The Importance Of Biotechnology - Essay Example

Introduction Biotechnology has its roots in our history. Human mankind always is in the search of enhancing his standards of living based on scientific principles. The changing global environment, increased life expectancy, and ever increasing population are offering unmet challenges. Biotechnology is one of the sophisticated techniques and promising technologies to achieve healthy future. We have been doing physical manipulation at the visual level from centuries. This is now extrapolated at the molecular level to get the desired properties in living organisms. The biotechnology has revolutionized the world. It has impacted on all the kingdoms from microorganism to humans. The following chart shows the broader perspective of biotechnology and how it has influenced our society. Genetic engineering (GE) gives us focused path in designing new varieties of microbes, plants, animals and human being by understanding their genetic make up. Human Biotechnology The birth of genetically engineered sheep Dolly was a great achievement in cloning biotechnology; but led to controversy in human reproductive cloning. The reliable and safe human cloning is becoming popular in American youths who want to adopt a new way of reproduction. Ethicists, clerics, moralists, politicians, pundits, scientists condemned it on diverse backgrounds considering it as offensive, unethical, unsafe and highly dangerous from future point of view (Kevles, 2002). A law for the prohibition of use of human cloning is enacted in 24 countries including United Kingdom. Artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization techniques giving rise to human embryos were also initially resisted, but when healthy test tube was delivered to an infertile mother, the opposition from the critiques collapsed. Well studied evidences in terms of such effects and positive reasonable clinical outcomes boosted this novel technology. It has been reported that worldwide more than 5, 00, 000 test tube babies are created and 90% of them are disease free (Kevles, 2002). Women with genetic or chromosomal disorder who are vulnerable and are at high risk for bearing children are greatly benefited from the concept of surrogate motherhood. Initially, carrying another woman’s fetus was also condemned on morality and exploitation background (Kevles, 2002). If made medically safe novel technology should not be denounced and should be exploited for human needs with their consents. Human cloning would be a boon to gaymen, lesbians, infertile couples, couples who have lost children or relatives (Kevles, 2002). The babies produced by cloning technique would be strongly influenced by genetically determined factors like overall growth, changes in proportion of body and brain parts, and mellowing certain tasks like vision and dietary needs. But each would be unique due to various events during prenatal life, and physical, social, cultural, learning and emotional areas through environmental stimuli. However, the familial dynamics for clonal parents and their clonal twins could not be predicted especially from psychological and emotional point of view. Some people also argue that the choice to go for human cloning or conventional reproduction should be left to the woman, and can not be decided by the country’s law since the child could be born in any country (Kevles, 2002). Biotechnology in Healthcare The issues related to aging population, recession, poor countries, emergence of new diseases, antibiotic resistance, ineffectiveness of wonder medicines are of growing concern from the public health point of view. Biotechnology has offered numerous benefits for health care setting and industry for safe and healthy future economically and ethically. Pharmacogenomics has given new insight of relating human genome and drug design and could offer potential remedies for more complex diseases in near future. Gene therapy and novel drugs such as human growth hormone without the risk of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, treatment for hemophiliacs with unlimited sources of coagulation factors free from AIDS and hepatitis C virus, human insulin, and vaccines against hepatitis B and rabies etc. has boosted the recent trend of personalized and preventive medicine (European Commission, 2002). The diseases which are under investigation for gene therapy are cancers, HIV infection, cystic fibrosis (CF), Gaucher disease, severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) due to adenine deaminase (ADA) deficiency, familial hypercholesterolemia, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. In the future, gene therapy could be possibly exploited for other diseases like muscular dystrophies, particularly Duchenne, and hemoglobin diseases like sickle cell anemia and betathalassemia (Sade and Khushf, 1998, p. 406). Novel and innovative approaches of diagnostic techniques based on genetic predisposition like targeted screening enables early intervention. Stem cell research and xenotransplantation has availed replacement of tissues and organ for degenerative ailments, stroke injuries, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disorders, burns, spinal cord injuries (European Commission, 2002). Agricultural Biotechnology The production and supply of abundant, cheapest, diverse, nutritious and safest food to sustain the increasing population demand is the need of the day and offers immense challenge in the developing world. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has also emphasized the necessity of wider application of agricultural biotechnology to meet increasing demands of food supply and changing dietary needs (FAO newsroom, 2004). It has been estimated that the food and feed requirements of cereals would be 40% more in 2020, while livestock necessity for milk and meat would be enhanced two times by year 2020 (ICSU). The production of the functional foods prepared by genetic modification (GM) is increasingly used to nurture positive health in humans and livestocks eg. golden vitamin-A rice, antioxidant rich tomato, large, long and heavy fish with high growth rates (eg. genetically engineered salmon) etc. Plant biotechnology has also other applications such as industrial feedstocks, biodegradable plastics, pharmaceuticals like blood coagulants, proteases and protease inhibitors, growth promoters, neurologically active proteins, vaccines, drug delivery (eg. vaccine administration with the help of bananas), and enzymes that modify the structure and function of other biologically important compounds, as well as monoclonal antibodies. (Tokar, 2001; European Commission, 2002). Plant biotechnology is also used for the manufacturing industrial chemicals such as the production of eucalyptus and pine trees with desirable traits like high and uniform growth rates, tolerate high doses of herbicides, and highly suitable for making paper pulp (Tokar, 2001). Biofuel is the nontoxic, biodegradable and energy security renewable energy source from crop plants like corn, soybean for replacing high priced petroleum products and to become energy independent. Bioremediation of polluted oil, soil, water, air is used for cleaner and greener environment (European Commission, 2002). Hazards of agricultural biotechnology An unknown new way gives rise to whole set of new questions. Genetically engineered (GE) foods have unpredictable hazards, potential risks and significant disadvantages, for public health and environment which restricts the use of GE food in our day to day diet. Artificial gene insertions/deletions in microbes, plants or animals might be carrier of unexpected harmful properties. These tailored living systems might uncontrollably propagate fast and prove detrimental to the beneficial insects, soil microbes and other native organisms and as such whole ecosystem (Tokar, 2001). Therefore, unless safety issues are solved, they must be handled carefully in laboratory without unleashing them in the environment. Genetically modified plants might act sneaky to direct toxic and allergenic phenotype expressions and also has high risk of cross pollination. In addition to use of genetic engineering, use of bioreactor crops or animals for drug production on a large scale would magnify the problems of well known harmful implications on biodiversity, the balance of nature, wildlife and the environment (Tokar, 2001). Financial Impact of Biotechnology It has been reported by the national Center for Food and Agriculture Policy that the production costs is greatly reduced due to lower usage of pesticides by conferring immunity to the genetically engineered crops such as soybeans, cotton, corn, raspberries, papaya etc (Brower, 2001). . In 1994, within a span of 2 years the papaya production is decreased to 50% in Hawaii region of United Sates due to infection by papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). Due to collaborative efforts from Cornell University and the University of Hawaii, viral –resistant genetically engineered papaya seeds was planted on 53% of the acreage in the Hawaii, which led to 33% increase in statewide production (Brower, 2001). There are more than 30 plants which destruct soybean field and therefore numerous chemicals are required to control this. Use of chemicals would increase production costs by $ 12, $ 23, $ 33, $14 per acre in Illinois, New York, South Dakota, Mississipi respectively. Roundup Ready varieties (RRV) were planted on 63% acreage nationwide in 2001. The plantation of this herbicide-tolerant soybean RRV allowed use of only one herbicide to protect the field, and resulted in annual savings of $ 735 across 49 million acres in United States (Brower, 2001). The use of insecticidal engineered cotton plants eliminated the use of insecticide and reduced yield losses due to Bt cotton pests. This led to a 260 million lbs/year boost in the production, a 2.7 million lbs/year decrease in the use of pesticides, a $ 99 million/year increase in income, and a 260 million lb. increase in cotton output (Brower, 2001). The report also has focused on the great financial benefits derived from the use of virus –resistant citrus (VRC) in Texas, virus resistant raspberries (VRR) in Oregon and Washington State, and insect-resistant sweet (IRSW) corn in Florida. The use of VRC could save $ 48 million from loss in a year. The use of VRR could save $ 10 million lbs annually from viral infection, increase production value by $ 11 million, and lessened 50% fumigant cost. The use of IRSW could save $ 22 million lbs annually from pests, increase production value by $ 3.9 million, and curtailed 70% insecticide cost (Brower, 2001). Conclusion Biotechnology industry is always suffering from commercial and national governments pressures. To patent the mapped sections of the human genome is live example of unforeseen future disruption (Bruce). The patenting and commercialization of gene therapy might create adverse socioeconomic impact. GM food is facing criticism due to its unparalleled powers to harm life for all future generations. The evaluation of the quality of genetically modified foodstuffs is vital in this scenario of growing awareness. The miracle of agricultural biotechnology is a definite solution to combat worldwide hunger problem if used cautiously. Biotechnology related individuals which include; scientists, government and consumer society should possess a sense of responsibility towards our dear planet to make our ecosystem heaven for everybody to avoid mishap and controversies. References Tokar, Brian (Summer 2001). Engineering plants to manufacture pharmaceuticals and industrial enzymes. Synthesis/Regeneration, 25. Accessed May 14, 2009.Available from: http://www.greens.org/s-r/25/25-18.html Kevles, Daniel J. (June 2002). Cloning Can’t Be Stopped. Technology Review http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/12852 (2 pages) European Commission (2002). Chapter 2. The potential of life sciences and Biotechnology. In, Life Sciences and Biotechnology - A Strategy for Europe, Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. Brower, Vicki. (October 15, 2001). Gene altered seeds yield lower pesticide usage, grower costs. Biotechnology Newswatch, pp. 4. Bruce, Donald M. Moral and Ethical Issues in Gene Therapy. Society, Religion and Technology Project. http://www.srtp.org.uk/genthpy1.htm. Sade RM, Khushf G. Gene therapy: ethical and social issues. J So Carolina Med Assoc 1998;94(9):406-410 Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations (FAO). FAO newsroom (2004). The gene revolution: great potential for the poor, but no panacea. http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2004/41714/index.html The International Council for Science (ICSU). Persley, G. J. New Genetics, Food and Agriculture: Scientific Discoveries – Societal Dilemmas. http://www.icsu.org/Gestion/img/ICSU_DOC_DOWNLOAD/91_DD_FILE_GMO_Exec%20Summary.pdf. Read More