Transcript Group Presentation

Biotechnology
Jamie M. Granero
Richard E. Hayes
Zhou Xiang Huang
Daniel J. Osinski
Emily L. Uniacke
Shimin Zheng
Overview
What is biotechnology?
Genetic Engineering (G.E.)
Modification/Creation of genes and DNA
Biological Computers
Interaction and manipulation of cells (similar to electronic
computers)
Pros
Cons
• Development
• Health and
and Environment
quality of life
• Promising future • Health Issues
• Moral and
Ethical Issues
Pro: Health and Quality of Life
Richard Hayes
•
Better quality of life
•
Vaccines
• Weaker
or dormant form of
virus used for immunization
•
Human Insulin
• Synthesized
bacterium
•
from certain
Agriculture
• More
pest resistant to decrease
use of pesticides
•
Gene modification through
altercation of DNA
• Decreasing
or eliminating risk
for specific disease
Pro: Promising Future
Emily Uniacke
•G.E.
will become essential in food production.
•Potential
benefit for future generation
•Experiment
in manipulating the mitochondrial DNA unfertilized
human embryos proved successful.
•Shoukhrat
Mitalipove’s experiment on four monkeys. “Has no
side effects.”
•Effectively
prevent neuropathy nervous system disorder,
manipulating this type of DNA would that effect physical traits,
personality, or intelligence
•A
UK ethics commission has declare the research ethical
Con: Development and Environment
•
•
•
Zhou Xiang Huang
Biological computers remain as experimental
technique
•
1994, Leonard Adleman
•
Improvement in 2010
Genetic Engineering threats natural environment
•
Genetic Modified crops “outcrossing”
•
Potential to replace non-GM crops
•
Inevitable
Con: Health Issues
Shimin Zheng
•Serious
risks
Allergic reaction
• Increased toxicity
• Too many chemicals used in plants
• Pollution on food and water
•
•Risk
of create animal’s organ to
replace human’s organ
•Genetic Engineering raised concerns
Con: Ethical and Moral Issues
• Abuse of technology
•
•
Athletes
Parents wanting “perfect” children
•
“Playing God”
• Moral
•
•
Is is right to change a human being?
Disrupting millions of years of evolution
•
Possibility that treating one defect
could lead to new ones.
• Potential new threats
Do you think genetic
engineering and biological
computers are beneficial to
society?
Thank You!