Republic of the Philippines

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Pablo Borbon Main II

Batangas City

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE & FINE ARTS

(Mechanical and Petroleum Engineering Department)

IBAÑEZ JR., ELMER P

SCI 402: Modern Biology

Position Paper: Biotechnology

16 July 2019
 Biotechnology: Benefit or Risk? The Future of Humanity

Have you ever question yourself what do stone-washed jeans and home pregnancy tests have

in common with bread, cheese and wine?, well they are all examples of manipulating living organisms to

create goods or new processes and are all products of biotechnology. Biotechnology, commonly

abbreviated as biotech, is a branch of biology that uses living processes, organisms or systems to

manufacture good or technology intended to improve the quality of human life (CBD, 2013).

Biotechnology has four major application in industrial areas, which includes health care (medical field),

crop production and agriculture, non food uses of crops and other products such as biodegradable

plastics, vegetable oil, biofuels, and lastly environmental uses.

The positive impact of biotechnology on the world is well-known. The emergence of

biotechnology has benefited fields such as agriculture, animal husbandry, pharmaceutical and medical

sciences (Arizona State University, 2013). In agricultural biotechnology, genetic engineering has enabled

the production of crops that are able to grow in non-ideal soil or in dry conditions. These genetically

modified, or transgenic, crops are of higher quality and higher yield, and have increased shelf life. In

addition, they have been engineered to be resistant to pests, which allows farms to use less pesticide.

Biotechnology has also enabled the mass production of previously unavailable medicines, such as insulin,

and facilitated research into molecular biology using genetically modified organisms. On the other hand

it also has disadvantages, and there are some concerns about its potential negative impacts. In agriculture,

there are concerns that genetically modified crops may transfer genetic material into natural, unmodified

plants. For instance, a crop that is herbicide resistant may transfer some of its traits to a weed, which

would result in an herbicide resistant weed. Another concern about agricultural biotechnology centers

around the uncertainty of genetically modified crops’ long-term biological viability.

Biotechnology is the controlled manipulation of biological systems, including living

cells or cellular components, for the processing or manufacturing of various products useful to

humans. In the research of (AM Mannion & Stephen Morse, 2012) entitled "Biotechnology in Agriculture:

Agronomic and Environmental Considerations and Reflections based on 15 years of GM crops: Progress

in Physical Geography 36 (6), 747-763", Mannion & Morse states that "Overall, the impact of GM

crops has largely been agronomically and environmentally positive in both developed and

developing world contexts. Agronomically, there have been yield increases per unit area mainly
due to reduced losses as a result of improved pest (i.e. insect) and weed control; in the case of

conventional crops grown near GM varieties with insect resistance there have been benefits due

to the so-called ‘halo’ effect. Environmentally, the decrease in insecticide use has benefited non-

target and beneficial organisms while surface and groundwater contamination is less significant;

human-health problems related to pesticide use have also declined. Equally important is the

reduced carbon footprint as energy inputs are reduced. Of particular note, however, is the

recognition that the success or longevity of GM crops is reliant on the speed with which resistance

develops in target weeds and insects." in addition New Biotechnology Increases Crop Yield by 20%

scientists from the University of Illinois have boosted crop yields in a revolutionary procedure that

genetically enhances photosynthesis. The UN claims that in 2050, humanity will need to produce 70%

more food than we do today.

Biotechnology has offered modern medical devices for diagnostic and preventive

purposes, which include diagnostic test kits, vaccines and radio-labeled biological therapeutics

used for imaging and analysis. Human health is a major growing concern worldwide because of

infectious diseases. Biotechnology has played a dynamic role in improving the challenges

regarding to human health as it has flexibility to reduce global health differences by the provision

of promising technologies (Afzal H, Zahid K, Ali Q, Sarwar K, Shakoor S, et al., 2016).

Biotechnology contributes much towards the growing public and global health needs. It has

revolutionized mankind since its existence. It provides effective diagnostics, prevention and

treatment measures including production of novel drugs and recombinant vaccines. It gives

effective drug delivery approaches, new methods for therapeutics, nutritionally enriched

genetically modified crops and efficient methods for environmental cleanup. Health, life quality

and expectancy of life have been increased worldwide through the services provided by

biotechnology. In the research of (Daar AS, Thorsteinsdóttir H, Martin DK, Smith AC, Nast S, et

al.,2002) named Top ten biotechnologies for improving health in developing countries; Nature

genetics 32: 229-232, it states Nearly 40% deaths are due to infectious and parasitic diseases

(malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS) each year. Spread of these diseases can be overcome by the

development of quick and accurate diagnostic tools. These developments result in increase in

survival rate as well as help to prevent the waste of resources on non-suitable treatment. Many

conventional diagnostic tools are inaccurate, time consuming, laborious and expensive. In

contrast, modern biotechnology comprised of molecular diagnostic tools sketches recent

scientific panel in the University of Toronto as the most ideal set of technologies for improving the

health status. Biotechnology is based on following diagnostic techniques; PCR, Monoclonal

antibodies and microarrays. These are simple, quick, cost effective and have high sensitivity and

specificity. In addition Researchers at Synlogic, a Massachusetts-based biotech, now report that

a bacterium genetically modified to remove phenylalanine (Phe) from the blood shows promise in

preclinical trials. The study (Diana Kwon, 2018) reveals that the probiotic can significantly lower

Phe levels in both mouse models of phenylketonuria (PKU) and in healthy monkeys.

From all the facts that have been discussed above I agree with the claim of using

biotechnology since biotechnology is known to influence every aspect of human health, it offers

modern medical devices for diagnostic and preventive purposes, which include diagnostic test

kits, vaccines and radio-labeled biological therapeutics used for imaging and analysis.

Malnutrition due to starvation are mainly arises due to the lack of essential nutrients and vitamins

in food and ultimately results in death. Biotechnology has play a major role in eliminating these

problems by producing nutrients enriched food such as rice, corn, potato and soybean etc.

Pollutants and untreated waste are a great hazard to human health and are potential cause of

diseases such as cancer. Biotechnology has evolved numerous strategies to biodegrade these

pollutants by making use of microorganism.

References:

• Text of the CBD. CBD.int. Retrieved on March 20, 2013.

• Incorporating Biotechnology into the Classroom What is Biotechnology?", from the curricula of the

'Incorporating Biotechnology into the High School Classroom through Arizona State University's

BioREACH program', accessed on October 16, 2012). Public.asu.edu. Retrieved on March 20, 2013.

•Afzal H, Zahid K, Ali Q, Sarwar K, Shakoor S, et al. (2016) Role of Biotechnology in

Improving Human Health. J Mol Biomark Diagn 8:309. doi: 10.4172/2155-9929.1000309

technology. Biologicals 33: 203-209.

•Burdi DK, Qureshi S, Ghanghro AB (2014) An overview of available Hypoglycemic

Triterpenoids and Saponins to cure Diabetes mellitus. Int J Adv Life Sci.

•Kapuscinski AR, Goodman RM, Hann SD, Jacobs LR, Pullins EE, et al. (2003)

Making'safety first'a reality for biotechnology products. Nature Biotechnol 21: 599-601.

•DIANA KWON (2018), Synthetic Bacteria Help Treat Phenylketonuria in Mice.