The world is continuously progressing, and biotechnology has found ways to create an array of products in higher quantities, at unparalleled rates. However, the repercussions of such technology have caused controversy: one specific area of debate has been the use of bovine somatotropin (BST), a growth hormone which increases lactation levels in cattle. Prior to 1994, BST was only available from post-mortem extraction from the pituitaries of cows, making it impractical for general use; however, recombinant DNA technology has permitted for the development of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST). Recombinant DNA can be mass produced, meaning growth hormones could be used in unprecedented quantities. Although rBSTs may be superficially beneficial, some evidence suggests that the use of them produces more harm than good. Because of its negative ecological effect, minimal economic benefit and inherent ethical problems (potentially harming both cows and humans), the use of rBST should be limited, if not banned altogether.
Although cows administered rBSTs may theoretically produce more milk, they tend to have more health issues than non-treated cows. One way this manifests is reduced pregnancy rates in cattle. Some studies have shown that rBST-treated cows are 40% less fertile than their untreated counterparts (Organic Valley, 2012). Inherently, low fertility negatively affects a herd, because maximum reproduction allows for genetic diversity. A limited gene pool in any species increases the risk for mutations in the offspring. Fortunately, not enough cows are currently treated with growth hormone for this to be a major issue; however, awareness of the possible risks in hormone treatment is imperative to maintain healthy livestock. C...
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...h potential danger as recombinant bovine somatotropin is an inexcusably reckless act.
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Cattle breeders inject their female cattle (cows) with hormones to help with reproduction for reasons such as fertility and synchronization. With fertility help, the cow is injected with a hormone such as GnRH in Factrel, Fertagyl, and Cystrolrelin to help start ovulation. Once the cow begins to ovulate, it may become pregnant. Another reason hormone injections are used in cows is for synchronization. The
A growing issue in the world today is the use of antibiotics and growth hormones in animal production industry. However, for over sixty years Americans have been exposed to hormones on a regular basic when they consume beef. (Organic Consumer Association) On average eighty percent of all feedlot cattle are given hormones to help them grow at an increased rate. (Communication Foundation) “In 1988 the European Union banned the use of all hormone growth promoters.” (Organic Consumer Association)
A growing issue in the world today is the use of antibiotics and growth hormones in animal production industry. However, for over sixty years Americans have been exposed to hormones on a regular basic when they consume beef. (1) On average eighty percent of all feedlot cattle are given hormones to help them grow at an increased rate. (2) “In 1988 the European Union banned the use of all hormone growth promoters.” (1)
Imagine sinking your teeth into a t-bone steak that has come from a steer that was treated with hormones, or enjoying a glass of rBGH treated milk. The steak and milk may not taste any different from the same untreated products, but the hormones they contain could both, directly and indirectly, have an impact on your health. The hormones that farmers in the U.S. administer to the cattle are dangerous and have negative effects on the people and the environment. Although America admits hormone use in cattle, the fact that Europe has banned hormone use raises many questions about the possible health risks these hormones may have on consumers.
Morgan, S. Philip, Suzanne Shanahan, and Whitney Welsh. "Brave New Worlds: Philosophy, Politics, and Science in Human Biotechnology." Population and Development Review 31.1 (2005): 127-44.
Imagine a life locked away in a cage with no form of control on your existence. It’s cold, dark, and you are scared. You don’t have a choice of what you eat, where you live, or how you are treated. You are unsure if it is day or night or what will happen to you next. You are locked away in a prison cell and you committed no crime. This is the life of a laboratory animal. Animal testing is the use of animals for scientific research purposes and experiments. It can be used for the findings of cures and medicines to testing new drugs, to understanding the behavioral psychology of the animals themselves. “Around fifty to one hundred million vertebrate animals, ranging from fish to primates, are used in experiments each year” (Lloyd). There are many different terms used to describe the research on animals but two main ideas. In vivo research is where the experiment is conducted on a live organism. In this case the animal is not operated on but rather tested in a natural living state such as exposing the animal to a toxin or chemical and documenting the side effects. The other is vivisection and can be closely related to dissection or surgical experiments on the living. It is an operation on a living animal for testing rather than healing purposes. This word is usually associated with negative perceptions such as torture, pain, suffering and death.
“isn’t it strange how upset people get when about a few dozen baseball players taking growth hormone, when we’re doing what were doing to food animals and feeding them to our children?” This is true when some famous sports player takes hormones all of America gets upset, but we do not even think about all of the hormones that we put into the chickens, cows turkeys and other animals that we eat to make them grow faster and how it is affecting us. Americans should be informed about the way that the factory farms are treating the animals. There are very few farm that grow anything organic, the only way the food is truly organic is if it does not have any hormones, antibiotics or man-made drug inside of the animals. Furthermore, we should not be
Furthermore, bacteria’s are becoming resistant to antibiotics and this can cause serious health threats to humans because it will be harder to treat illness and infections; as a result, the mortality rate will increase. This issue is affecting people all over the world, by providing the body with hormones; as a consequence, the body will stop producing natural hormones. Once the body stops the production of hormones humans will always depend on synthetic hormones, and if a person leaves the country and starts eating organic food major withdrawal effects can occur. Although the food industry states that hormones and antibiotics are not affecting humans, researchers state the contrary. Injecting and feeding hormones and antibiotics to animals is a huge con...
Threats were made to the human health. But there was no evidence whatsoever that anyone has gotten sick. Dr. Nestle says that there are theoretical risks including allergy risks. This GE hormone is injected into dairy cows to force them to produce more milk. Scientists have warned that significantly higher levels of a potent chemical hormone. Insulin like growth factor, in the milk and dairy products of rBGH injected cows, could pose serious hazards such as human breast, prostate, and colon cancer.Scientists can’t measure the impact of GMOs on human health when no one knows which foods contain GMOs and which
This review focuses on minimizing losses associated with bovine dystocia. Annual financial losses sustained by the United States’ beef and dairy industries are substantial. Studies have shown that thirty-three percent of all of calf death losses in the United States are due to dystocia. Many producers have responded by implementing management practices which have led to a decline in overall occurrences. Current information suggests that additional dystocial births could be circumvented by identifying and removing genetically prone individuals from the herd’s breeding program. Implementation of tests such as genome wide association studies and comparative hormone concentration tests may prove to be useful in this identification process. Despite
Wein, Harrison, Ph.D. "Risk in Red Meat? - National Institutes of Health" U.S National Library
This report explains genetically modified food (GMOs) and discusses the benefits and risks associated with the consumptions of GMOs. Genetically modified foods (GMOs) are foods that have been genetically altered using engineering techniques. The most common technique used today is called recombinant DNA technology; this technology combines different molecules from different plant species to create a plant with a new set of genes, a hybrid plant. Another recombinant DNA technology being used is recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) an artificial growth hormone; this hormone is being fed or injected into cows to improve milk production. (ThefreeDictionary)
It address the questions that are at the center of the medical field, such as what it means to be human, the role of technology in health care, and the boundaries of treatments involving advances in technology. Although human enhancement appears to have several positive affects, the negative affects are also great in number. Neither can be overlooked since this technology has the power to not only improve humanity, but also bring it to an all time low. By considering the factors that play into the outcomes of biotechnology, it is possible to answer the pressing questions at hand and to determine the circumstances in which biotechnology could result in beneficial
For the biotechnology industry, the future is now. Biotech companies are producing new and improved drugs, mapping the genome, and creating artificial organs and body parts. The advent of these new products will increase the quality of life for those who have access to them. Advancements in the biotechnology field have received a lot attention by the press and publications. They have given the impression that it is almost imperative to learn about this fairly new field of study.
Nicklin, D. S. 2001. Medical Issues: The Future Impact of Biotechnology on Human Factors. [e-book] United Kingdom: pp. 1-2. Available through: science and technology organisation collaboration support centre http://ftp.rta.nato.int/public/PubFullText/RTO/MP/RTO-MP-077/MP-077-19.pdf [Accessed: 11 Apr 2014].