The Gene Factory is a biotechnology book that was written in 1985 by an author named John Elkington. Biotechnology is seen as a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioproceses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. (Wikipedia) Elkington provides an overview of bioengineered plant seeds, to self shearing sheep and biochips, super vaccines used in medical and pharmaceutical drugs as well as food and agricultural bio utilization.Chapter 1
Elkington explains the
break through of Mendel Pea Plant Generation and the cross breeding genes and how offspring characteristic are determined and inherited through genes.
Elkington explained the Genetic Alphabet and how (DNA)deoxyribonucleic acid is the structure of life, and it's relationship to the chemical structure of A-T and C-G strands and the formation of 2 identical DNA molecules. He goes on to explain the basic relation between RNA and DNA genetic formation.
Chapter 6
Takes a look at how plant breeders insert foreign genes into plants, enabling them to yield more calories and protein; to resist major crop diseases and flourish even in times of drought, to resist extremes heat and cold, to be resistant to herbicides used to control weeds, flourish without any need for artificial fertilizers, and how plants cells produce chemicals, such as drugs, perfumes and food additives when grown in laboratory cultures. (Elkington)
Lets take A Look at A Few Examples....
Proptoplasts : are plant cell whose walls haven been dissolved by enzyme or weakened by an electric field, 2 protoplasts from different plants to fuse into a single cell, combining there distinct genetic characteristics
- basic manipulation is said to be the transfer of genes form microbes to plants, plants to microbes and plants to plants
Plant Breeding: is the transferring of a protein from a seed to the cell of different plant family, changing the genetic of the plant
- first success seen was transferring of a protein gene from a bean seed to the cell of a sunflower, a different plant family, dubbing the new plant tissue the sunbean, becoming a great break through due to being stable and producing messenger RN
Cloning of oil palms and other plants crops
- The Coconut palm was the first application of this technique to a major food crop.
Nitrogen Fixation is the process of cross-breeding two different varieties of the same plant to produce new seeds.
- 1 problem seen with this is that the high pressure, high temperature equipment used makes it unattractive long term solution to the crop fertilizer needs.
- also the pollution in the river and water supplies it may cause
- A benefit seen, is that by 21st century billions of people can be feed from this.
Hybrid seeds is the process of Cross-breeding 2 different varieties of the same plant to produce new seeds
- Thus also seen as the future of planting and feeding
- problem with this, is they are not true seeds, therefore farmers have to purchase new seeds every year, where as normal seeds can sometime by used for the next year
- also prices can be 3x as much
This chapter showed great relationship to that of Caritas In Veriate. One thing that stood out was Caritas In Veriate talks about the economy and finance, which is seen as an instrument and can be used incorrectly when those at the helm are motivated by pure selfish ends. Biotechnology being the instrument which can be good within it self, but used or misuse in the wrong way can become very harmful.Chapter 12
Where is biotechnology going????
Pesticides being developed from pheromones and insecticides, the idea being that insect will come to the insecticide on their own.
Endorphin providing a new generation of pain killers
Vasopressin forming memory-boosting drugs
Biochips replacing the microchip or even being able to operate inside humans, monitoring water pollution, helping diabetic patients monitoring glucose, or even altering pacemakers
What is being said???
There has been much debate about genetic engineering and the attempt of scientist to play God. In 1980 an unlikely alliance of Catholic, Jewish and Protestant church organization stated in a letter to President Carter "We are moving rapidly into a new era of fundamental danger. Arguing that the same engineer that is doing these things for a good cause is the same engineer that can cause danger". (Elkington)Ethical concerns has also been expressed that high-value crops will one day been grown in laboratory fermenters rather then importing them from dependent economies. According to Caritas in Veritate he would say that you have to consider the common good, besides the food of the individual, this a good that is linked to living in society, it is the good of all of us, made up of individuals, families and intermediate groups who together constitute society. What is the good in genetic engineering and how can it be added to society?
The world is changing and biotechnology is becoming more main stream, it makes you stop and think, are we moving towards the world of the "Jetson" man-made and controlled for the sake of a better society or for pure profit? Where are we headed and is it for better or worst? In many cases, while reading I believe that the decision making of biotechnology and bio-engineering should be looked at from a moral stand point vs. a business ethics basis. Is everything that is being created and produced a way to enhance our lives or to just see what the next researcher is able to discover first? How do we determine this middle ground and what is to far and what's not far enough? This is a touchy situation with a lot of ethical boundaries that can be crossed.
