BIOTECHNOLOGY

PROJECT
Major events of biotechnology:
1663: The first time the cell was described as a basic unit of life: Hooke

1674: The invention of the microscope : Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek

1675: First microscopic observations of bacteria: Leeuwenhoek

March 3, 1703: Hooke died

Sep 13, 1761: caspar wistar was born in philadelphia

1783: Caspar wistar received his bachelor of medicine from the university of
pennsylvania.

1793:Caspar wistar became staff member of the pennsylvania hospital and elected
curator of the american philosophical society
 GMO
AKA Genetically Modified Food/ Organism
What is GMO
A GMO (Genetically Modified Organism): Organism whose genome has
been altered by the techniques of genetic engineering so that its DNA
contains one or more genes not normally found there.
- GMOs can be used in organisms such as plants to benefit us in things
such as nutrition.
Ethical Considerations
- Genetically Modifying organisms is still a relatively new technology.

- This means we really dont know their long term effects.

- Also we have not developed any sort of guidelines to what extent we can modify
organisms.
Consequence #1 of GMOs:
- GMOs can pose significant allergy risks

- Genetic enhancements often combine proteins not contained in the original

organism, which can cause allergic reactions for humans.

- Allergies are becoming more common as Food allergies in children under 18

spiked from 3.4 percent in 1997-99 to 5.1 percent in 2009-11, according to the
National Center for Health Statistics.
Consequence #2 of GMOs
Lowered resistance to antibiotics.

- Although plants to be genetically modified to enhance our immunity, eating them

can lessen the effectiveness of actual antibiotics.

- Ex: Flu
Major benefit #1 of GMOs:
- Seeds can be changed to help us with anything we need.

- Can be improving resistance to insects and generating healthier crops, according

to Healthline.com. This can lower risk of crop failure, and make crops better
resistant to extreme weather.

- Also help us by giving more nutritional needs, faster crop time for harvest, make
something bigger, etc.
Major Benefit #2 of GMOs
Environmental benefits.

- Less chemicals, time, machinery, and land are needed for GMO crops and
animals, which can help reduce environmental pollution, greenhouse gas
emissions, and soil erosion.

- Enhanced productivity because of GMOs could allow farmers to dedicate less real
estate to crops.
Opinion if GMOs should be used:
In my opinion, I believe GMOs should be used for the future. As the world is growing
and changing, GMOs would eventually be necessary in order to sustain such a high
population. This is because global warming is affecting us as at the moment we are
being less efficient to growing crops. With GMOs, not only crops would be grown
more efficiently, but overall preventing to increase the size of farmable land which
could have been used to people with homes, companies, etc. Its interesting that people
are against GMOs even though we have been doing this for thousands of years only
this time we are changing genes to guarantee our traits that we want instead of just
being random like before.
Criminal Forensics
Criminal Forensics:
- Criminal Forensics is when scientists collect, preserve, and analyze scientific
evidence during the course of an investigation.

History

1700s: Chinese used fingerprints to establish the identity of documents and clay
sculptures.

1800s: first use of photography for the identification of criminals and documentation
of evidence and crime scenes and the first recorded use of fingerprints to solve a crime

1900s: establishment of a forensic science curricula in 1902 by Swiss Professor R. A.

Reiss at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland and in 1986 was when DNA was first
used in a criminal investigation by Dr.Jeffreys.
Ethical Considerations
- There are many basic considerations such as Lying about the knowledge of the
evidence planted or biased examination.

- Although in this case they have 4 rules they have to follow

1) working within professional competence

2) providing clear and objective testimony

3) avoiding conflicts of interest

4) avoiding bias and influence, real or perceived.

Also during investigation they need to avoid participation in any case where there are
Major Consequence #1
Inconsistent Practices:

- There has been some cases where there are unqualified practitioners,
lax standards and lack of quality control

- According to Senior Circuit Judge Harry T. Edwards, in an audit of

the Detroit police lab 10 percent of 200 random cases were
determined to have sub-par quality control and shocking levels of
incompetence
Major Consequence #2
Privacy Concerns:

- CODIS system holds DNA evidence from all convicted criminals and
DNA evidence collected from crime scenes.

- DNA that is collected from crime scenes may contain DNA from
innocent individuals who happened to be in the same location.

- DNA information such as genetic diseases may be seen by police,

forensic scientists and other individuals allowed to access the system,
which is a breach of privacy.
Major Benefits #1
Exonerating the Innocent

- The use of forensic science, specifically DNA testing, has helped earn
many of these individuals freedom.

- Also prevent innocent people from being convicted.

Major Benefits #2
Identifying Individuals

- Forensic science is used to help identify victims of crimes and victims

of disasters.

- Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process can make

millions of copies of DNA from just a few skin cells.

- DNA is also used in disaster situations where bodies may not be able
to be identified by other means. This allows the remains to go back to
the rightful families and gives those families closure.
Opinion
In my opinion, I believe that these type of techniques should definitely be used. This is
mainly because when and if there are any cases where individuals have to be traced/
have their identity known, the detectives have an easier way of finding them. This will
provide innocent convicted people to be seen as not guilty.
Stem Cells
Stem Cells
Stem cells are primitive cells that have the potential to differentiate, or
develop into, a variety of specific cell types.

Stem cells can be thought of as primitive, "unspecialized" cells that are

able to divide and become specialized cells of the body such as liver cells,
muscle cells, blood cells, and other cells with specific functions.

One reason that stem cells are important is due to human development
from stem cells. As such, an understanding of their unique attributes and
control can teach us more about early human development.
Ethical Considerations of Stem Cells
Embryos available as a source of stem cells are in practice those that would in any
event not have been allowed to develop to term, having been engendered for other
purposes such as fertility treatments.

It diminishes respect for human life not to treat embryos as de facto humans, the
arguments above notwithstanding

Destroying an embryo might be destroying a potential genius. This argument is

sometimes produced in debates over abortion, but it is fallacious on two grounds.
Major Consequences #1
- Infection is one of the most common early side effects of a stem cell
transplant. It can be a very serious problem. Infection occurs after stem cell
transplant because the white blood cell count is very low and the immune
system is very weak.

- This takes 24 weeks. It takes the immune system 612 months to recover
after a transplant.

- Bacterial infections are most common. Viral or fungal infections can also
occur. Infection develops most often in the:

mouth
gastrointestinal (GI) tract
Major Consequences #2
Digestive system problems often occur shortly after a stem cell transplant. These
problems happen because tissues in the mouth, stomach and intestines are
sensitive to the drugs used in the conditioning therapy.

Digestive system problems with stem cell transplant include:

inflammation and sores in the mouth (called stomatitis or oral mucositis)

nausea
vomiting
loss of appetite
weight loss
diarrhea
Major Benefits #1
The adult stem cell is an unspecialized cell that is capable of long-term renewal, via
cell division over long time periods. These stem cells can also give rise to different cell
types, making their utility high for researchers studying the many types of human
cancers.

dont present with the same level of immunological rejection challenges as do

embryonic stem cells because they are harvested from the same patient, leading to a
lower rejection rate
Major Benefits #2
Cure Development Defects Before They Happen
Stem cell research doesnt just benefit the people walking around the earth, but also
the ones that havent been born yet. The effects of these cells on embryos could change
the way that birth defects are treated. They could possibly be corrected before the
child is even born, greatly improving their quality of life and chance of survival.

Wilms' Tumor is a common pediatric renal cancer. Cancer researchers in this

study set out to compare and contrast the differences in tumor biology that are
known to exist between adult and pediatric cancers. They found that there are
cancer stem cells in pediatric WTs and believe that these could help in developing
targeted cancer therapies for pediatric solid tumors.
Opinion about stem cells and cancer
In my opinion, I believe stems cells will make a huge difference in the drug industry
and help the lives of many cancer patients. Many, many years ago our society
discovered a disease cancer which would soon cause a spread in death, and moral
prematurity.

Now that we have discovered stem cells, we are able to prevent cancer, and stop this
from spreading. This can economically and environmentally help people without
having to pay huge amount of money and also destroy land and remove trees.
Genetic Engineering and
Reproduction
History
1976 - Genentech, the first genetic engineering company, was founded by Herbert
Boyer and Robert Swanson and a year later the company produced a human protein.

1978 - Genentech announced the production of genetically engineered human insulin

in 1978.

1983 - the first genetically engineered plant was developed by Michael W. Bevan
Ethical Considerations
- If the blending of animal and human DNA results, intentionally or not, in
chimeric entities possessing degrees of intelligence or sentience never before seen
in nonhuman animals, should these entities be given rights and special
protections?

- Are there long-term effects on the environment when transgenic or genetically

modified organized are released in the field?

- What are there fundamental issues with creating new species?

Major Consequence #1
Genetic Defects

- Can lead to complications

- Can also lead to something else unintended thus, genetic engineering

unpredictable.

- Rates of succeeding is unknown

Major Consequences #2
- Terrorist groups or armies could develop more powerful biological weaponry.
These weapons could be resistant to medicines, or even targeted at people who
carry certain genes.

- We, as a society, are technologically ready to carry out genetic engineering

- we may not be ready for the responsibility it brings.

- Actually using genetic engineering would eventually unleash all of its effects, both
positive and negative. After genetic engineering starts being used, our society will
not simply be able to "put it back", "turn it off", or otherwise remove it.
Benefits #1
- genetic engineering, people could maintain their lifestyles without the threat of
AIDS or Cancer.

- Genetic engineering can improve the health of society tremendously then as it is

known today. Today genetic engineering is used in the fight against problems
such as cystic fibrosis, the "bubble boy" disease (* see below), diabetes, and several
more.

- People of the world would not have to live in fear of contracting a deadly virus or
hereditary disease. In theory, genetic engineering can accomplish this.
Benefits #2
Produce New Foods

- Meaning we can create foods that can help out population.

- Ex: make our foods have a better medicinal value, thus introducing edible
vaccines readily available to people all over the world.

- Ex: With genetic engineering we can design foods that are better able to
withstand harsh temperatures such as the very hot or very cold, for instance
and that are packed full of all the right nutrients that humans and animals need to
survive.
Opinions of Genetic Engineering and
Reproduction
I believe genetic engineering and reproduction is okay to be able to use in our world.
This is since changing genes not only help us in sustaining our population, but also
help many parts of the world since more than likely in the future, as technology of
genetic engineering is more available and cheaper, we can help developing countries
by giving genetic engineering foods to poor people to do things like higher nutritional
needs, and help fight diseases.
Cloning
Ethical Considerations of Cloning
- Ethical issues of human cloning have become an important issue in recent years.
Many ethical arguments against human cloning are based on misconceptions.
Many people think that these clones will have the same characteristics /
personalities as the person cloned. Although clone and cloned individual have the
same genes, traits and personalities are different.

- those who use forbid you to consider or treat as personal property. One of the
most serious problems of cloning of human embryos for therapeutic purposes, is
that with harvesting stem cells, the embryo is formed by cloning practical killed
Major Consequences #1
Cloned cells, however, may lack the programming necessary to tell genes when to turn
on and off. The result may be disorganized cell growth or inappropriate cell
functioning, both of which can lead an organism to die.

Enlarged organs often function improperly, causing problems with circulation,

breathing and other bodily functions, sometimes leading to early death. Cloned
animals often have malformations of various organs and body parts.

Finally, an established pregnancy can still, at any time and for a variety of reasons,
cease growing and result in a miscarriage.
Major Consequences #2
Cloned embryos that survive pregnancy can be born with a variety of birth defects and
other health problems. According to the FDA, one phenomenon seen in cloning is that
cloned animals tend to be larger than normal at birth, with unusually large organs.

Genetic material, or DNA, comes pre programmed so that certain genes are "turned
on," or expressed, at certain times while other genes are "turned off."

Ethical issues of human cloning have become an important issue in recent years. Many
ethical arguments against human cloning are based on misconceptions. Many people
think that these clones will have the same characteristics / personalities as the person
cloned
Benefits #1
- The benefit of studying cell differentiation at the same time as the study and
development of cloning.

- Couples will be able to have children who will have the genetic information of the
mother or the father's.

- Defective genes. The average person carries 8 defective genes inside them. These
defective genes allow people to become sick when they would otherwise remain
healthy.
Benefits #2
Human cloning technology could be used to reverse heart attacks. Scientists believe
that they may be able to treat heart attack victims by cloning their healthy heart cells
and injecting them into the areas of the heart that have been damaged.

Infertility. With cloning, infertile couples could have children. Despite getting a fair
amount of publicity in the news current treatments for infertility, in terms of
percentages, are not very successful.

Plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery. Because of human cloning and its
technology the days of silicone breast implants and other cosmetic procedures that
may cause immune disease should soon be over
Opinion about Cloning
My opinion on cloning is that even though you might want a twin brother or sister,
cloning is not your type of best in choice. You may think having a clone is worth it, but
overall nature wasnt intended to have this and you can have many complications, such
as birth defects or family affair. This can also cause society to mess up in ways we
would have never expected.

History -

There were no major advances with cloning, however, until 1952. Then a team of
scientists in Philadelphia cloned a frog embryo by implanting a nucleus from a
fertilized cell into an unfertilized one.
Citations
http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Health-Wire/GMO-foods-positives-negatives/2015/06/10/id/649812/

https://www.decodedscience.org/gmo-food-pro-and-con/23179

http://www.conversantbio.com/blog/5-benefits-to-using-adult-stem-cells-in-cancer-research

http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/diagnosis-and-treatment/stem-cell-transplant/side-effects-of-stem-
cell-transplant/?region=on

http://www.chsjournal.org/archive/vol37-no3-2011/for-practitioner/ethical-considerations-on-human-cloning

https://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/genetic-engineering.shtml

http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/our-failing-food-system/genetic-engineering/risks-of-genetic-
engineering.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/349552-comparing-cheap-golf-clubs-to-expensive-golf-clubs/ (cloning)