Benefits of Biotechnology In Agriculture

Introduction

Biotechnology is the application to industry of advances made in the techniques and instruments of research in the biological sciences. The practical use of DNA and genes, called genetic technology or gene science is one of the fastest growing areas of research in biotechnology. The growth of the field of biotechnology is, undoubtedly, dependent on the development of genetic engineering. Scientists have been able to make use of the fact that DNA is the same and works in the same way, in all living things.

Discussion

Genetic modification could be a way to offer cheaper, safer and more nutritious food. If plants were altered to produce more substance, with the same amount of seeds, prices on these products would drop. Furthermore, plants which possibly contain diseases or pesticides could be changed to be made safe for humans to eat. This not only would work for plants, but meats, and other products which can contain deadly bacteria. By altering the structure of the DNA of a plant, it's possible to select which nutrients the plant will contain, and how much of each are produced. This is an easy way to pack more vitamins into a small amount of food, and to help humans, as well as animals(Springham Springham Moses Cape 11-19).

Although there are many good reasons for genetic modification, there are also several risks and dangers. If plants were modified, but did not correctly generate what they're supposed to, how will that affect humans? Will extra nutrients prevent us from eating more of a particular food? Does hunger go away when you have the correct amount of minerals? In addition, there have been attempts to make plants frost resistant, pesticide resistant, etc. but what if this resistance transferred to something else; for example, a weed. This weed would then produce more weeds, which would produce even more. Since the offspring contains the DNA of the parent, the resistance will transfer to all of the new weeds; which could cause weeds to take over the crops that were planted for a purpose, and which were intended to be changed due to the resistance to, let's say, weed killer. As well as the visible dangers, what about the long term effects? In 100 years from now, will everything still be the same? Will animals and humans still be the same size as they are now? Will these modifications kill off ...