There are numerous professions that have been in existence for as long as humanity has existed. Biotechnology is a good example of these fields. Some of the food like bread that people eat nowadays were brought into being by distant ancestors while they were trying to make life easier. It is true that bread is made through fermentation, which uses yeast. Making use of alive organisms or processes to attain end results that enhance human life is what makes the basis of biotechnology. This is what Biotechnologies are all about.
Even though biotechnology began as a crude field, it has advanced through several stages to what it is today. Scientist such as Alexander Fleming and Edward Jenner are some of the most renowned fathers of biotechnology with their contributions to this field. Jenner invented vaccines while Fleming invented antibiotics and people have continued to benefit from them.
Karl Ereky was an agriculturalist that came up with the term biotechnology in 1919. Ereky described the term as all works that involves production of end products from raw materials by use of living organisms. Currently, the field has advanced to greater extents. Scientists have come up with thoughtful discoveries to symbolize the development of biotechnology.
Scientists today are altering DNA and proteins to shape the abilities of living cells, plants and animals to be more helpful to humans. They attain this by changing DNA inside test tubes inside a laboratory. In the recent past, the manipulation is no longer being done inside test tubes, but inside cells that are living. The most thrilling discoveries in biotechnology in the recent past are taking place at microscopic level.
Biotechnological discoveries made in the past and current times have been more helpful than dangerous. Some of the risks associated with this field have largely been discussed, but have not yet been experienced in real life. However, the recent breakthroughs and discoveries may symbolize that biotechnology is achieving maturity and with that comes a genuine concern of risks. There are several risks associated with biotechnology and some are highlighted below.
Unintended consequences are one of the risks that biotechnology presents. The field is most feared for being able to produce effects that are devastating to humanity especially when it is done at the microscopic level. Scientists and researchers hope that the many problems which are experienced today will be solved through gene editing and deleting.
Real life tests have been conducted where particular genes were erased in human beings with the intention of controlling HIV, cancer and numerous other diseases. The erasing of genes, however, has proven to be more complex than it is presently understood. When it was done, patients showed unexpected and unanticipated behavior and reactions in their genome. The tests had to be stopped until more is discovered concerning gene deletion.
Another risk that is feared to come with the maturity of biotechnology is weaponizing biology. Whereas there have been serious disease outbreaks such as Zika virus and Ebola, which are natural, it is feared that future outbreaks may be instigated deliberately. Terrorist and/or state actors may start outbreaks of diseases with malicious intentions to kill people or cause other bad effects.
Even though biotechnology began as a crude field, it has advanced through several stages to what it is today. Scientist such as Alexander Fleming and Edward Jenner are some of the most renowned fathers of biotechnology with their contributions to this field. Jenner invented vaccines while Fleming invented antibiotics and people have continued to benefit from them.
Karl Ereky was an agriculturalist that came up with the term biotechnology in 1919. Ereky described the term as all works that involves production of end products from raw materials by use of living organisms. Currently, the field has advanced to greater extents. Scientists have come up with thoughtful discoveries to symbolize the development of biotechnology.
Scientists today are altering DNA and proteins to shape the abilities of living cells, plants and animals to be more helpful to humans. They attain this by changing DNA inside test tubes inside a laboratory. In the recent past, the manipulation is no longer being done inside test tubes, but inside cells that are living. The most thrilling discoveries in biotechnology in the recent past are taking place at microscopic level.
Biotechnological discoveries made in the past and current times have been more helpful than dangerous. Some of the risks associated with this field have largely been discussed, but have not yet been experienced in real life. However, the recent breakthroughs and discoveries may symbolize that biotechnology is achieving maturity and with that comes a genuine concern of risks. There are several risks associated with biotechnology and some are highlighted below.
Unintended consequences are one of the risks that biotechnology presents. The field is most feared for being able to produce effects that are devastating to humanity especially when it is done at the microscopic level. Scientists and researchers hope that the many problems which are experienced today will be solved through gene editing and deleting.
Real life tests have been conducted where particular genes were erased in human beings with the intention of controlling HIV, cancer and numerous other diseases. The erasing of genes, however, has proven to be more complex than it is presently understood. When it was done, patients showed unexpected and unanticipated behavior and reactions in their genome. The tests had to be stopped until more is discovered concerning gene deletion.
Another risk that is feared to come with the maturity of biotechnology is weaponizing biology. Whereas there have been serious disease outbreaks such as Zika virus and Ebola, which are natural, it is feared that future outbreaks may be instigated deliberately. Terrorist and/or state actors may start outbreaks of diseases with malicious intentions to kill people or cause other bad effects.
About the Author:
Come and explore the Web for information on biotechnologies and how they help patients. Take a tour of the online pages now at http://www.cellmig.com/for-patients-families.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment