Biotechnology and genetic engineering have profoundly impacted various fields of science, medicine, agriculture, and more. Biotechnology refers to the development of products or services by utilizing living organisms, while genetic engineering is a biotechnology subfield involving the modification of the genetic material of organisms.
These technologies have made crucial contributions to transforming our lives. Accordingly, this essay will explain the nature of biotechnology and genetic engineering and demonstrate how they have enhanced human lifestyles by developing new medicines, producing crops and livestock, and creating new materials and technologies. Also, the essay will explore the positive and negative implications of biological and genetic engineering on our future.
What exactly is biotechnology and genetic engineering? It is the use of engineering principles in biological systems to solve problems. Genetic engineering is the method scientists use to introduce new traits to an organism, resulting in genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The process of manipulating an organism’s genes through the introduction, removal, or rearrangement of genes using the methods of modern molecular biology is also referred to as genetic engineering.
Biotechnology has advanced the field of medicine in several ways. One of the main ways is through the safe and effective production of biopharmaceuticals in treating various illnesses. This responsible production has not only benefited patients but also the environment. For patients, biopharmaceuticals provide a safe and effective treatment for many diseases, often with fewer side effects than traditional pharmaceuticals.
Moreover, producing fewer conventional pharmaceuticals reduce fossil fuel consumption, emissions of greenhouse gases, and pollution build-up in the environment, leading to the mitigation of environmental risks. Additionally, Biotechnology allowed scientists to gain a deeper understanding of the genetic basis of diseases; they have been able to create synthetic genes, proteins, and other cellular components, resulting in new and more effective therapies for a vast array of diseases. In particular, the emergence of recombinant DNA technology enabled scientists to produce therapeutic products, improving medical genetics and biopharmaceuticals.
Genetic engineering also improved the production of crops and livestock. Biotechnology made crops and livestock more resistant to disease and pests through genetic modification and breeding. In detail, scientists have been able to transfer genes from one species to another to develop resistance to specific plagues. Additionally, a better understanding of plant mechanisms and animal immunity identified new genes that can be incorporated into crops or livestock, enhancing their resistance to pests.
For instance, biotechnology has facilitated the creation of crops resistant to certain herbicides, insect pests, and viruses. Livestock were also genetically modified to increase their disease-resistance abilities. Furthermore, biotechnology and genetic engineering helped to address food insecurity by increasing crop yields, making it possible to introduce new and desirable traits into organisms, such as producing proteins or chemicals that would otherwise be difficult to obtain on an industrial scale.
Another factor of the human lifestyle biotechnology and genetic engineering changed is the creation of new materials and technologies that were previously unattainable. Biotechnology utilizes living organisms and their components to generate new technologies, tools, and products, including new materials, such as bioplastics, biofuels, and biocatalysts.
Bioinspired accoutrements and processes use natural principles to produce synthetic analog compound accoutrements. For instance, bioplastics are created from sustainable resources like cornstarch and sugarcane. These materials decompose faster and have fewer detrimental effects than traditional plastics.
Biotechnology and genetic engineering also played a significant role in discovering new enzymes and protein therapeutics. One approach is protein engineering, which involves modifying the amino acid sequence or the three-dimensional structure of an existing protein to enhance its properties.
By using directed evolution, rational design, and methods like phage display, scientists can create new enzymes with improved selectivity, stability, and activity. An alternative approach is through the use of recombinant DNA technology. This technique involves manipulating the genetic code of organisms like bacteria to produce novel enzymes or proteins; scientists are able to insert specific genetic material into an organism to produce a desired protein or enzyme.
In the field of protein therapeutics, genetic engineering has played a crucial role in developing drugs like insulin, used to treat diabetes. Recombinant DNA technology produces large quantities of human insulin by inserting the gene for insulin production into bacteria, which can then be harvested and purified. Finally, gene therapy is another area where genetic engineering and biotechnology are utilized.
Gene therapy aims to offer treatment for diseases by altering people’s genetic code. In detail, it entails the delivery of a functional copy of a gene to replace a missing or defective one. This approach has led to the evolution of new protein therapeutics for patients suffering from genetic disorders like spinal muscular atrophy and hemophilia.
Biotechnology and genetic engineering have propelled significant advancements in human lifestyle by improving medicine, the production of crops and livestock, and the creation of new materials and technologies. In the future, genetic engineering will likely play an even more prominent role in shaping the world as scientists explore new ways to modify organisms at the genetic level and conceive entirely new forms of life.
However, the field remains controversial, and more research is ongoing to address associated risks and promote ethical and responsible use. Therefore, it is encouraged to see the benefits of biological and genetic engineering while using them morally and sensibly.
By: Dameun Lauren Kim
Write and Win: Participate in Creative writing Contest & International Essay Contest and win fabulous prizes.
