Global warming, nuclear winter, microscopic black holes: society sees all of these as apocalyptic phenomena resulting from the accelerating pace of discoveries in science and technology. Opinions on areas such as climate change and nuclear weapons certainly have a scientific basis, but many other apocalyptic reactions arise from hypothetical situations and thought experiments. To further examine public opinions about scientific fields, we can look at genetic engineering (GE). The possibilities offered by genetic engineering have prompted many ethicists to comment on the topic, opening a dialogue between policy and experimentation to address topics such as genetically modified crops and genetic improvement in humans. Like any technology, GE has risks and benefits, but in this case some believe that the risks far outweigh the benefits and that progress should be stopped. Scientists define GE as “the artificial recombination of [DNA] in the test tube, their insertion into a… vector system, and the subsequent incorporation of the chimeric molecules into a host organism in which they are capable of continued propagation… usually [involving] the production of new genetic combinations by biochemical means” (Mulligan). Using various techniques, scientists can splice DNA from one organism and insert it into another to give the DNA recipient desirable characteristics. Genetic engineering gives scientists unprecedented control over nature: While breeding has allowed humans to slowly eliminate unwanted traits, it operates at a much slower pace and only for macroscopic organisms. The control that GE gives scientists allows them to manipulate species of any size and create organisms highly unlikely to occur in nature.... middle of paper... Perceptions. Ed. Bernard D. Brooks and Johnson. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991. 266-281. Print.Ciola, Greg. “Does genetic engineering have God's approval?” NewsWithViews.com. NewsWithViews.com., March 28, 2007. Web. February 9, 2010. Epstein, Ron. “Redesigning the World: Ethical Questions About Genetic Engineering.” Ethical problems in biotechnology. Eds. Richard Sherlock and John D. Morrey. New York: Rowman and Littlefield, 2002. 47-70. Network. February 9, 2010. Mulligan, Pamela K. “Genetic Engineering.” AccessScience: Online encyclopedia of science and technology. McGraw-Hill and Web. February 17, 2010. Sachs, Stephen E. “The False Apocalypse.” The Harvard Crimson. The Harvard Crimson., February 13, 2001. Web. February 9, 2010. Will, George. “The monkey that could mean the end.” World Jewish Review. Jewish World Review Mag., January 22, 2001. Web. February 9. 2010.