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Biotechnology is a continuously evolving science that is affecting mankind’s day to day life. The extraordinary revolution in biotechnology has created new possibilities for curing diseases and manipulating our genetic heritage (Shahin Akhondzadeh, 2014). This essay aims to discuss the dependence of biotechnology and the ethical and social issues raised from it.
Malaria, a parasite infection of red blood cells that still kills 2000 people per a day ( Nicholas J White, 2014). Aided by technological advances scientist are investigating how “gene drives” can be used to reprogram mosquito genomes to eliminate malaria and other mosquito-borne disease (Kenneth A Oye, 2014). Austin Burt, 2003, proposed that using endonuclease drives to spread traits would control diseases borne by insect vectors and suggested drives could be designed to add or delete genes that will supress a population potentially to the point of extinction. This will be able to reduce the number of deaths caused by diseases such as Malaria however can cause the extinction and death of another species and therefore creating an ethical issue. Furthermore people who have little access to western medication will be dependant on this reducing the spread of deadly diseases.
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder which is characterized by cognitive Impairment and functional disability (Shahin Akhondzadeh,2016). Due to the nature of the disease it means that the patient with Alzheimer’s disease need full time care which has a large economical impact on the health care system (Shahin Akhondzadeh,2016). S. Akhondzadeh, 2016, proposed that experts are intent on using biotechnology to slow down or halting the disease by identifying the biomarkers and using new vaccines that include the monoclonal antibody bapineuzumab which target a clear β- amyloid. This use of biotechnology will reduce the cost of the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease on the health care system over a long period of time while creating a better life for the patient. Additionally people will become dependent on using biotechnology to identify biomarkers for diseases before they have it.
As biotechnology is used to change genetics’ and modify living things for human purposes there is ethical concerns alongside benefits and risks (Shahin Akhondzadeh, 2014).As many developments are new there’s not conclusive evidence that the changes in genetics may not cause problems for later generations or the natural processes of life. Kenneth A Oye,2014, stated that it is critical that rapidly developing technology continue to be evaluated before its use outside the laboratory. This will means vigorous animal testing for new vaccines and drugs which has many ethical problems associated with it however does the benefits and the dependence of the new medicine outweigh these ethical issues. Biotechnology raises important ethical issues in the social statures including families, preventative medicine and employment (Shahin Akhondzadeh, 2014).
As biotechnology evolves the dependence of it increase especially in the medical industry. Further research is needed before people can be fully educated on the benefits of this new science. The research shows that biotechnology can benefit many countries and can increase peoples quality of life but the ethical issues can stop people being dependant on it .
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