Biotechnology+Concepts

Bioethics

- recognizes the idea of ethics with the advance of new technology and manipulation of nature. - Animal testing in various industries - genetically modified foods - Abortion

I came across this picture when looking at the Biotechnology textbook, illustrating a mouse genetically "tricked" to produce a human ear on its back. I find some of these advances startling, and they call into question the ethics of employing biotechnology in these ways.

Another hot topic in the realm of bioethics is the idea of GMOs or genetically modified organisms or foods. People involved in agriculture are now using biotechnology techniques to increase crop yield and quality. For example, although the following picture is not real, it demonstrates the idea of GMOs in an interesting way:

 Tomatoes are now genetically altered when they are mass produced to improve color, quantity, nutrition, and even taste. However, with bioethics in mind, could such alterations of food lead to nurturing a human embryo within the tomato? Of course, such an idea is far-fetched, but who knows what is possible when it comes to the power of biotechnology.

<-- A ten week old fetus removed through a therapeutic abortion A controversial topic such as abortion has many viewpoints. Questions arise such as, should we be using our knowledge of science to alter what nature has already done or should we meddle with nature to obtain a desired result? One thing is for sure: human curiousity and ambition have lead us to rising above nature and taking control of what it used to have power over. We as humans must make sure that yes, although we need to accomodate for the world's increasing population and need, we must remain cautious of the ramifications that our advancing technology produces.