Biotechnology Pros and Cons
Throughout this past semester many important ecological dilemmas have come to my attention. The most striking environmental issue that I have noted this semester has been agricultural Biotechnology. A reputable definition of Biotechnology would be "the means or way of manipulating life forms (organisms) to provide desirable products for man's use"(www.biotechknowledge.com). Scientists are pleased due to the arrival of biotechnology, believing that it will replace original, conventional breeding methods. After all, it seems like it is a smarter, less expensive way to grow our world's food supply. But let's note that this scientific practice is really not that new. The word biotechnology was introduced in 1919 by a scientist by the name of Karl Ereky in showing mans interaction with biology using modern technology. But, Biotechnology in its agricultural aspects is only one of the many fields of this study. Some other areas in this study are: recombinant DNA, rDNA or gene splicing, enzyme systems, meristem culture, mammalian cell culture, immunology, molecular biology, fermentation, and others. But, humans are beginning to see the not so perfect traits of biotechnology, and even recognizi
ng it as a type of "biological pollution"(Nill, 03). Biotechnology is not only bad for our health, but it is also capable of really messing up our ecosystems. We are ready to plant fields of vegetables that can wipe out an entire species of insect in a designated area. Insect-fighting capabilities of Biotechnology are even seen to be futile in the future. The insects will have built a resistance in time and this is only money out of farmers' pockets. It cannot completely wipe out all the bugs anyway, because bugs are really responsible for the process of pollination. No pollination would mean no flowers, no flowers would lead to fruit, that would bear seeds to start off a whole new generation of plants. It also brings up another issue. Just what if some bugs managed to make it, and then started spreading around pollen from plants that are resistant to bugs. We will end up crossing the wrong bugs together, and they could soon develop a resistance to the Bt chemical. " The theory is that when a Bt-resistant bug does show up, it can be induced to mate with a susceptible bug from the refuge, thus diluting the new gene for resistance," (Pollan, 187). This means that if we have a bunch of 'super bugs' flying around, they will be immune to even crops that don't use biotechnology, they will be immune to the organic ones that just use Bt sprays.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Biotechnology Biotechnology, Category IV, Cons Throughout, Michael Pollan, Karl Ereky, Protection AgencyPollan, Grower Guide, bt products, Agriculture Environment, Nill Kimball, conventional breeding methods, breeding methods, conventional breeding, Bibliography BIBLIOGRAPHY, grow food, growing food, biologically engineered, dna makeup, method farming, earth's resources, pollan 183,
Approximate Word count = 1532
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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