Biotechnology

Biotechnology
Biotechnology can be defined as “the application of scientific knowledge to the management of micro-organisms, or of cells and tissues of higher organisms, so that these supply goodsand services of use to human beings.” The story of biotechnology takes place mostly in the second half of the 1900s. With the discovery of the structure and function of DNA by Watson and Crickbiotechnology and scientific developments started booming. The importance and usage of biotechnology reaches people’s lives in different kind of ways “[r]ecombinant DNA technology makes possible the use ofliving cells as factories for the production of proteins (the basis of the biotechnology industry) as well as the development of transgenic plants and animals (which contain genes transplanted fromother species). The ability to fragment and analyze DNA has led to the Human Genome Project, an international effort to map the entire human genome.”
The impact of biotechnology in science developmentis undeniable; however, some people when listening to this may believe it is a distant,alien thing to them, but this is not the case. Ever since biotechnology started booming GMOs (genetically modifiedorganisms) and organic food entered the picture. “Genetically modified plants and animals (GMOs), are those whose characteristics have been changed by using modern scientific techniques to add orremove genes.” Most GMOs are plants such as corn, soybean, and rice engineered for faster growth, resistance to pathogens, production of extra nutrients, or any other beneficial purpose. In the case ofanimal, is different, they can be fed hormones or growth factor in order to produce more meat and/or milk in shorter periods of time. The usage of biotechnology in the enrichment of plants such as cornhas been trying to take a positive impact in the lowering of malnutrition and hunger. However, genetic engineering is somehow new and long term results are still unclear, therefore ethical problems...