Advantages And Disadvantages Of Biotechnology Biology Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Biotechnology biota EssayThe objective purpose of this assignment is the, familiarization of the connection between the biotech and kitchen-gardening bringing on the role of the ergonomics science to agriculture. On the way to assess the specific contri plainlyion, citations of positives and negative effectuate argon allocated as substantially as thoughts and worriers regarding the forthcoming of the association between biotechnology and agriculture. eer since agriculture was developed, before 10 000 years (Sample et al .,2007), humans were attempting to fabricate bracing turns as salutary as and new techniques in rig to make the exertion much much easy.Over the effort of the public to produce the best quality products as doable and in more quantities, new technologies and techniques were introduced set asideing agriculture for further development. Standing on this piece of raise it is a fact that close to of the expert innovations where integrated to the agricultural science over the last 200 years.(Krimsky et al.,1996). On this improvements of the agricultural science it is captivate to include the fertilizers, the plant breeding , the mechanization of the procedure as wellspring as the management of the plant enemies using plant protection products (e.g herbicides, pesticides, fungicides).(Krimsky et al., 1996) plainly the discovery of recombinant DNA back in the early seventies clear a new era in modern agriculture introducing biotechnology into the field ,allowing the scientists to develop novel ideas of innovations in fodder production.(). As biotechnology is defined according tothe Convention on Biological Diversity, any technological application lend oneselfs biological systems, living organisms or their derivatives defecate or spay products for specific mathematical function (Convention onBiological Diversity, 1992).This definition includes medical and industrialapplications and tools and techn iques example inagriculture and food production (FAO, 2004).Among the best cogniseapplications, is the creation of constituenttically modify foods, cloningthe sheep Dolly, the complete sequencing of the human genome and thedevelopments in stem cell research.Like all technologies, so theBiotechnology is associated with cognize and unknown risks and menaces.That in itself is a food source for the media tothe production of stories that displume readers (Gaskell et al., 2003).Benefits that may occur with the utilization of catching modify organisms had to do with several(prenominal) values that the humanity has set as priority objectives. Moreover the die harders of the agriculture biotechnology state that with the usage of GMOs the role of the sustainable environment is jump due to the fact that the main target is the reducing of the usage of pollutants much(prenominal) as pesticides and herbicides.An extra fact that is settled is that the race of the earth is nigh 6 b illion and with the possibility that there is a continuous track for further gain.Indicative, it is expected that over the next 50 years the worlds population go forth be doubled. With this fact, it is remarkable to declare that the humanity has to ensure that the quantities of food that will be produced ought to be adequate in order to consume the entire population of the earth. Perhaps this will be a massive challenge, whereas the agricultural sciences submit the great responsibility. Standing on these factors the supporters of factortically modified products, devote highlighted a numeral wins that may humanity obtain from their use.The genetically Modified Organisms, in view of the fact that they digest been introduced a gene from an separate organism, they are able to acquire properties compared with the natural plants as they have the ability to confer opponent to various biotic and abiotic factors such(prenominal) as resistivity to various plant protection products from herbicide and pesticide as well as common salt drought conditions.With the most usual method in unoriginal agriculture to protect the crops from pest insects to be spraying the plants with unlike chemical insecticides have a lot of bad consequences. Even if the use of chemical insecticides is prudential spray or forced the usual results of the non-rational usage of the chemical pesticides by farmers, lead to the fait accompli, which usual have to do with the vast bionomical consequences. This method comprises negative effects on the environment and to the ecologic balance. away from the harmful insects to crops, the chemical pesticides may repose umteen other species of insects which they might be consider as beneficial as well as natural enemies to the pests. The consequences result in a genuine ecological disruption. Furthermore, the excessive use of insecticides may give resistance of the insects so that to regard those needs is even what harmful. Additionally most c hemical insecticides have ototoxic effects even for humans, with residues of pesticides that may possibly end up through and through food chains. On this aspect, biotechnology has given a very honorable solution deriving plants which have the power to react autonomously as bio insecticides. For this purpose, was disjunct a gene from the soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis which can encode a protein with a natural insecticide action.(Pentheroudakis).This protein is a -endotoxin and has toxic effects in an environment with pH 7,5 to 8,which can be observed in insects and not in the stomach of man.The certain bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is use as a biological insecticide for many years, and is grown in bioreactors and then can be sprayed on crops in order the plants to have the appropriate protection from the pests.This solution is considered environmentally friendly since it excludes the use of furious chemicals and pesticides and does not lead to untoward health and enviro nmental (standards 1999, deMaagd 1999). But besides apart from its fuction as a solution , it is likewise considered as non an economical solution since of the fact that Bacillus thuringiensis has a limit time of manner and thats why it has have repeated sprays.(Penteroudakis) .Gene technology made executable the translation of the particular gene which can produce the -endotoxin in plants enabling plants to be protected from the destructive action of certain insects such as Lepidoptera. on that point are several strains of Bacillus thuringiensis and each strain produces a incompatible toxin, which acts in a particular species of insects (Estruch et al, 1996).This ensures the plants resistance to certain insect species by introducing a particular gene (the genes are called genes Bt). One of the applications of Bt producing plants is to resist the European lemon yellow borer, which is the main enemy pest of the U.S. corn crop and also responsible for damages cost $1 billion a nnually (Huang et al, 1999). harmonize to the company Monsanto, the production of transgenic Bt crops reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 1 million litters per year.The nematode worms, as soil organisms can hasten heartrending damages to the crops. Parasitic nematodes can create serious trouble at a wide variety of plants and are responsible for significant crop losses.Also the eggs survive in the soil under adverse conditions for many years.Another thing that has to be concern is that it is extremely heavy to militate with parasitic nematodes particularly after the withdrawal of methyl bromide.With the contribution of biotechnology scientists found that various plants are loathly to nematode worms.For the resistance of certain genes are responsible which have been isolated.An example is the gene Gro1 potato, which confers resistance to Globodera rostochiensis.This has opened the way for the possible introduction of these genes into crops to address the challenge of the fil amentary.(Jung et al,1998) cut down plants genetically modified to withstand verypowerful and widely used herbicides, can helpto reduce environmental impact of the widespread useherbicides.One example is the creation of GM soya from the company Monsanto, which is not affected by the herbicide Roundup , product of the same company(http//www.monsanto.com/monsanto/ag_products/input_traits/products/ hertzup_ready_soybeans.asp). The resistance of plants against viral diseases,fungi and bacteria will improve the effect of the fields.The company Monsanto released on the market in 1996, the genetically modified soybean, which is tolerant to the widely used herbicide Roundup.The genetically modified soybean was introduced the bacterial gene CP4-EPSPS that produces an enzyme large-minded to the action of the herbicide.The Roundup suppresses the activity of natural plant EPSPS enzyme and destroy the plants.Genetically modified plants, however, producing a resistant enzyme is not affected by the action of Roundup.The genetically modified soya has caused a storm of reactions in Europe.Soybeans are particularly important because its derivatives are used in many processed foods such as soya lecithin used in the production of chocolates and baking.In 1998 one third of total U.S. soybean crop was genetically modified, while in 1999 more than half Mitten et al, 1999.Another possible benefit of the usage of biotechnology in agriculture, is the possible creation in the proximo of seeds resistant to cold (theintroduction of the gene of antifreeze protein from fishAntarctica), in salinity or drought, which will allowcrop plants in soils inhospitable to go steady indicative (Zhang andBlumwald, 2001).And the contribution of biotechnology does not stop here .It is possible the creation in the future, seeds and crops with highnutritional value (Ye et al., 2000) which will allow for better nutritionchildren in the Third World.One good paradigm to support this Almost half the world s population eats sift (Oryza sativa L.), at least once a day(IRRI undated). Rice is the staple food among the worlds poor, particularly in Asia and partsof Africa and South America. It is the primary source of energy and nutrition for millions.Thus, better the nutritional quality of rice could potentially improve the nutritionalstatus of nearly half the worlds population, particularly its children. Commodity ricecontains astir(predicate) 7% protein, but some varieties, notably black rice, contain as much as 8.5%(Food and Agriculture fundamental law 2004). The most limiting amino tart in rice is lysine.Efforts to increase the nutritional value of rice target protein content and quality alongwith key nutrients often deficient in rice-eating populations, such as vitamin A and iron.The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines, is a primary spunk for riceresearch and development of improved varieties.In 1999, Dr. Momma and colleagues at Kyoto University, Japan, r eported a geneticallyengineered rice having about 20% greater protein content compared with control rice (Momma et al. 1999). Transgenic plants containing a soybean gene for the protein glycinin contained 8.0% protein and an improved essential amino acid profile compared with 6.5%protein in the control rice.Also the production potential in the future of edible vaccines and drugsin potatoes and tomatoes (Daniell et al., 2001).Plants such as poplar, can the genetic accommodation toused for phytoremediation contaminated by heavy metals in soils (Rugh, 2004).Apart from the advantages that biotechnology can donate to the agriculture sciences there are and a lot of factors that as scientists and as consumers we have to be aware. There are ethical factors and other parameters that have to mostly with the environmental subjects that have to be in mind. Nearly all have expressed their concern about GM food and the possible effects on health and safety of humans inenvironment, economic situ ation of farmers and the poor of the world make agriculture one of the few, powerful companies environmentalactivist organizations (such as Greenpeace, the net income against GMOs,the GMWatch), religious organizations, citizens groups sensitized(such as the Organic Consumer Association), researchers and scientists (such asETCgroup, the Institute of acquaintance in Society, by The American Society ofenvironmental Medicine, the Union of concerned Scientists).Experiments and studieshave determine a number of risks associated with the use of GM foods. environmental hazardsthat they might derived is firstly the challenge of unintended harm to other species. As an example of thislaboratory studies haveshown that pollen from B.t.GM corn caused high orderof mortality in the larvae of the Monarch butterfly. (Losey etal., 1999)The possible reduction of biodiversity, is another threat of the GM crops against the environment.The widespread use of GM crops maylead to cut down biodiversity in neighboring cropsGM ecosystem.Because GM products are likely to havecompetitive advantage over its natural wild varieties of plants,the latter may not be able to survive with its attendantreduction or extinction of wild varieties (Conner et al., 2003, Vacher etal., 2004).The GM crops can be fatal for othersorganizations that piece the ecosystem, as species of birds(Watkinson et al., 2000).The Horizontal gene transferee is another thing that worries the scientific world regarding the usage of GMOs. The introduction of exotic species into newenvironments can cause extensive and irreversibledestruction through the horizontal transfer of genes, stockpileie genes among related organisms, and microbes in ormammalian cells (unlike the vertical transmission system is the transfergenes from one generation to the next).The transfer and integrationthese genes would result in genetic modificationagencies beyond the estimates of researchers.Such transferscan lead egto create super widows weeds (literatureReview Ho and Cummnis, 2008).General health problems in animals is another think that we have to be aware. A variety of studies in animals suggest thatconsumption of GM foods can cause serious health problemssuch as infertility, hormonal dysfunction, accelerated aging,dysfunction of genes associated with cholesterol synthesis,problems in the regulation of insulin, cell labeling andprotein synthesis and changes in the structure of the liver, kidney, spleenand GI (Ewen and Pustzai, 1999, Finamore et al.,2008, Malatesta et al., 2008, Kilik and Akay, 2008, Kroghsbo et al., 2008).Another object that we have to have in mind is allergies, which is the biggest, so far, side effects of GM foods and is likely to increase the incidence of insidiousallergies.Many people and especially children are allergic to edibleplants such as peanuts, an allergy which can leaddeath because of some proteins produced by them.Projectsto increase the nutritional value of soybeans in the intro duction togenome of a gene from the Brazilian peanut abandonedwhen research showed that the transgenic soy can labour allergicreactions to people predisposed (Nordlee et al., 1996).Thereevidence that the genetically modified plant products areeven higher allergenic potential than conventional plants.Several studies have been reported in the literature, suggesting thatthe process of genetic modification may increase the allergenpotential of plants.For example, levels of inhibitortrypsin-allergenic agent of soybean are 27% higherin GM soy.Also, the Bt toxin in GM corn maytrigger allergic immune response since it containssequences that match EN identified allergens(literature review Smith, 2007).Scandal had causedcase of Bt corn Starlink of Aventis, whichgrown in the U.S. from 1998 to run through and industrialpurposes and not for human consumption because of concerns ofscientific staff of the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection that can cause allergic reactions.In 2000,modified corn Star link s put into tacos andanother 300 food products containing corn in various parts ofworld, making visible the gaps that existed in the management of possiblerisks from the use of GM (Bucchini and Goldman, 2002).Finally A key argument of the proponents of GM crops, largeproduction and distribution companies modified seeds and lionscientists, is the largest agricultural mathematical operation of biotechnologycrops, an argument which appears to be rebutted by the recent.Research the Union of come to Scientists in which geneticallymodified crops ultimately enhance the appearance of resistantherbicides weeds thus reducing the production and leading to smallercrops (Gurian-Sherman, 2009).In addition, as mentioned previously, the GM seedmoving is patented and in future will also be sterilizedcausing billions of poor farmers to subvert expensive seeds eachtime with disastrous results (Whitman, 2000).The application of genetic engineering resulted in the creation of genetically modifie d organisms resistant pathogens.This became possible to transfer resistance genes, especially with the help of Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefasiens, in crop plants of great economic importance, such as corn, soybeans, cotton, tobacco, oilseed k.al.The most commonly used gene is the Bt gene coding for the production of a toxin able to counteract the harmful insects on crops.The isolation of the gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and the introduction of a plant species resulted in the creation of a broad class of transgenic plants resistant to attacks of insects, Bt plants.The stopping point of Bt plants have the advantage of avoiding the use of chemical pesticides, which contain toxic and hazardous substances.It is also important to create GM plants resistant to nematodes and herbicides, particularly in widely-used herbicide Roundup.The cultivation of transgenic plants but can cause various environmental problems.This is the transfer of genes to plants or weeds throug h pollen and thus creating heat-parasites, prevalence through natural selection of resistant strains of insects to the toxin Bt, the unexpected effect of Bt insect toxin safe for agriculture and the possible detestationthe creation of herbicide-resistant plants on them.There is no doubt that the establishment and cultivation of genetically modified plants will not only continue but probably will in future become the dominant framing of farming.The attitude of scientists, especially those related to environmental protection, towards GMOs should be responsible and critical.The new research data, the largest observation time, economics and the comparison of the potential risks with the multiple benefits will help shape a scientifically informed view on the impact of GMOs into the environment.