Public Speaking

This is my 2019 Public Speaking! Hope you enjoy!

Genetic Editing

By Benji Carroll

 

INTRODUCTION:

Have you ever wanted to design your own animal? Imagine being able to design a dog’s front half and a cat’s back half of their body. Well, with genetic editing, this could be possible!

Hello Mrs Thompson and my Grade 5 classmates ( Hello Judges If I make it to the finals), Today I am going to explain to you what genetic editing is, why animals genetically edit themselves, and why genetic editing is useful in some ways.

 

BODY PARAGRAPH ONE:

Genetic editing (also called genome editing, is when you alter an organism’s DNA using machines. These machines allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered in a specific way. Several approaches to genetic editing have been created. It is very much against the law in North America to use gene editing in human embryos because technology is not developed enough to safely genetically edit humans. Places like China and some European countries allow genetic editing quite often though. For example, if you want your baby to have blue eyes, genetic editing can guarantee the baby has blue eyes. Whereas humans need machines to genetically edit themselves, there are also a lot of animals that naturally genetically edit their bodies.

 

BODY PARAGRAPH TWO:

 

Animals genetically edit or modify themselves as a defensive tactic.  For example, chameleons can genetically edit themselves by changing colors so they can blend into the environment around them. Chameleons can also grow back their tail if a predator rips it off. It is not just chameleons that can edit themselves, it is also many reptiles and octopods,like squid and octopi. Animals can efficiently genetically edit themselves and it is very beneficial to them. I believe in time, genetic editing can be very beneficial to humans too.

 

BODY PARAGRAPH THREE:

 

I say genetic editing could be useful in time, because our technology is not advanced enough to safely genetically edit humans just yet. When technology is advanced enough, genetic editing could save countless lives from genetic diseases, like certain types of cancer or diabetes. If we do get the technology to genetically edit, I would not advise using it for elective surgery, but rather for serious diseases.

 

CONCLUSION:

 

In conclusion, today we talked about how genetic editing is when you alter an organism’s DNA, that animals use gene editing as a defence tactic and that genetic editing will be useful when it is safe. I hope genetic editing is safe in the future because I myself could get type 1 diabetes genetically, because my grandpa has diabetes and it goes every second generation. I hope my speech has informed you about what gene editing is, how it is beneficial, and the dangers of gene editing.