Biotechnology 10/15-22

The lecture on October 22nd touched on the issues of biotechnology which is technology applied to living things. We spoke on the breakdown of Genome meaning the beginning of law.

Biotech could expand your ability to know and understand how the body itself, all animals (which include humans), is put together. We discussed the ability to perform transgenic operation because of no matter how different a species is on the outside, it is made up of the same things on the inside. That substance is the chemical known as Deoxyribonucleic Acid, better known as DNA. This chemical substance has been broken down during a mass project so that the scientists will know of every single strand and of which does what in regards to the human body. We are now able to grow body parts and remove medical flaws before they have a chance to become prevalent.

Do to the many studies of DNA, we were able to produce recombint genes which gave rise to "Super Corn". These super corn is resistant to insecticide and harsh conditions. The class watched a video of how some Mexican countries banned American corn due to its invasion of the native land and killing of the native mais (Spainish corn). What was truly shocking is how the new seeds that are produced by these new genes made by the agriculture and pesticide industry are actually owned by the company. Such companies like Montsanto Corp (Round-up herbicide) owns the patents of the seeds that they produce, but only because they are headquartered in Canada. The United States prohibit the patent of ANY living thing, to include plants. But because gene transfers occur naturally in plants, the independent farmer is at the mercy of these big companies whenever a "mutated plant" grows on their land.

The Agricultural Revolution meets the Industrial Revolution. The outcome is not a pretty one. We humans are highly capitalistic and it will cause our downfall.