
To develop or produce various items, biotechnology makes use of biological systems, living organisms, or components of these. With the development of genetic engineering in the 1970s, research on biotechnology developed rapidly because of the new possibility to make changes in the organism’s genetic material. This rapidly evolving field, has made significant contributions to various aspects of human life, ranging from healthcare and agriculture to environmental sustainability.
Biotechnology has revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry by enabling the production of biopharmaceuticals. These are therapeutic agents derived from living organisms or their components, such as proteins, antibodies, and nucleic acids. Biopharmaceuticals have proven highly effective in treating various diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and genetic conditions. Furthermore, advancements in genetic sequencing and personalized medicine have allowed for tailored treatment approaches based on an individual’s genetic makeup, optimizing therapeutic outcomes. One of the most significant contributions of biotechnology is genetic engineering, which involves manipulating an organism’s genetic material to introduce desired traits or modify existing ones. Genetic engineering techniques, such as recombinant DNA technology and gene editing, have provided powerful tools for biomedical research, crop improvement, and the development of novel therapies. These techniques hold tremendous potential in treating genetic diseases, creating genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with enhanced traits, and combating agricultural challenges like pests and diseases. Bt cotton, Bt corn etc., are some of the examples of GM pesticides produced using bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to provide resistance against the insects. This has transformed agriculture by improving crop yield, quality, and resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. Genetically modified crops, developed through biotechnology, have shown increased tolerance to drought, pests, and herbicides, thereby enhancing food production and addressing global food security concerns.
Biotechnology also enables the development of functional foods with improved nutritional profiles, contributing to healthier diets and reducing malnutrition. However, critics of GE crops warn that their cultivation should be very carefully considered within the broader ecosystems because of their potential risks and hazards to the ecosystem. Studies have indicated that pollen grains from GE crops are harmful for caterpillars but only at a very high concentration. This high concentration seldom reaches. From the human health perspective, it may pose a threat to humans by inducing allergens as most of the genes used in GE crops may not have been used in food supply before. The potential of GE crops to be allergenic is one of the potential adverse effects and it should continue to be studied, especially because some research shows that animals fed GE crops have been harmed.
RNA nanotechnology is yet another emerging field that combines the principles of nanotechnology with the versatility of RNA molecules, RNA molecules have become key players in various biological processes, making them ideal candidates for engineering novel nanoscale structures. The fundamental properties of RNA nanotechnology lie in the unique structural and functional properties of RNA molecules. These molecules are capable of folding into intricate 3D structures which allows researchers to redesign and engineer specific shapes and functionalities. By mere modification of the RNA molecules, it is possible to create nanoscale objects with precise control on shape, size and surface properties. Biotechnology finds plentiful usage in gene editing and regenerative medication.
Genetic Engineering often uses genes for antibiotic resistance as “selectable markers”. Early in the engineering process, these markers help select cells that have taken up foreign genes. Although they have no use, the genes continue to be expressed in plant tissues. The majority of plant foods that have undergone genetic engineering contain fully functional genes that resist antibiotics. The presence of antibiotic resistant genes in food could have two harmful effects. First, eating this food could reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics to fight diseases when these antibiotics are taken with meals. Antibiotic resistance gene is eaten at same time as an antibiotic, it could destroy the antibiotic in the stomach. Secondly, the genes that confer resistance may be passed on to human or animal diseases, rendering them resistant to antibiotics. If transfer were to occur, it could aggravate the already serious health problem of antibiotic-resistant disease organism. Although unmediated transfers of genetic material genetic material from plants to bacteria are believed to be highly unlikely, any possibility that they may occur requires careful scrutiny in light of the seriousness of antibiotic resistance. In addition, the widespread presence of antibiotic resistance gene in engineered food suggests that as the number of genetically engineered products grows, the effects of antibiotic resistance should be analyzed cumulatively across the food supply.
It has been observed that some of the new genes added to the crops can remove heavy metals like mercury from the soil and concentrate them in plant tissues. One of the purposes for a particular the use of municipal sludge fertilizer. Sludge contains useful plant nutrients, but often cannot be used as fertilizers because it is contaminated with toxic heavy metals. The goal is to design plants that extract and store those metals in plant components that are inedible. There are environmental risks associated with the handling and disposal of the metal contaminated parts of plants.
Further, industrial biotechnology harnesses biological processes and systems to develop sustainable alternatives to traditional manufacturing practices. It offers eco-friendly solutions by utilizing enzymes, microorganisms, and bio-based materials for the production of biofuels, bioplastics, and other bio-based chemicals. These advancements reduce reliance on fossil fuels, minimize greenhouse gas emissions, and promote a more sustainable and circular economy. Researchers have been indulged in research to figure out ways to slow down aging in Humans by engineering longevity in the cells. As per the studies conducted by San Diego researchers there are two distinct directions that cells follow during aging and by genetically modifying these processes one could extend the lifespan of the cells. By genetically rewiring the circuit that controls cell aging from its normal role, they engineered a negative feedback loop to stall the aging process. The rewired circuit operates like a clock device called gene oscillator, driving the cell to periodically switch between two detrimental “aged” states, avoiding prolonged commitment to enter thereby slowing the degeneration rate. These advancements shall result in the setting of new records for life extension through genetic and chemical interventions.
Computer simulations were conducted to comprehend how the aging circuit operates. This helped them design and test ideas before building or modifying the circuit of the cell. After several iterations the researchers had break through results wherein, they successfully identified pro-longevity strategies. About half the cells age through a gradual decline in stability of DNA, where genetic material is stored. The other half ages due to declining mitochondria-powerhouse of the cell. This new achievement has potential to reconfigure scientific approaches to delay aging. Yeast cells were used to model the outcome which showed 82% increase in lifespan. This demonstrates the successful application of synthetic biology to reprogram the cellular aging process. This advancement shall be very useful in the coming years.
Genetic testing also harbours the potential for yet another scientific strategy to be applied in the areas of eugenics, or the social philosophy of promoting the improvement of inherited human traits through intervention. Eugenics has previously been used to defend procedures like euthanasia and forced sterilization. Today many people fear that preimplantation genetic diagnosis may be perfected and could technically be applied to specific non-disease traits in implanted embryos thus amounting to a form of eugenics. In the media, this possibility has been sensationalized and is frequently referred to as creation of so-called “designer babies”, an expression that has even been included in the Oxford Dictionary. Trait selection and enhancement in embryos raises moral issues involving both individuals and society. The safety of the procedures used for preimplantation genetic diagnosis is currently under investigation and because this is relatively new form of reproductive technology, there is by nature a lack of long-term data and adequate numbers of research subjects.
In fact, given that most features are complicated and include multiple genes, such technology could not be feasible. However, if the potential to produce genetically modified humans ever materializes, it is crucial to consider these and other genetic engineering-related concerns.
Advancement in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering shall be a gamechanger in evolution of humans and society in the years to come.
References:
2. https://www.sites.ext.vt.edu/newsletter-archive/cses/2000-02/risks.html
3. https://www.drrvasc.ac.in/departments
4. https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetic-inequality-human-genetic-engineering-768
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