The Pros And Cons Of Medical Biotechnology

Introduction

Biotechnology is the use of biological systems or organisms to create products or perform processes that are beneficial to mankind. Broadly, this entails any form of manipulation to biological organisms and systems. Even though lab related biotechnology expanded in the late twentieth century, following the discovery of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) in 1953, much older biotechnological techniques and processes had already existed. These include beer production, biological pest control and domestication of plants and animals; including selective crop farming and breeding of livestock. Following the exponential growth in the field of biotechnology many societal, ethical and legal issues have emerged. Yet, this essay focuses on the advantageous

They transformed medicine and prevented millions from dying, reducing the amount of known fatal diseases, including anthrax, penicillin and tuberculosis (TB). Antibiotic treatment is not only available for humans but plants and animals as well. This means livestock with bacterial diseases can receive antibiotic treatment, which further protects humans from diseases and aids in agriculture. Since antibiotics cannot destroy viruses; antiviral medication and vaccines were introduced to battle and control viral diseases. Vaccine production and research in biotechnology rests under the field of immunology and virology, where by previously, virtually untreatable viral diseases such as measles, polio, influenza, chicken pox, rabies, common cold, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), Ebola and hepatitis can be treated through vaccination. Research in these fields also led to the production of antiretroviral drugs, developed specifically for RNA (ribonucleic acid) based

droughts, floods and extreme temperatures), pests(e.g. insects and herbicides), diseases and chemical fluctuations. Genetic engineering also provides foods that have a highly reduced spoilage, have an improved nutritional content, ripen faster, larger in size, and more ‘juicy’ or appetizing than their naturally occurring varieties. For example since cotton seed oil, soybean, canola and corn are in high demand, they have been genetically modified for better nutritional content, pathogen and herbicide resistance. Further, unlike selective breeding genetic engineering allows more control over genetically modified organisms and more understanding of genetics or