Biotechnology Essay

The History and Introduction to Biotechnology

The problems that would arise without biotechnology would include many deaths from diseases, world hunger (due to the fact that our failing food system), leaving horrible marks on the environment everywhere we go, and polluting our planet. Some of our use for biotechnology go towards agricultural things, for example, usually using genes from other species in an effort to produce desired traits such as higher yield or drought tolerance. Supporters of genetically engineering in agriculture point to a multitude of potential benefits of engineered crops including more yield, tolerance of drought, lower pesticide use, increased efficiency of fertilizers, and ability to manufacture drugs or other helpful chemicals. UCS analysis indicate that actual benefits have often fallen far short of expectations. On the other hand, biotechnology has been supporting earth and its inhabitants for some time now and the earliest time dated was in 1952 when Dr. George Gey establishes a continuous cell line taken from a human cervical carcinoma isolated from Henrietta Lacks, who died of the cancer in 1951. This cell line, containing HeLa cells, is commonly used in medical research. In 1953, Dr. James Watson and Dr. Francis Crick reveal the 3D structure of DNA. In 1935, an enzyme, DNA polymerase, involved in the synthesis of a nucleic acid, is isolated for the first time. Dr. Jonas Salk developed the first polio vaccine. The development marks the first use of mammalian cells (monkey kidney cells) and the first application of cell culture technology to generate a vaccine. So many other cases that involved biotechnology we recorded as such and some used in the 201st century include, The FDA approves a recom...

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... years to have an increased life span. Examples of these would be the vaccine that would prevent the human papillomavirus. This was discovered om 2007 and through biotechnology, they have even further researched on the virus and will eventually find a cure for this. Another would be the discovery of the 3D structure of the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS in 2006. Therefore, biotechnology has been an influence our lives through so many different ways that all basically aid us in sustaining our lives. Through more research and breakthroughs, I believe in about 50 - 100 years, we will be able to cure cancer and many other common to rare diseases. Sustain a food supply that will last us and eventually, not force us to have many odd allergies to a variety of things, and have a greener and an increased percentage of us being able to sustain life on Earth.