Disccusion 2: Genetic engineering & biotechnology
Read this web site information: How genetic engineering can fight disease, reduce insecticide use and enhance food security: Pamela Ronald http://blog(dot)ted(dot)com/why-genetic-engineering-of-plants-is-vital-for-food-security-pamela-ronald-speaks-at-ted2015/ action-bioscience: Ethical issues in Genetic Engineering and Transgenics, by the American Institute of Biological Sciences View: http://www(dot)actionbioscience(dot)org/biotechnology/glenn.html Hadyn Parry: Re-engineering mosquitoes to fight disease [Video, 13:57 mins] https://www(dot)ted(dot)com/talks/hadyn_parry_re_engineering_mosquitos_to_fight_disease Use the information you have gathered from reading and viewing the videos as well as your own research to fully address the following questions: Genetic engineering will transform our world in the next decade and is in fact already irreversibly altering our world. How do we get the best out of the possibilities of this biotechnology and avoid the worst potential disasters that might be a result? The intersection of biotechnology, genetic engineering and bioethics is a constantly shifting landscape. What are the ethical considerations that these scientists need to be addressing?
Discussion 2
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Discussion 2
Q # 1. Genetic engineering will transform our world in the next decade and is in fact already irreversibly altering our world. How do we get the best out of the possibilities of this biotechnology and avoid the worst potential disasters that might be a result?
Genetic engineering is a process of modifying an organism's genetic makeup using various tools and techniques from bioengineering and biotechnology. The processes of specific genetic engineering that removes genetic material from one species of an animal or a plant and transfer it to another is called transgenic. This has helped scientists to come up with organisms that have a desired trait not found in the natural species (Glenn, 2013). Genetic engineering can also be used to save endangered species from extinction by developing hybrids that are specifically engineered with a genetic resistance to certain diseases and pests. It can be used to develop species that can thrive in unfavourable weather conditions such as flooding or high temperatures as well as increase in the yield.
It has helped farmer to avoid use of insecticides which are sometimes dangerous to their health though creation of hybrid genetic engineered plants that are not attacked by insects. Scientists have also developed plants that have additional nutrients such as the ‘golden rice' which has B-carotene which is a pioneer of vitamin A which minimises blindness and the death of many young children every year (May, 2015). Another use of genetic engineering is in the control of dangerous insects such as mosquitos that causes diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. This is done by genetically engineering male mosquitos to make them sterile and then introducing them to the wild to reduce the population of disease carrying species (Parry, 2012). Howev...