Useful Information Regarding The Field Of Biotechnologies

By Henry Fisher


There are many fields that have existed almost as long as humanity. One of these fields is biotechnology. Some of the food items such as bread which people eat today were discovered by distant ancestors in the attempt to make their lives easier. The truth is that bread is made through the process of fermentation, which makes use of yeast. The use of living organisms or process to achieve end results that improve human life is the basis of biotechnology. Here are facts regarding Biotechnologies.

There have been great advancements in the field of biotechnology from when it began to what it is today. The field was discovered by great scientists like Edward Jenner and Alexander Fleming. These scientists have greatly contributed to the existence of biotechnology. Vaccines were invented by Jenner and antibiotics were invented by Fleming. These products have been of great value to humanity.

Biotechnology, as a term, was first created by an agriculturist, Karl Ereky, in 1919. In his definition, Ereky defines biotechnology as all fields of work that use living organisms to create products from raw materials. In this present day, biotechnology is no longer in its early stages. Some major discoveries that were made by scientists to symbolize the development of this field exist.

Modern scientists are modifying proteins and DNA to shape the capabilities of living cells, animals, and plants to be more useful to human beings. They achieve this by manipulating DNA in test tubes in a laboratory. In recent years, the manipulation is not done in test tubes anymore, it is done inside living cells. The most exciting biotechnology discoveries of recent years are happening at the microscopic level.

Discoveries in both the past and present have been more useful than hazardous. A number of risks related to the field have been widely discussed, they have not been experienced to any devastating scale yet. Recent discoveries and breakthroughs, however, imply that biotechnology is maturing and is being accompanied by a great deal of risks. Several risks related to biotechnology exist and some have been discussed below.

Unintended consequences are one of the risks that biotechnology presents. The field is most feared for being able to produce effects that are devastating to humanity especially when it is done at the microscopic level. Scientists and researchers hope that the many problems which are experienced today will be solved through gene editing and deleting.

Gene deletion has been done in humans severally in efforts to look for ways to control HIV, cancer among other lethal health conditions. The process of deleting genes has been found to be more complicated than it was initially thought. Deferent reactions and behavior occur in the body of humans when they undergo gene deletion. These reactions are usually different from what scientists expected. This led to suspension of tests to pave way for more research on gene deletion.

Another risk that is feared to come with the maturity of biotechnology is weaponizing biology. Whereas there have been serious disease outbreaks such as Zika virus and Ebola, which are natural, it is feared that future outbreaks may be instigated deliberately. Terrorist and/or state actors may start outbreaks of diseases with malicious intentions to kill people or cause other bad effects.




About the Author: