There are many fields that have existed almost as long as humanity. One of these fields is biotechnology. Some of the food items such as bread which people eat today were discovered by distant ancestors in the attempt to make their lives easier. The truth is that bread is made through the process of fermentation, which makes use of yeast. The use of living organisms or process to achieve end results that improve human life is the basis of biotechnology. Here are facts regarding Biotechnologies.
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.
Biotechnology, as a term, was first created by an agriculturist, Karl Ereky, in 1919. In his definition, Ereky defines biotechnology as all fields of work that use living organisms to create products from raw materials. In this present day, biotechnology is no longer in its early stages. Some major discoveries that were made by scientists to symbolize the development of this field exist.
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-world tests have already been conducted where certain genes were deleted in human beings in order to control HIV, cancer, and many deadly medical conditions. However, gene deletion has proved to be more complicated than it is currently understood. With gene deletion, patients exhibited reactions and behavior in their genome that scientists did not plan for or anticipate. The tests had to be halted until more is known about 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.
Biotechnology, as a term, was first created by an agriculturist, Karl Ereky, in 1919. In his definition, Ereky defines biotechnology as all fields of work that use living organisms to create products from raw materials. In this present day, biotechnology is no longer in its early stages. Some major discoveries that were made by scientists to symbolize the development of this field exist.
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-world tests have already been conducted where certain genes were deleted in human beings in order to control HIV, cancer, and many deadly medical conditions. However, gene deletion has proved to be more complicated than it is currently understood. With gene deletion, patients exhibited reactions and behavior in their genome that scientists did not plan for or anticipate. The tests had to be halted until more is known about 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.
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