensate certain subjects differently as compared to others. The greater issue here is to heal the rift and historical mistrust that has developed over years of mistreatment of certain populations, and to treat all participants with maximal respect when enrolling f or studies[REM15]. In conclusion, there are no easy answers when it comes to determining the ethics of incentives. The most important point to consider is that each individual has different sets of values, beliefs, and backgrounds, and it is up to the research team to be diligent about informed consent, autonomy, and education. If researchers are sensitive to the financial, socioeconomic, and various hierarchical power differentials that they may encounter in the process of enrolling patients in studies, then there can be a more open and honest discussion with the participants about the risks and benefits of participating in research, even when there are incentives offered. In this way, we can make sure that our patients are not being coerced into participating in HSR, but are able to contribute to society in a meaningful way that does not conflict with their inner ideals[REM16]. [1] Concise Oxford English Dictionary.Concise Oxford English Dictionary. Ed. Angus Stevenson and Maurice Vaite. N.p.: Oxford UP, 2011. 1575.Google Books. Web. 16 Apr. 2015. [2] The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research.The Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research. Rep. N.p.: n.p., 1979.US Department of Health and Human Services. Web. 17 Apr. 2015 [3] Emanuel, E. J., D. Wendler, and C. Grady. What Makes Clinical Research Ethical?JAMA283.20 (2000): 2701-711.JAMA Network. Web. 17 Apr. 2015. [4] Grant, R. W., and J. Sugarman. Ethics in Human Subjects Research: Do Incentives Matter?Journal of Medicine and Philosophy26.9 (2004): 717-38. Web. [REM1]I’m not sure it’s uncharted. There’s been lots of discussion, but there isn’t a clear consensus. So perhaps â€Å"uncertain territory† fits better. [REM2]It’s fussy, but it’s not the ethics (those are more constant), but rather the issues related to compensation that often boil down to the patient population. [REM3]Critical – what makes it â€Å"undue† – let’s see†¦ [REM4]I hope you pick up that in many cases the influencing factors in cases of vulnerable subjects are meant to induce the signatory agent, who may not be the research subject. Separate influencing the subject and influencing the decision maker. [REM5]Much more than that – it’s the right of the individual to control their own life, to make the decisions that matter to how their life will proceed. [REM6]Maybe â€Å"hierarchy† would be better. â€Å"Dichotomy† implies a binary split – it’s correct, but less flexible. [REM7]This notion seems abstractly reasonable, but might there be some dispute as what represents the best interest of the patient/subject? Does trying to sway someone from one beneficial study to another constitute influencing, perhaps undue? [REM8]I think you could state this more clearly. [REM9]Forced? Or desirous of participating in order to achieve the financial gains? [REM10]Hmm – how would you feel if I offered you $15,000 to participate in research? I don’t consider you vulnerable, but would this make you willing to accept risks that you otherwise might not? [REM11]A classic is bribing parents to â€Å"buy† child research subjects. Diapers work well†¦. The worry is that even with beneficent research, there may be choices, and the vulnerable subject may not be able to navigate the choices well. Beneficence in-and-of-itself is not sufficient to decrease the worry related to undue influence. [REM12]Power differential between [REM13]That’s a great case! You can see the potential of the incentives for good but for those who think the decision to participate in research should be independent of anything other than the intrinsic value of the research, it’s undue inducement (a point with which I do not agree) [REM14]You’ve made a decision that’s different than the purists I described in the last comment would favor. [REM15]Demonstrating that truly achieving justice can be a complicated matter. [REM16]Conceptually, you were on the right track, but your discussion isn’t very nuanced.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Genetic Engineering Essay

Genetic Engineering: Advantages and Disadvantages essay. During the latter stage stages of the 20th century, man harnessed the power of the atom, and not long after, soon realised the power of genes. Genetic engineering is going to become a very mainstream part of our lives sooner or later, because there are so many possibilities advantages (and disadvantages) involved. Here are just some of the advantages :Disease could be prevented by detecting people/plants/animals that are genetically prone to certain hereditary diseases, and preparing for the inevitable. Also, infectious diseases can be treated by implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen.Animals and plants can be ‘tailor made' to show desirable characteristics. Genes could also be manipulated in trees for example, to absorb more CO2 and reduce the threat of global warming.Genetic Engineering could increase genetic diversity, and produce more variant alleles which could also be crossed over and implanted into other species. It is possible to alter the genetics of wheat plants to grow insulin for example. Of course there are two sides to the coin, here are some possible eventualities and disadvantages.Nature is an extremely complex inter-related chain consisting of many species linked in the food chain. Some scientists believe that introducing genetically m odified genes may have an irreversible effect with consequences yet unknown.Genetic engineering borderlines on many moral issues, particularly involving religion, which questions whether man has the right to manipulate the laws and course of nature. Genetic engineering may be one of the greatest breakthroughs in recent istory alongside the discovery of the atom and space flight, however, with the above eventualities and facts above in hand, governments have produced legislation to control what sort of experiments are done involving genetic engineering. In the UK there are strict laws prohibiting any experiments involving the cloning of humans. However, over the years here are some of the experimental ‘breakthroughs' made possible by genetic engineering.At the Roslin Institute in Scotland, scientists successfully cloned an exact copy of a sheep, named ‘Dolly'. This was the first successful cloning of an animal, and most likely the first occurrence of two organisms being g enetically identical. Note : Recently the sheep's health has deteriorated detrimentallyScientists successfully manipulated the genetic sequence of a rat to grow a human ear on its back. (Unusual, but for the purpose of reproducing human organs for medical purposes)Most controversially, and maybe due Essay topic: advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering. Discuss The development of genetic engineering has increased notably in the last few years.Some people support the investment in this field whereas others are against to. In this essay I shall delve into both sides before forming an opinion. Genetic engineering is the process of manipulating the genes of an organism. People supporting it use argue that for instance farmers could have crops more resistant to insects and diseases, and many genetically modified crops can grow faster. These advantages can be extremely positive for food production in developing nations where people starve. Faster growing cereals, fruits and veg etables would mean more profit.Moreover, some medicines and vaccines are obtained throw genetic engineering process. An important breakthrough that genetic engineering can bring to society is that some inherited diseases would no longer exist. Some genes can be modified before a baby is born improving its life expectancy. It could be said then that genetic engineering might cure some diseases. However there are ethical concerns about it use. Some ecologists warn about the disaster consequences to the Earth. They say that genetically modified crops can affect seriously whole ecosystems as the food chain can be broken if crops are more resistant to predators.Furthermore, some people are strongly against to human genetic engineering as parents might want to choose their children's characteristics. They support this argument saying that it would be unnatural and in some religions would be unacceptable. Society an human evolution would change completely. To sum up, both sides have strong arguments to support their opinions. As far as my opinion is concerned genetic engineering can bring to humans longer and healthier lives. However there is a thin line between what is ethical and what not What are the disadvantages of genetic engineering?* 5 years ago Best Answer  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Chosen by Voters 1. probably it would be costly 2. a single mistake has devastating repercussions 3. it borders on the issue of ethics and morality 4. an increasing demand for genetic modification which effetively increases discontentment for the self or for the original genetic configuration of an organism 5. prospect of creating new species might create natural imbalances especially on the habitats and feeding habits of other animals (by creating a new species, competition might arise, or it might be a predator to a prey who are already endangered, or for its own survival, it might need to destroy the habitats of others) 6. nexpected but undetected mutations can generally alter the future in unpleasant ways. What are the advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering?Answer: advantages:1. Disease could be prevented by detecting people/plants/animals that are genetically prone to certain hereditary diseases, and preparing for the inevitable. Also, infectious diseases can be treated by implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen.2. Another of genetic engineering is that diseases could be prevented by detecting people that are genetically prone to certain hereditary diseases, and preparing for he inevitable. As well as preventing disease, with genetic engineering infectious diseases can be treated by implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen3. Animals and plants can be ‘tailor made' to show desirable characteristics. Genes could also be manipulated in trees for example, to absorb more CO2 and reduce the threat of global warming.4. Genetic Engineering could increase genetic diversity, and produce mor e variant alleles which could also be crossed over and implanted into other species. It is possible to alter the genetics of wheat plants to grow insulin for example.5. Another advantage of genetic engineering is that animals and plants can be made to have desirable characteristics which could help solve some of the world's problems. For example in trees, genes could be manipulated to absorb more carbon dioxide. This would help reduce global warming, and thus solve one of the biggest problems earth faces.Disadvantages:1. Nature is an extremely complex inter-related chain consisting of many species linked in the food chain. Some scientists believe that introducing genetically modified genes may have an irreversible effect with consequences yet unknown.2.Genetic engineering borderlines on many moral issues, particularly involving religion, which questions whether man has the right to manipulate the laws and course of nature.3. Another reason why people think that using genetically mod ified crops and plants is a disadvantage is that they think it will increase our reliance on pesticides, which have a harmful effect on the environment.4. Another disadvantage of Genetic Engineering is Genetic engineering borderlines on many moral issues, particularly involving religion, which questions whether man has the right to manipulate the laws and course of nature. Also it brings into question Darwin's theory of â€Å"the survival of the fittest†, if this theory has worked over the last 20 centuries , why change it? †¦ experimental ‘breakthroughs' made possible by genetic engineering.1. At the Roslin Institute in Scotland, scientists successfully cloned an exact copy of a sheep, named ‘Dolly'. This was the first successful cloning of an animal, and most likely the first occurrence of two organisms being genetically identical. Note : Recently the sheep's health has deteriorated detrimentally2. Scientists successfully manipulated the genetic sequence of a rat to grow a human ear on its back. Unusual, but for the purpose of reproducing human organs for medical purposes)   Most controversially, and maybe due to more liberal laws, an American scientist is currently conducting tests to clone himself. Genetic Engineering Advantages ; Disadvantages During the latter stage stages of the 20th century, man harnessed the power of the atom, and not long after, soon realised the power of genes. Genetic engineering is going to become a very mainstream part of our lives sooner or later, because there are so many possibilities advantages (and disadvantages) involved.Here are just some of the advantages :* Disease could be prevented by detecting people/plants/animals that are genetically prone to certain  hereditary  diseases, and preparing for the inevitable. Also, infectious diseases can be treated by implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen.* Animals and plants can be ‘tailor made' to show desirabl e characteristics. Genes could also be manipulated in trees for example, to absorb more CO2  and reduce the threat of global warming. Genetic Engineering could increase genetic diversity, and produce more variant alleles which could also be crossed over and implanted into other species. It is possible to alter the genetics of wheat plants to grow insulin for example. Of course there are two sides to the coin, here are some possible eventualities and disadvantages.* Nature is an extremely complex inter-related chain consisting of many species linked in the food chain. Some scientists believe that introducing genetically modified genes may have an irreversible effect with consequences yet  unknown. Genetic engineering borderlines on many moral issues, particularly involving religion, which questions whether man has the right to manipulate the laws and course of nature. Genetic engineering may be one of the greatest breakthroughs in recent history alongside the discovery of the ato m and space flight, however, with the above eventualities and facts above in hand, governments have produced legislation to control what sort of experiments are done involving genetic engineering. In the UK there are strict laws prohibiting any experiments involving the cloning of humans. However, over the years here are some of the experimental ‘breakthroughs' made possible by genetic engineering.* At the Roslin Institute in Scotland, scientists successfully cloned an exact copy of a sheep, named ‘Dolly'. This was the first successful cloning of an animal, and most likely the first occurrence of two organisms being genetically identical.Note : Recently the sheep's health has deteriorated detrimentally* Scientists successfully manipulated the genetic sequence of a rat to grow a human ear on its back. Unusual, but for the purpose of reproducing human organs for medical purposes)* Most controversially, and maybe due to more liberal laws, an American scientist is currently conducting tests to clone himself. Genetic engineering has been impossible until recent times due to the complex and microscopic nature of DNA and its component nucleotides. Through progressive studies, more and more in this area is being made possible, with the above examples only showing some of the potential that genetic engineering shows. For us to understand chromosomes and DNA more clearly, they can be mapped for future reference.More simplistic organisms such as fruit fly (Drosophila) have been chromosome mapped due to their simplistic nature meaning they will require less genes to operate. At present, a task named the Human Genome Project is mapping the human genome, and should be completed in the next ten years. The process of genetic engineering involves splicing an area of a chromosome, a gene, that controls a certain characteristic of the body. The enzyme endonuclease is used to split a DNA sequence and split the gene from the rest of the chromosome. For example, this ge ne may be programmed to produce an antiviral protein.This gene is removed and can be placed into another organism. For example, it can be placed into a bacteria, where it is sealed into the DNA chain using ligase. When the chromosome is once again sealed, the bacteria is now effectively re-programmed to replicate this new antiviral protein. The bacteria can continue to live a healthy life, though genetic engineering and human intervention has actively manipulated what the bacteria actually is. No doubt there are advantages and disadvantages, and this whole subject area will become more prominent over time.The next page returns the more natural circumstances of genetic diversity. Genetic Engineering in Humans Science is a fascinating subject with unthinkable power. Man, the greatest creation of God and a scientific marvel, has developed the ability to genetically modify and create ‘near perfect' life. The term genetic engineering was first used in Dragon's Island, a science fic tion novel by Jack Williamson in 1951. With the discovery of ‘Deoxyribonucleic Acid' or mitochondrial DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick, this fictional plot started to turn into a reality.Watson and Crick, with their experiments, could prove that DNA was the genetic material that was transferred generation to generation, with genetic information. This genetic information determined all the characteristics of a living being. The tiny, microscopic DNA contained all the genetic information related to the person, like the color of the eyes, the hair, skin tone, height, weight, IQ, EQ, diseases, disorders, etc. and even be able to determine a smile or the shape of nose. This blueprint of life is the most important ingredient of genetic engineering.Genetic engineering is carried out using five steps, that are: Gene of interest is isolated Transfer vector is inserted into the genes The vector is transferred into the organism that is to be modified The cells of an organism are tra nsformed The last step involves selection of successfully genetically modified organisms (GMO) from those who have failed to be modified. This biotechnology was first applied to produce synthetic human insulin. This technology was gradually used to apply to a number of vaccines and drugs, that would prove to be beneficial to the human race.It was applied to plants to produce genetically modified foods, with higher resistance to infections and high nutritional values. With the advancement in technologies and major breakthroughs in genetic engineering, more and more scientists working for private and government companies are spending time experimenting with the human genes. The completion of the Human Genome Project, in 2006, has given a major opening to medical companies, to carry out experiments and genetic tests using genetic engineering.ADVANTAGES of Human Genetic EngineeringIt could help prevent life-threatening and incurable diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's disease, even HIV/AI DS. There are cases like cardiomyopathy or susceptibility to viruses, that can be overcome with the help of this technology. Better drugs could be produced that are disease or gene specific and attack the specific genetic mutation in an individual, to help over come a disease or disorder. Many people want to live a longer, healthier life or are just afraid of death. Such people with a love of life, can place their bets on it to help them live longer.It is possible to increase the average life span of an individual to 100-150 years. And not just a longer life, but a healthy, long life, free from diseases and disorders. Although this may take a bit longer to achieve, but is does not seem impossible any longer. Women have a craze to look young and maintain their beauty for all eternity. The benefits may make it possible to slow down or reverse certain cellular metabolism, that may be able fulfill this desire to remain ‘forever young' for many dreamers in the near future. You may have heard of designer clothes, designer bags, designer shoes and even a designer nose.But have you heard of designer babies? Yes, designer babies are possible to be produced with its help in humans. Parents can choose the characteristics of their babies, like blond with blue eyes, high IQ, fair skin, etc. It may even be possible to choose the talent in your favorite idol to be manufactured (pun intended! ) in your baby, for example, a singer like Elvis Presley or maybe a great dancer like Michael Jackson. No, I am not joking, this is all possible with a bit of genetic engineering, within the blueprint of life – DNA.One could even try to create super-humans by incorporating specific features of certain animals. For example, one could have super-sharp vision like the hawk or could outrun a cheetah. One could create a ‘Superman' like human who is indestructible. Do you remember ‘Dolly Sheep'? This was a genetically modified, cloned sheep that is now dead for over 6 years. This world-famous sheep was cloned using the cell from the mammary gland of another sheep. Cloning, its another aspect can also be possible. There are many ethical issues of cloning and it is considered illegal by many governments around the world.It is a crime to clone humans now, but may be in our quest to produce the perfect beings, cloning will soon become a part of life. These are a few advantages of genetic engineering in humans. But as every coin has two sides, there are many disadvantages that cannot be overlooked. Disadvantages of Human Genetic Engineering Under the pretext of producing a cure for diseases and hereditary disorders, many researchers carry out experiments on genetically modifying humans. It can prove to be a bane if: In the pursuit of producing babies without any genetic defects or hereditary disorders, we may end up producing super humans.Just as the example I mentioned in the beginning of my article, we may have a line of humans that may spell doom t o those who are not genetically modified. Smarter humans means, larger brains, that may lead to babies with larger heads that have trouble passing through the birth canal of their mothers. This may cause trouble during birth and a rise in cesarean. Long life could lead to population problems. There may be stress on the natural resources and less living space. Although, you may live free of diseases, you may have a fight for survival for securing the basic necessities.Just like in the movie Gattaca, there may be a division between genetically engineered humans and those that are normal (just imagine, begin normal may prove to be curse in the future! ). People will no longer be discriminated on the basis of race, religion or creed, but actually on their genes! Human cloning may create problems of copies of men moving about freely around the world. If your clone turns out to be the one with a criminal streak, you may end up in jail for a crime committed by your clone. It is possible, i f you can't prove your innocence. Imagine someone else taking over your life, family, work, etc!The problem faced by many developing countries today, is female infanticide. It may help stop this cruel and barbaric custom of killing the innocent girl child. You may think this is an advantage, I say otherwise. It may help such narrow-minded, biased parents to actually choose the gender of the child. Therefore, more parents opting for a male child over a girl child. Thus, directly bringing an end to girl child killing as there will be no birth of the girl child! The idea of ‘Superman' may seem tantalizing, but its consequences may be very dangerous.Imagine a person who is virtually indestructible, may carry out crimes and becomes a danger to mankind. I can go on and on regarding the benefits of genetic engineering in humans, like end of hunger, no disease, cure for all ailments, long life, ageless beauty, super intelligent humans, etc. But, one should always give a second thought to all the disadvantages listed. It is often said, man should not attempt to ‘play God'. That's correct, but if God has bestowed us the power to make some beneficial changes to his creations, then we should surely do so wisely.Genetic engineers have turned into modern-day alchemists, who are searching for the ultimate elixir of life, to produce the genetically modified, perfect human. This precious knowledge is being exploited by greedy men, who are using it just to earn more money. Nothing is bad if exploited within limits. When we harness our present, we should keep in mind all the possible effects it will have on our future. We may not be alive to view the beauty and the ugliness of the future, but our beloved children may be facing the consequences. Advantages and Disadvantages of Genetic Engineering Essay Genetic Engineering: Advantages and Disadvantages essay. During the latter stage stages of the 20th century, man harnessed the power of the atom, and not long after, soon realised the power of genes. Genetic engineering is going to become a very mainstream part of our lives sooner or later, because there are so many possibilities advantages (and disadvantages) involved. Here are just some of the advantages :Disease could be prevented by detecting people/plants/animals that are genetically prone to certain hereditary diseases, and preparing for the inevitable. Also, infectious diseases can be treated by implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen.Animals and plants can be ‘tailor made' to show desirable characteristics. Genes could also be manipulated in trees for example, to absorb more CO2 and reduce the threat of global warming.Genetic Engineering could increase genetic diversity, and produce more variant alleles which could also be crossed over and implanted into other species. It is possible to alter the genetics of wheat plants to grow insulin for example. Of course there are two sides to the coin, here are some possible eventualities and disadvantages.Nature is an extremely complex inter-related chain consisting of many species linked in the food chain. Some scientists believe that introducing genetically m odified genes may have an irreversible effect with consequences yet unknown.Genetic engineering borderlines on many moral issues, particularly involving religion, which questions whether man has the right to manipulate the laws and course of nature. Genetic engineering may be one of the greatest breakthroughs in recent istory alongside the discovery of the atom and space flight, however, with the above eventualities and facts above in hand, governments have produced legislation to control what sort of experiments are done involving genetic engineering. In the UK there are strict laws prohibiting any experiments involving the cloning of humans. However, over the years here are some of the experimental ‘breakthroughs' made possible by genetic engineering.At the Roslin Institute in Scotland, scientists successfully cloned an exact copy of a sheep, named ‘Dolly'. This was the first successful cloning of an animal, and most likely the first occurrence of two organisms being g enetically identical. Note : Recently the sheep's health has deteriorated detrimentallyScientists successfully manipulated the genetic sequence of a rat to grow a human ear on its back. (Unusual, but for the purpose of reproducing human organs for medical purposes)Most controversially, and maybe due Essay topic: advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering. Discuss The development of genetic engineering has increased notably in the last few years.Some people support the investment in this field whereas others are against to. In this essay I shall delve into both sides before forming an opinion. Genetic engineering is the process of manipulating the genes of an organism. People supporting it use argue that for instance farmers could have crops more resistant to insects and diseases, and many genetically modified crops can grow faster. These advantages can be extremely positive for food production in developing nations where people starve. Faster growing cereals, fruits and veg etables would mean more profit.Moreover, some medicines and vaccines are obtained throw genetic engineering process. An important breakthrough that genetic engineering can bring to society is that some inherited diseases would no longer exist. Some genes can be modified before a baby is born improving its life expectancy. It could be said then that genetic engineering might cure some diseases. However there are ethical concerns about it use. Some ecologists warn about the disaster consequences to the Earth. They say that genetically modified crops can affect seriously whole ecosystems as the food chain can be broken if crops are more resistant to predators.Furthermore, some people are strongly against to human genetic engineering as parents might want to choose their children's characteristics. They support this argument saying that it would be unnatural and in some religions would be unacceptable. Society an human evolution would change completely. To sum up, both sides have strong arguments to support their opinions. As far as my opinion is concerned genetic engineering can bring to humans longer and healthier lives. However there is a thin line between what is ethical and what not What are the disadvantages of genetic engineering?* 5 years ago Best Answer  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Chosen by Voters 1. probably it would be costly 2. a single mistake has devastating repercussions 3. it borders on the issue of ethics and morality 4. an increasing demand for genetic modification which effetively increases discontentment for the self or for the original genetic configuration of an organism 5. prospect of creating new species might create natural imbalances especially on the habitats and feeding habits of other animals (by creating a new species, competition might arise, or it might be a predator to a prey who are already endangered, or for its own survival, it might need to destroy the habitats of others) 6. nexpected but undetected mutations can generally alter the future in unpleasant ways. What are the advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering?Answer: advantages:1. Disease could be prevented by detecting people/plants/animals that are genetically prone to certain hereditary diseases, and preparing for the inevitable. Also, infectious diseases can be treated by implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen.2. Another of genetic engineering is that diseases could be prevented by detecting people that are genetically prone to certain hereditary diseases, and preparing for he inevitable. As well as preventing disease, with genetic engineering infectious diseases can be treated by implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen3. Animals and plants can be ‘tailor made' to show desirable characteristics. Genes could also be manipulated in trees for example, to absorb more CO2 and reduce the threat of global warming.4. Genetic Engineering could increase genetic diversity, and produce mor e variant alleles which could also be crossed over and implanted into other species. It is possible to alter the genetics of wheat plants to grow insulin for example.5. Another advantage of genetic engineering is that animals and plants can be made to have desirable characteristics which could help solve some of the world's problems. For example in trees, genes could be manipulated to absorb more carbon dioxide. This would help reduce global warming, and thus solve one of the biggest problems earth faces.Disadvantages:1. Nature is an extremely complex inter-related chain consisting of many species linked in the food chain. Some scientists believe that introducing genetically modified genes may have an irreversible effect with consequences yet unknown.2.Genetic engineering borderlines on many moral issues, particularly involving religion, which questions whether man has the right to manipulate the laws and course of nature.3. Another reason why people think that using genetically mod ified crops and plants is a disadvantage is that they think it will increase our reliance on pesticides, which have a harmful effect on the environment.4. Another disadvantage of Genetic Engineering is Genetic engineering borderlines on many moral issues, particularly involving religion, which questions whether man has the right to manipulate the laws and course of nature. Also it brings into question Darwin's theory of â€Å"the survival of the fittest†, if this theory has worked over the last 20 centuries , why change it? †¦ experimental ‘breakthroughs' made possible by genetic engineering.1. At the Roslin Institute in Scotland, scientists successfully cloned an exact copy of a sheep, named ‘Dolly'. This was the first successful cloning of an animal, and most likely the first occurrence of two organisms being genetically identical. Note : Recently the sheep's health has deteriorated detrimentally2. Scientists successfully manipulated the genetic sequence of a rat to grow a human ear on its back. Unusual, but for the purpose of reproducing human organs for medical purposes)   Most controversially, and maybe due to more liberal laws, an American scientist is currently conducting tests to clone himself. Genetic Engineering Advantages ; Disadvantages During the latter stage stages of the 20th century, man harnessed the power of the atom, and not long after, soon realised the power of genes. Genetic engineering is going to become a very mainstream part of our lives sooner or later, because there are so many possibilities advantages (and disadvantages) involved.Here are just some of the advantages :* Disease could be prevented by detecting people/plants/animals that are genetically prone to certain  hereditary  diseases, and preparing for the inevitable. Also, infectious diseases can be treated by implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen.* Animals and plants can be ‘tailor made' to show desirabl e characteristics. Genes could also be manipulated in trees for example, to absorb more CO2  and reduce the threat of global warming. Genetic Engineering could increase genetic diversity, and produce more variant alleles which could also be crossed over and implanted into other species. It is possible to alter the genetics of wheat plants to grow insulin for example. Of course there are two sides to the coin, here are some possible eventualities and disadvantages.* Nature is an extremely complex inter-related chain consisting of many species linked in the food chain. Some scientists believe that introducing genetically modified genes may have an irreversible effect with consequences yet  unknown. Genetic engineering borderlines on many moral issues, particularly involving religion, which questions whether man has the right to manipulate the laws and course of nature. Genetic engineering may be one of the greatest breakthroughs in recent history alongside the discovery of the ato m and space flight, however, with the above eventualities and facts above in hand, governments have produced legislation to control what sort of experiments are done involving genetic engineering. In the UK there are strict laws prohibiting any experiments involving the cloning of humans. However, over the years here are some of the experimental ‘breakthroughs' made possible by genetic engineering.* At the Roslin Institute in Scotland, scientists successfully cloned an exact copy of a sheep, named ‘Dolly'. This was the first successful cloning of an animal, and most likely the first occurrence of two organisms being genetically identical.Note : Recently the sheep's health has deteriorated detrimentally* Scientists successfully manipulated the genetic sequence of a rat to grow a human ear on its back. Unusual, but for the purpose of reproducing human organs for medical purposes)* Most controversially, and maybe due to more liberal laws, an American scientist is currently conducting tests to clone himself. Genetic engineering has been impossible until recent times due to the complex and microscopic nature of DNA and its component nucleotides. Through progressive studies, more and more in this area is being made possible, with the above examples only showing some of the potential that genetic engineering shows. For us to understand chromosomes and DNA more clearly, they can be mapped for future reference.More simplistic organisms such as fruit fly (Drosophila) have been chromosome mapped due to their simplistic nature meaning they will require less genes to operate. At present, a task named the Human Genome Project is mapping the human genome, and should be completed in the next ten years. The process of genetic engineering involves splicing an area of a chromosome, a gene, that controls a certain characteristic of the body. The enzyme endonuclease is used to split a DNA sequence and split the gene from the rest of the chromosome. For example, this ge ne may be programmed to produce an antiviral protein.This gene is removed and can be placed into another organism. For example, it can be placed into a bacteria, where it is sealed into the DNA chain using ligase. When the chromosome is once again sealed, the bacteria is now effectively re-programmed to replicate this new antiviral protein. The bacteria can continue to live a healthy life, though genetic engineering and human intervention has actively manipulated what the bacteria actually is. No doubt there are advantages and disadvantages, and this whole subject area will become more prominent over time.The next page returns the more natural circumstances of genetic diversity. Genetic Engineering in Humans Science is a fascinating subject with unthinkable power. Man, the greatest creation of God and a scientific marvel, has developed the ability to genetically modify and create ‘near perfect' life. The term genetic engineering was first used in Dragon's Island, a science fic tion novel by Jack Williamson in 1951. With the discovery of ‘Deoxyribonucleic Acid' or mitochondrial DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick, this fictional plot started to turn into a reality.Watson and Crick, with their experiments, could prove that DNA was the genetic material that was transferred generation to generation, with genetic information. This genetic information determined all the characteristics of a living being. The tiny, microscopic DNA contained all the genetic information related to the person, like the color of the eyes, the hair, skin tone, height, weight, IQ, EQ, diseases, disorders, etc. and even be able to determine a smile or the shape of nose. This blueprint of life is the most important ingredient of genetic engineering.Genetic engineering is carried out using five steps, that are: Gene of interest is isolated Transfer vector is inserted into the genes The vector is transferred into the organism that is to be modified The cells of an organism are tra nsformed The last step involves selection of successfully genetically modified organisms (GMO) from those who have failed to be modified. This biotechnology was first applied to produce synthetic human insulin. This technology was gradually used to apply to a number of vaccines and drugs, that would prove to be beneficial to the human race.It was applied to plants to produce genetically modified foods, with higher resistance to infections and high nutritional values. With the advancement in technologies and major breakthroughs in genetic engineering, more and more scientists working for private and government companies are spending time experimenting with the human genes. The completion of the Human Genome Project, in 2006, has given a major opening to medical companies, to carry out experiments and genetic tests using genetic engineering.ADVANTAGES of Human Genetic EngineeringIt could help prevent life-threatening and incurable diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's disease, even HIV/AI DS. There are cases like cardiomyopathy or susceptibility to viruses, that can be overcome with the help of this technology. Better drugs could be produced that are disease or gene specific and attack the specific genetic mutation in an individual, to help over come a disease or disorder. Many people want to live a longer, healthier life or are just afraid of death. Such people with a love of life, can place their bets on it to help them live longer.It is possible to increase the average life span of an individual to 100-150 years. And not just a longer life, but a healthy, long life, free from diseases and disorders. Although this may take a bit longer to achieve, but is does not seem impossible any longer. Women have a craze to look young and maintain their beauty for all eternity. The benefits may make it possible to slow down or reverse certain cellular metabolism, that may be able fulfill this desire to remain ‘forever young' for many dreamers in the near future. You may have heard of designer clothes, designer bags, designer shoes and even a designer nose.But have you heard of designer babies? Yes, designer babies are possible to be produced with its help in humans. Parents can choose the characteristics of their babies, like blond with blue eyes, high IQ, fair skin, etc. It may even be possible to choose the talent in your favorite idol to be manufactured (pun intended! ) in your baby, for example, a singer like Elvis Presley or maybe a great dancer like Michael Jackson. No, I am not joking, this is all possible with a bit of genetic engineering, within the blueprint of life – DNA.One could even try to create super-humans by incorporating specific features of certain animals. For example, one could have super-sharp vision like the hawk or could outrun a cheetah. One could create a ‘Superman' like human who is indestructible. Do you remember ‘Dolly Sheep'? This was a genetically modified, cloned sheep that is now dead for over 6 years. This world-famous sheep was cloned using the cell from the mammary gland of another sheep. Cloning, its another aspect can also be possible. There are many ethical issues of cloning and it is considered illegal by many governments around the world.It is a crime to clone humans now, but may be in our quest to produce the perfect beings, cloning will soon become a part of life. These are a few advantages of genetic engineering in humans. But as every coin has two sides, there are many disadvantages that cannot be overlooked. Disadvantages of Human Genetic Engineering Under the pretext of producing a cure for diseases and hereditary disorders, many researchers carry out experiments on genetically modifying humans. It can prove to be a bane if: In the pursuit of producing babies without any genetic defects or hereditary disorders, we may end up producing super humans.Just as the example I mentioned in the beginning of my article, we may have a line of humans that may spell doom t o those who are not genetically modified. Smarter humans means, larger brains, that may lead to babies with larger heads that have trouble passing through the birth canal of their mothers. This may cause trouble during birth and a rise in cesarean. Long life could lead to population problems. There may be stress on the natural resources and less living space. Although, you may live free of diseases, you may have a fight for survival for securing the basic necessities.Just like in the movie Gattaca, there may be a division between genetically engineered humans and those that are normal (just imagine, begin normal may prove to be curse in the future! ). People will no longer be discriminated on the basis of race, religion or creed, but actually on their genes! Human cloning may create problems of copies of men moving about freely around the world. If your clone turns out to be the one with a criminal streak, you may end up in jail for a crime committed by your clone. It is possible, i f you can't prove your innocence. Imagine someone else taking over your life, family, work, etc!The problem faced by many developing countries today, is female infanticide. It may help stop this cruel and barbaric custom of killing the innocent girl child. You may think this is an advantage, I say otherwise. It may help such narrow-minded, biased parents to actually choose the gender of the child. Therefore, more parents opting for a male child over a girl child. Thus, directly bringing an end to girl child killing as there will be no birth of the girl child! The idea of ‘Superman' may seem tantalizing, but its consequences may be very dangerous.Imagine a person who is virtually indestructible, may carry out crimes and becomes a danger to mankind. I can go on and on regarding the benefits of genetic engineering in humans, like end of hunger, no disease, cure for all ailments, long life, ageless beauty, super intelligent humans, etc. But, one should always give a second thought to all the disadvantages listed. It is often said, man should not attempt to ‘play God'. That's correct, but if God has bestowed us the power to make some beneficial changes to his creations, then we should surely do so wisely.Genetic engineers have turned into modern-day alchemists, who are searching for the ultimate elixir of life, to produce the genetically modified, perfect human. This precious knowledge is being exploited by greedy men, who are using it just to earn more money. Nothing is bad if exploited within limits. When we harness our present, we should keep in mind all the possible effects it will have on our future. We may not be alive to view the beauty and the ugliness of the future, but our beloved children may be facing the consequences.