SC100 unit 8 sample paper

SC100 unit 8 sample paper

Biotechnology

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Biotechnology in simple terms is technology that is based on biology and that has been used to harness cellular and bio molecular processes. Technologies and products are then developed that help improve the lives as well as health of planet. There is a great interdependence between science and technology but there are some differences between them.

Science is defined as a way or system of getting knowledge based on scientific method. Through this, there is an organize body of knowledge that is gained. On the other hand, technology is a concept that uses a species together with the knowledge of crafts and tools to know how they affect a species in terms of its ability to control and adapts its environment. Their differences are based on different things. For example, on the basis of motto, science is knowing while technology is doing. On the basis of mission, science search for and theorize about cause while technology search for and theorize about new processes. On the basis of focus, science focusses on understanding natural phenomena while technology focusses on understanding the made environment. On the basis of skills needed in order to excel, science only requires experimental and logical skills. Technology requires a lot of skills among them being problem solving, designing, interpersonal, construction, and design as well as communication tools.

Among the various biotechnological advancements, I choose to focus on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). These organisms result from incorporation of new genes from a particular species to another species that completely do not relate with that species. It is done through genetic engineering. The major aim is to optimize agricultural performance or even to facilitate the production of valuable pharmaceutical substances. The use of these organisms has been of great importance to agriculture because crop plants, farm animals and soil bacteria has been subjected to genetic engineering. This genetic engineering has helped in agriculture in increasing crop yields, reducing production costs, enhancing nutrient composition and quality, improving resistance to pests and diseases among others. Not only crops that are being genetically engineered, animals also can be improved in order to increase yields and decrease disease susceptibility. For example, cattle have been advanced to become resistant to mad cow disease.

More and more research on GMO is being conducted and the industries stand to be the most beneficiaries. For instance, pharmaceutical industry which extract human hormones in plants as well as some plants being used for medical research. In future as is being speculated, a number of microorganisms will be producers of clean fuel. Some genetically modified plants will also be used to produce recombinant vaccines. Surgery and tissue replacement will also have an added advantage since there are plants that produce spider silk protein and polymer and scientists are taking charge to study this potential.

There are also speculated risks associated with the use of GMOs. First, the alteration of the natural state of an organism can change the metabolism, response to external environmental factors as well as the growth rate. Since the natural environment in which the organism is proliferating is altered, also human being will be affected. There are health risks due to consumption of allergens in the genetically modified foods. There will also be health risks due to the use of pesticides with a lot of ecological imbalances and in return increased spread of diseases between plants and animals.

There have been a lot of discoveries that have taken place before the occurrence of these GMOs. A good example of GMO foods illustrates how food has moved from being simple and healthy to where it is today. Back in 1935, a scientist isolated pure DNA. Another scientist discovered man-made DNA. These bacterium (GMO) was then isolated in a living organism and it produced Humulin and insulin. Years later it was used in grocery store shelves to ripen tomatoes. On and on and it was used to check on resistant weeds and herbicide containing glyphosate was made. It then came a time when European Union ordered that all GMO food products should be labeled. In 1999 GMO crops dominated and it was embraced at a high rate. In 2013, GMO-Resistant pests appear whereby the modified plants would produce toxins that keep away pests. In 2011, these toxin was found in human indicating that it was beet transferred from plants. In 2012 there were claims that there was poisoning of pesticide although it was later changed to a more favorable pesticide.

There are ancient technologies that were used way before GMO came into existence. One of them was called selective breeding to influence the DNA of other animals. Organisms with the most desired traits were chosen and mated so as to combine these traits and propagate them to the offspring’s. Its repeated use over many generations then led to changes of the species. The dog was the first organism to be artificially selected although some variety of plants have were also been artificially selected. The second technology was called genetically engineered (GE) organism whereby a portion of a gene would be cut and pasted into another organism. This was done by transferring a gene that encoded antibiotic resistance from one strain of bacteria into another. It took one year when then there was a similar procedure done to animals. A foreign DNA was introduced into a mouse embryo. This technology has existed since 1973 while the one for artificial selection for plants has existed since 7800 BCE.

Biotechnology has both positives and negatives. The positives are; one, it has made plants to be able to resist pests on their own making use of harmful pesticides to be low. Secondly, it has resulted to production of better fruits and vegetables. Thirdly, it has brought cure to a number of human and animal diseases and also the occurrence of vaccines prevent diseases as well as lower the impact of illnesses. It has also made both plants and animals to give better yields. The negatives are as follows; Genetic engineering is very costly making the estimate of the returns to be unpredictable. Secondly, because of crossing species that are not related, multiple species have been harmed. Thirdly, more destructive viruses are produced when transgenic crops are produced. Lastly, it possess environmental threats because the genetically modified crops are said to infect some insect species.

I don’t think that there are any biotechnologies that should not be pursued because any type of biotechnology is bringing about positive impacts and more advancement in agriculture. My view is that the negative impacts that come along with biotechnology should be addressed and fitted the most favorable way.

explain the difference between science and technology.

What biotechnology did you select? Explain what it is and how it is used.

Identify and describe two scientific discoveries that had to take place before your selected biotechnology could be developed (e.g., before cell phones could be developed, many scientific discoveries had to be made and be understood including electricity, electromagnetic waves, and the electrochemistry of batteries). When and how did the discoveries that you described take place?

Identify and describe two technologies that had to exist before your selected biotechnology could be developed (e.g., before cell phones could be developed, many technological advances had to occur first including batteries, electric circuit boards, receivers, speakers, and satellites). How long have the technologies that you described existed?

Scientific discovery provides society with knowledge. It is up to society to decide what to do with that knowledge by pursuing some technologies and by refusing to develop others. Identify and discuss two positives and two negatives of biotechnological advances. Are there any biotechnologies that you think should not be pursued? Explain your answer.

REFERENCES

What is Biotechnology? – BIO. (2017). BIO. Retrieved 2 May 2017, from https://www.bio.org/what-biotechnology

Science vs Technology – Difference and Comparison | Diffen. (2017). Diffen.com. Retrieved 2 May 2017, from http://www.diffen.com/difference/Science_vs_Technology

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) | Learn Science at Scitable. (2017). Nature.com. Retrieved 2 May 2017, from https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetically-modified-organisms-gmos-transgenic-crops-and-732

Biotechnology: Positive and negative effects essay. (2017). My Essay Point. Retrieved 2 May 2017, from http://myessaypoint.com/positive-and-negative-effects-of-biotechnology

https://www.macalester.edu/~montgomery/GMOs.htm