Cloning
Basically in biotechnology, cloning means obtaining a group of genetically identical cells from a single cell and use it to make identical copies of a gene. For e.g. if you have an excellent tasty orange and want to make another one exactly same then you can use cloning technique as it guarantees you to get accurate results rather than growing it. Reproductive cloning is a similar technology used to make an animal that has the matching nuclear DNA, as before existing animal. Dolly was created by reproductive cloning technology. This process is also called "somatic cell nuclear transfer" (SCNT).
Reproductive Cloning
Dolly or any other animal created using nuclear transfer technology is not truly an identical clone of the donor animal. Only the clone's chromosomal or nuclear DNA is the same as the donor. Some of the clone's genetic materials come from the mitochondria in the cytoplasm of the enucleated egg. Mitochondria, which are organelles that serve as power sources to the cell, contain their own short segments of DNA. Acquired mutations in mitochondrial DNA are believed to play an important role in the aging process.
Therapeutic Cloning
Therapeutic cloning, also called "embryo cloning," is the production of human embryos for use in research. They can be used to generate virtually any type of specialized cell in the human body.
Advantages
- Can clone any organ of the human body, rather than transplant it.
- Guaranties you a successful clone.
Disadvantages
- Cloning has a low success rate of 2%
- Expensive to use cloning method, need right equipments.
- Excellent research required for a successful clone.
- Large number of side effects. E.g. mouse with human ears, dog face with parrot body and etc.
- Another disadvantage of cloning is that it has not been perfected yet. The cloning of the sheep Dolly had 276 failures before successfully cloned. With these kinds of facts people should not even go near trying to show cloning on humans.
- Unknown side effects for a long term use. When cloning a creature or an organ.
I think cloning may help the world progress in the scientific field. It may help people with unhealthy organs, if you could just clone a copy of a healthy organ, why shouldn't we? It is not like we are actually cloning additional humans, but we are cloning humans for organs! If God really didn't want cloning in world, then he wouldn't give us the knowledge of figuring it out.
Scientific concerns
Premature Aging:
In 1999 research was published in the journal Nature suggesting that Dolly may have been susceptible to premature aging, due to shortened telomeres in her cells. It was speculated that these were passed on from her donor sibling, who was six years old when the genetic material was taken from her, so that Dolly may have been genetically six years old at birth. This is because telomere length is reduced after each cell division, which requires DNA replication before mitosis occurs.
Possible signs of her condition were reported in January 2002, when Dolly was five years old. She had developed a potentially debilitating form of arthritis at an unusually early age. This supported the theory of premature senescence, although Dr. Dai Grove-White of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Liverpool University was reported as saying, "Conceivably arthritis could be due to the cloning but equally it could not be. For all we know, she may have damaged her leg jumping over a gate and developed arthritis."
Super Bug:
Antibiotic resistance is the ability of a micro-organism to withstand the effects of an antibiotic. It is a specific type of drug resistance. Antibiotic resistance evolves naturally via natural selection through random mutation, but it could also be engineered for the purpose of creating bio-weapons. SOS response of low-fidelity polymerases can also cause mutation via a process known as programmed evolution. Once such a gene is generated, bacteria can then transfer the genetic information in a horizontal fashion (between individuals) by plasmid exchange. If a bacterium carries several resistance genes, it is called multi-resistant or, informally, a super bug. Antibiotic resistance can also be introduced artificially into a micro-organism through transformation protocols. This can be a useful way of implanting artificial genes into the micro-organism.
Super-weed:
Pollen from genetically modified crops can travel at least three kilometres to contaminate neighbouring crops, according to a new study in commercial fields. The findings pose a serious problem for organic farmers, and will strengthen calls for tougher controls on planting GM crops.
A national UK study by government funded scientists on gene flow found that cross-pollination between GM plants and their wild relatives is inevitable and could create hybrid super weeds resistant to the most powerful weed killers. This was published in the journal Science on 10 October, 2003.
Super weeds are considered to be a threat because, in some cases, they might absorb resistance to weed killers from GM crops engineered to be herbicide-tolerant.
Safety of GM food:
Genetic engineering is imprecise and unpredictable. But most testing is carried out by the very biotech companies that have the most to gain from results that say GM food is safe.
Growing GM crops also threatens wildlife and the production of GM free foods. What's more some GM crops could allow more pesticides to be used.
The irony is that we don't need GM food. The biotech industry says it will feed the world's poor - but leading third world charities - like Christian Aid - dismiss their claims.
Ethical Concerns
There are many ethical concerns raised due to the information about these challenging different religions.
Biotechnology can now cross animals with plants, leaving the vegetarian confused. The scientific world today has the power to alter the very fabric of nature, by transferring characteristics not only between plants, but cross-altering animals, plants and human beings. Genetic engineering which is without ethical limitation has a serious impact on the environment of animals and plants. It violates our relationship with the natural world. Most people believe animals have a right to live their lives free from human interference with their original genetic structure. Also, those animals can never serve as models of human disease, just because they’re much too different but scientists still keep trying.
Although biotechnology is often the focus of blanket opposition "on principle," such an attack ignores the core question of whether or not molecular biology is strictly a neutral science. While a simple answer is difficult, no one would deny that by the time molecular biology as a science becomes molecular technology, ethical analysis becomes imperative because of scope and scale of its potential impact.
Opposition to biotechnology is often couched in phrases such as “we should not be playing God." If molecular biology is critiqued by likening it to divine intervention, then all of biotechnology would be "off limits." Under this rubric, transgenic movement should be reserved for realms far from the clumsy hands of humans. Some religions such as Christianity have advanced the notion that we are made in the image of God, and as such are entitled to reshape our natural world. Others, like Jainism or Buddhism have admonished humans not to interfere with the natural world.
The admonition not "To Play God" is also used to serve as a traditional moral ends, such as Christian opposition to low-tech medical interventions like abortion and euthanasia. Applying the phrase in response to biotechnology diverts attention from the real issues surrounding this science. Instead of providing enlightenment, such pronouncements may only supplant more profound arguments. By invoking the "playing God" card, debaters set absolute limits which omit the more deeply rooted complexity of how humans should interact and participate with the world.
Eugenics:
Eugenics' is a social philosophy which advocates the improvement of traits through various forms of intervention. The goals of various groups advocating eugenics have included the creation of healthier, more people, to save society's , and lessen human , as well as racially based goals or desires to breed for other specific qualities, such as fighting abilities.
Earlier proposed means of achieving these goals focused on , while modern ones focus on and , , , , and . Opponents argue that eugenics is and is based on, or is itself, . Historically, eugenics has been used as a justification for coercive state-sponsored and human rights violations, such as of persons who appear to have - or are claimed to have - genetic defects, the killing of the and, in some cases, outright of races perceived as inferior.
Conclusion
From this piece of work I have concluded that Biotechnology has made up some visible chance in the world, and also it has caused worries among many of their possible negative consequences. Biotechnology can be used for good purposes and could give us profit but on the other side there are very negative sequences. I think that cloning is a very good subject and could be used for cloning various things and give us a lot of profit. It has also reduced the hunger in the third world countries. IVF treatment is a good method for couples who cannot give birth to a child naturally, and I do agree with it at a certain level. I think selective breeding is also an excellent method as it can give much more profit to the farmers with a good quality product. GM food is a good technology which can help to prevent world from hunger.
Evaluation
I have completed and researched a lot about each of the topics given.
I have used internet for my research. I have used WIKIPEDIA website which is quite famous and have accurate information as it is viewed by many people. I have also used other website which might not be so accurate so I think the overall information is reasonable, not very accurate and not very inaccurate as well.
