JAIMIE DONOVAN (393)

Biotechnology Biotechnology is the term used to describe the use and exploitation of living things in industry, technology, medicine or agriculture. Biotechnology has applications in many areas; including humans, plants and the environment. Genetic Modification Genetic Modification is the modification or alteration of heritable genes, which allow the change to be passed on to the organisms descendants. Genetic Modification is a term used to cover various processes, many of which have been used for thousands of years, especially since the use of agriculture. However, the term is being more commonly used today, since the discovery and relatively common use of Genetic Engineering. Genetic Engineering is a term that describes the process of isolating and extracting a particular gene from a genome, and inserting this into another organism, transferring characteristics from one organism to another. This process has been given various names, including recombinant DNA technology and genetic manipulation. There are at least three traditional methods of genetic modification, including; (1) Selective Breeding/ Artificial Selection (2) Transgenic Breeding, especially between closely related species (3) Isolating mutants As well as this, a new type of genetic modification, which involves the modification of specific genes in single cells using recently developed biotechnologies. Genetic Modification has had both positive and negative impacts on society. Positive impacts include the developments in medicine, the first being in 1982, with the production of human insulin by bacteria aiding the treatment of diabetes. In 1990, the first genetically modified food as released, an enzyme used in the production of cheese. More recent applications include the use of Genetic Modification in Commercial areas, such as the introduction of herbicide tolerance into crops such as Soya Bean and Oilseed Rape. Negative Impacts include the many objections people have against Genetic Modification. It has been claimed as unnatural, and claimed as having a threat to human health, as it brings us unnaturally closer to being able to manipulate human genetic makeup. This includes technology such as cloning. Genetic Modification also has the unforeseeable medical and environmental consequences of the escape of test organisms into natural populations. Prenatal Testing Prenatal Testing is an example of Biotechnology that has become a common part of life for many women in society. Prenatal Testing is examinations done to a pregnant woman, to determine if the foetus has any problems. There are two main tests done are Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) and Amniocentesis. CVS is a test that involves a small amount of

JAIMIE DONOVAN (393)

Chorionic Villus (the material lining the uterus that develops into the placenta) being sampled and tested. This test is commonly used if the women is in her mid-30s or over, if she has had a previous screening that indicated chromosomal problems, if she has had a previous child born with a chromosomal disorder. CVS is completed under the guidance of an Ultrasound and the test is taken either through the abdomen or vagina. There is a chance that CVS can result in miscarriage. CVS is completed during the 13th to 16th week of pregnancy. Amniocentesis involves taking a sample of the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby, which contains cells from the developing baby. It is usually completed from 15 to 18 weeks of pregnancy and done under ultrasound guidance. This test is offered for similar reasons to CVS.