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Pros and cons of transgenic technology
Transgenic organisms and the applications of this practice in the world
Pros and cons of transgenic technology
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Transgenic species are a massive problem in our world, but what is it actually? And should Scientists create it? Transgenic species is something that has been modified, one species genome transferred into its own by using what is called genetic engineering. (Dictionary.com. 2016.) There is a great deal of positives in genetically modified species however the negatives overrule. A few examples of Transgenic species are, human insulin, glow rabbits, cows modified to produce human protein and aquadvantage salmon.
To this day synthetic insulin, also know as human insulin has been getting produced to service diabetics, this is made with genetically modified bacteria, but it’s affecting people in a number of serious ways. There is a collection
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Cows have been modified to produce human protein. Chinese researchers have been genetically modifying a herd of 300 cattle to produce milk like breast feeding milk by containing the same immune-boosting and antibacterial qualities. But is this really safe? The scientists have suggested that this milk is safe, but need to have more testings and is hoping to get it on the market in 3 years time. The Uc Davis Group has inserted the lysozyme human gene into several goats for them to produce 68% of lysozyme that human milk has. Therefore, this is positive in many ways, but what about the animals that get tested? What about all the ones that go wrong? What happens to them? No one really knows. Cows and goats that have been getting genetically modified to produce human milk has a major negative in the project, and should not be aloud on the shelves of our stores and should make a stop to the animals getting tested on especially the ones that didn’t succeed. (Cows Make Humanized Milk. But Is It Safe?. …show more content…
Do you know the risks? Aquadvantage salmon is a very safe product for people to eat and also have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, what would happen if it accidently got released out into the wild? The modified population would release out to the wild populations through the reproduction between species or even an introduction of viable eggs, which would affect our natural ecosystem. So why risk it? Provided with these risks this transgenic breed needs to be stopped before it is too late and gets accidentally released to the wild and damaging or natural ecosystem. (Disadvantages - Transgenic salmon: Why They Aren’t a Solution.
During the year 1889, two researchers, Joseph Von Mering and Oskar Minkowski, had discovered the disease that is known today as diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the insulin levels (a hormone produced in unique cells called the islets of Langerhans found in the pancreas) in the bloodstream are irregular and therefore affect the way the body uses sugars, as well as other nutrients. Up until the 1920’s, it was known that being diagnosed with diabetes was a death sentence which usually affected “children and adults under 30.” Those who were diagnosed were usually very hungry and thirsty, which are two of the symptoms associated with diabetes. However, no matter how much they ate, their bodies wouldn’t be able to use the nutrients due to the lack of insulin. This would lead to a very slow and painful death. In 1922, four Canadian researchers by the names of Frederick G. Banting, Charles H. Best, John J.R. MacLeod, and James B. Collip had discovered a way to separate insulin in the pancreas of dogs and prepare it in such a way so that it can be used to treat diabetic patients. In the year 2008, there were 1,656,470 people who suffered from diabetes in Canada, and by 2010, it is predicted that this disease will take over the lives of 285 million people . Although there is no cure for diabetes, the treatment of prepared insulin is prolonging the lives of diabetics and allowing them to live freely. The discovery of insulin was important and significant in Canada’s history because Banting was a Canadian medical scientist who had a purpose in finding a treatment for diabetes, its discovery has saved lives and improved the quality of life of those suffering from this disease, and it showed the world Canada’s medical technology was ...
Frederick Banting, with the help of Charles Herbert Best, J.R.R. Macleod and James Bertram Collip, was able to isolate insulin from animals and treat patients suffering from diabetes, using injections of the insulin. The insulin injections succeeded in treating diabetes.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the AquAdvantage salmon for consumption. The salmon has been genetically engineered to grow faster than the conventional farmed salmon.
Insulin is by far the most influential discovery in Canadian and world history. In Canada in 2008/2009 there were 2.4 million people living with diabetes and there are many more today. With out the discovery of insulin many people would not be able to live full lives. However, the discovery of insulin was not just an accomplishment Fredrick Banting and his colleagues had developed in the 1920s, it was a product of timing and luck on Banting’s part and the idea that he took from others was the product that changed the century.
Before the discovery of Insulin, the life changing hormone that had originated from the research and experiments of Charles Best and Frederick Banting, Type 1 Diabetes was considered to be a death sentence to anyone who was diagnosed with it. It was just a matter of a few months to a year, a countdown until someone found them laying on their deathbed. In the late 1800’s, scientists discovered that by removing the pancreas of a dog, it caused it to suffer from Diabetes. This started a surge of research from many scientists, but no one was able to come up with a cure for this killer disease. That is, until 1921 when Frederick Banting, along with Charles Best, were able to successfully extract insulin fr...
Experts say, “Unless you consume only certified organic foods […] you’ve almost certainly eaten foods containing ingredients whose genes have been tweaked […].” (Anonymous, 2013, p.4). This assertion proves that people is eating food with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s), nevertheless they disown the consequences of its intake. The opinions in the scientific society are divided, however recent experiments let predict the possible effects that GM Food production and consumption generates in a global scale. Genetically Modified Foods should be banned because it generates a negative impact on humans’ health, affects the environment and harms the third world nations.
Kraemer, Duane C. “Genetically Altered Animals Will Benefit Humankind.” Genetic Engineering: Opposing Viewpoints. Ed. Carol Wekesser. San Diego: Greenhaven Press,
Insulin (originated from insula, a Latin word for island) is the internal secretion of the pancreas formed by the groups of cells called the islets of Langerhans which was discovered by a medical student in 1869 (Allen). This hormone is needed to enable glucose to enter the cells and provide energy. On the path to diabetes curing, in 1889, Oscar Minkowski took a dog’s pancreas out and days later, flies started to fest on its urine. Come to find out, there was sugar in the dog’s urine (Enerson). The discovery of this was amazing. Fast forward a decade or three, in 1922, Frederick Banting and Charles Best made the best discovery using insulin. During this time, preparations of insulin were taken from pigs and cattle (Allen). It was extracted from pancreas tissues crudely. Sadly, the pigs and cattle did not get out of this happy. Now it is made by genetic engineering which is the direct manipulation of an organism’s genome using biotechnology. So no one or nothing is being endangered (Allen). Lucky pigs!
Zohar, Y. (2010, September 22). Genetically modified salmon is fit for the table. Retrieved from articles.cnn.com/2010-09-22/opinion/zohar.genetically.engineered.salmon_1_fish-and-seafood-wild-stocks-wild-atlantic-salmon/2?_s=PM:OPINION6
U.S. Food And Drug Administration (2013, July 23). An overview of Atlantic salmon, its natural history, aquaculture, and genetic engineering. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://www.fda.gov/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/VeterinaryMedicineAdvisoryCommittee/ucm222635.htm
Genetic modification is very harmful for human beings; it has a huge negative effect on animals’ and humans’ health. The manipulation of the genes of crops and animals may cause health damage. “Animal toxicity studies have shown that genetically modified foods may toxically affect several organs and systems” (Arvanitoyannis, 162, 2011). These studies concluded that genetically modified foods are dangerous and they may become one of the most harmful issues in the world. According to Arvanitoyannis research genetically modified foods cause some common toxic effects such as: hepatic, pancreatic, renal or reproductive effects and may alter the hematological, biochemical and immuno...
This has created a large amount of debate on local, national, and international levels about the safety of genetically modified foods to human health. There are many angles that have been taken from different groups on this issue. Some believe it is harmful to our health, with one source stating that, “mice eating GMO corn had fewer and smaller babies (Jagelio 2013).” Without testing on humans how are we to know these harmful effects aren’t impacting our health and reproduction. Other groups see GMOs as being both beneficial and having no impact on human health.
Genetically modified foods could cross-pollinate with other plants and create an entirely new species. In addition, there is the danger of biotech-resistant weeds and insects evolving. GMO’s have the potential to alter ecosystems in significant ways. Companies are currently engineering salmon, tilapia, carp, and other fish to promote faster growth or to provide resistance to certain diseases. Aquaculture farms are located in oceans and other bodies of water and the fish escape the nets regularly, ecologists worry that genetically modified fish could breed with natural fish.
Scientists and the general population favor genetic engineering because of the effects it has for the future generation; the advanced technology has helped our society to freely perform any improvements. Genetic engineering is currently an effective yet dangerous way to make this statement tangible. Though it may sound easy and harmless to change one’s genetic code, the conflicts do not only involve the scientific possibilities but also the human morals and ethics. When the scientists first used mice to practice this experiment, they “improved learning and memory” but showed an “increased sensitivity to pain.” The experiment has proven that while the result are favorable, there is a low percentage of success rate. Therefore, scientists have concluded that the resources they currently own will not allow an approval from the society to continually code new genes. While coding a new set of genes for people may be a benefitting idea, some people oppose this idea.
Genetic engineering is a way in which specific genes for an animal or plant can be extracted, and reproduced to form a new animal or plant. These new organisms will express the required trait for that gene. This practice is a very controversial topic within the scientific world. It is being implemented in various areas such as agriculture, even though there are many alternatives that can be found for genetic engineered crops, such as organic materials and reducing leeching of the soil. The controversy regarding this practice occurs as it is believed to contribute both negative and positive implications and dangers, not only to oneself but the environment as a whole.