Biotechnology

Heather Pereira

What is Biotechnology?

Biotechnology is defined by the US government as any technique that uses living organisms (or parts of organisms) to make or modify products, to improve plants and animals or to develop microorganisms for specific uses

The History of Biotechnology

The history of biotechnology begins when primitive people became domesticated enough to breed plants and animals; gather and process herbs for medicine; make bread and wine; create many fermented food products including yogurt, cheese and various soy products; create septic systems to deal with their digestive and excretory waste products, and to create vaccines to immunize themselves against diseases.

Why Biotechnology?

It is evident that biotechnology in the past has concentrated on the production of food and medicine and the use of biotechnology to solve environmental problems

Modern Biotechnology

If one looks at modern biotechnology, based on recombinant DNA technology, one finds a similar distribution in the use of recombinant organisms to serve in the production of food and medicines and to solve environmental problems.

Three areas of Biotechnology

Agricultural Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, and Environmental Biotechnology.

How does Biotechnology affect us?

Genes are inherited from parents and they determine much about behavioral, mental, and physical traits. Every gene contains a DNA code that gives the cell instructions about how to make specific proteins. These proteins form the basis for the structural framework of life.

Biotechnology and Medicine

Medicine has progressed and now genes can be changed through genetic engineering. In this process, scientists insert the genetic instructions to make a specific protein into a cell’s DNA. The cell will manufacture the protein, which affects a particular characteristic, and the cell will also pass the new instructions on to its offspring. Genetic engineering gives scientists the ability to improve and alter the basic composition of a living cell. This is called biotechnology

Possible Risks of Biotech

Relying on eugenics, or selecting the genetic makeup of future children. This practice may give people the power to control some personal traits, such as having blond hair or being tall. Taken to an extreme, this could eliminate some traits. You will brainstorm some more risks with your group.

Possible Benefits of Biotech

Eliminating genetic diseases. For example, geneticists think it may be possible to eliminate genetic diseases such as Huntington’s Disease through careful and methodical screening programs. You will brainstorm some more benefits with your group.

Bioethics

Biotechnology is a powerful tool and people have had to consider many ethical issues surrounding it. As a result, the new field of bioethics has emerged. Bioethics is the study of the ethical implications of biological research and applications.