Background Information Biotechnology allows the use of living organisms or their

Question

Background Information

Biotechnology allows the use of living organisms or their processes for human needs or purposes. Currently, this topic includes such general examples as cloning, stem cells (adult, umbilical cord, and embryonic), DNA fingerprinting, biological warfare, bioremediation, genetically modified organisms, vaccines, and transgenic plants and animals to name a few. In this assignment, you will explore specific examples of biotechnology applications.

Part 1

Biotechnology is the use of a living thing or any part of a living thing to make a product or process that improves human life. For this part of the assignment, discuss the following:

What are some of the examples of biotechnology that have made improvements to your life?

Describe how one of these has made your life better.

Do you have any concerns with biotechnology? Explain.

Part 2

In 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved food derived from cloned animals. In addition, these products will not need to be labeled as “cloned” or “from clones” (Black, 2008). The FDA explains that you will not be eating the clone itself. It takes thousands of dollars to clone a food animal such as a cow or pig. Animals that are cloned for improved food production will be used for a breeding program to produce many offspring with the desirable traits for increased meat or milk yield. These offspring of the clones will be fair game for food. Discuss the following:

Do you think there are differences between a clone and a "normal" animal?

How do you feel about eating a cloned animal?

Is your opinion of eating a cloned plant different?

Explanation / Answer

biotechnology has been used to develop various vaccines and medicines to cure more than 200 diseases including cancer,arthritis, heart diseases, AIDS, diabetes etc., so it helps us to keep healthy and live longer life

Brewing and fermentation: fermentation is one of the oldest used of biotechnology, it is used in the fermenatation process of wine, beer, alcohols, vitamins, acids etc

detergents: the use of enzymes in household detergents has long been used and is ever more prevalent as the push for environmentally friendly detergents.

Cheese, yoghurt and lactose intolerance: milk can be used to make dairy products by the use of fermentation process and starter cultures and the important enzyme, rennet, which has been used for thousands of years. lactose intolerant persons can also enjoy several dairy products due to the discovery of lactase enzyme

Animal breeding and genetic improvement: artiifcial insemination and embryo transfer are just two of the many ways cattle farmers and ranchers utilise biotenchonology to improve our use of advancements in genetic selection.

Human fertility: the same technique and uses of biotechnology we utilise in livestock are utilized in human fertility clinics to help people carry out successful pregnancies

besides the most important role of biotechnology is in the preparation of genetically modified crops eg Bt cotton

biotechnology has some concerns also for example the genetically modified crops might put an uncertain impact on the envrionment. main concern is that the gene triggered into the genome of the plant might transfer to the other plants including weeds. then there will be specialized form of weeds which can be resistant against the insecticides and develope into useless plants. this transfer of genes may cause the loss of genetic diversity within the crop species and ecosystem and can also be destablilised.

part 2

according to the soon to be released FDA report on cloned animals the government says that it is absolutely safe to eat a cloned morning. the FDA analysis of cloned animals found virtually no difference between clones and animals reproduced by normal means. right now though cloned animals are mainly used as breeding stock

Since these animals are not labeled as clone, we might not entirely feel anything special about eating a cloned animal. is eating a cloned plant will be different, since if we know we are eating a cloned animal we might feel a bit unsafe but this feeling will be negligible in case of a cloned plant

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