evaluating the potential benefits for society of research using genetic technologies (1 Viewer)

jimmysmith560

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Perhaps this is referring to using genetic technologies for research and its benefits for society. Here are some potential benefits:

It allows for a faster growth rate:
  • Genetic engineering allows plants or animals to be modified so their maturity can occur at a quicker pace.
  • Engineering can allow this maturity to occur outside of the normal growth conditions that are favourable without genetic changes as well.
  • Even if there is higher levels of heat or lower levels of light, it becomes possible to expand what can be grown in those conditions.
It can create an extended life:
  • Genetic modification can help to create resistance to common forms of organism death.
  • Pest resistance can be included into the genetic profiles of plants so they can mature as a crop without any further additives.
  • Animals can have their genetic profiles modified to reduce the risks of common health concerns that may affect the breed or species. This creates the potential for an extended lifespan for each organism.
Specific traits can be developed:
  • Plants and animals can have specific traits developed through genetic engineering that can make them more attractive to use or consume.
  • Different colours can be created to produce a wider range of produce. Animals can be modified to produce more milk, grow more muscle tissue, or produce different coats so that a wider range of fabrics can be created.
New products can be created:
  • With genetic engineering, new products can be created by adding or combining different profiles together. One example of this is to take a specific product, such as a potato, and alter its profile so that it can produce more nutrients per kcal than without the genetic engineering.
  • This makes it possible for more people to get what they need nutritionally, even if their food access is limited, and this could potentially reduce global food insecurity.
Greater yields can be produced:
  • Genetic engineering can also change the traits of plants or animals so that they produce greater yields per plant.
  • More fruits can be produced per tree, which creates a greater food supply and more profits for a farmer.
  • It also creates the potential for using modified organisms in multiple ways because there is a greater yield available.
  • Modified corn, for example, can be used for specific purposes, such as animal feed, ethanol, or larger cobs for human consumption.
Risks to the local water supply are reduced:
  • Because farmers and growers do not need to apply as many pesticides or herbicides to their croplands due to genetic engineering, fewer applications to the soil need to occur.
  • This protects the local watershed and reduces the risk of an adverse event occurring without risking the yield and profitability that is needed.
It is a scientific practice that has been in place for millennia:
  • Humans in the past may not have been able to directly modify the DNA of a plant or animal in a laboratory, but they still practised genetic engineering through selective breeding and cross-species or cross-breeding.
  • People would identify specific traits, seek out other plants or animals that had similar traits, and then breed them together to create a specific result. Genetic engineering just speeds up this process and can predict an outcome with greater regularity.

I hope this helps! 😄
 

zizi2003_

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hi guys does anyone know i dont get the "research" part haha?

@Hivaclibtibcharkwa @zizi2003_ @hiiitsme
so basically, this dotpoint is also connected to the "research the future directions of the use of biotechnology" that comes before it, except now you have to discuss the benefits it has (social, agricultural, medicinal...)

so examples like:

- the potential for gene therapy to treat/'cure' non-infectious diseases eg, cystic fibrosis by replacing the mutated gene coding for a non-functional CFTR protein, with the healthy gene (medicinal/social benefits) --> reduces morbidity and mortality rates/increased survival
- the potential for therapeutic cloning in xenotransplantation- using stem cells to clone organs that have the same genetic material / MHC I receptors as the recipient to avoid organ rejection (medicinal/social benefits)
- the potential for genetically modified crops/organisms in alleviating hunger globally - eg, golden rice (beta carotene- can combat vit A deficiency)
- pre-implantation genetic testing- testing and then modification of embryonic genes and the impact this can have on the evolution/allele frequency of a population - +ve and -ve
- CRISPR and its ability to modify specific genes (medicinal benefits) --> it's vv important to know the processes involved and perhaps an example of how it can help society as a 'future technology'

make sure you also mention the negatives since the question is 'evaluate', so while these technologies have the potential to improve medicine/agriculture etc, they may also result in the loss of biodiversity etc
 
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hiiitsme

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How about this: analyse the features of fertilisation, implantation and hormonal control of pregnancy and birth in mammals

Ive heard VERY contrasting opinions about the depth we have to go
 

hiiitsme

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and yall have any decent industrial application of biotech?
 

zizi2003_

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How about this: analyse the features of fertilisation, implantation and hormonal control of pregnancy and birth in mammals

Ive heard VERY contrasting opinions about the depth we have to go
IDK if there are other hormones we need to know about, but from my knowledge:
- progesterone
- oestrogen
- testosterone
- HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin hormone)
- follicle-stimulating hormone
- luteinising hormone
- oxytoxin, prolactin, relaxin

are there any others we should know ?
 

hiiitsme

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IDK if there are other hormones we need to know about, but from my knowledge:
- progesterone
- oestrogen
- testosterone
- HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin hormone)
- follicle-stimulating hormone
- luteinising hormone
- oxytoxin, prolactin, relaxin

are there any others we should know ?
But is there anything about the menstrual cycle that we need? I’ve seen questions on it?
 

zizi2003_

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But is there anything about the menstrual cycle that we need? I’ve seen questions on it?
yeah obv- that's related to the 'pregnancy' section of the dotpoint
We just need to know about the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle (FSH in the follicular phase- growing follicles, and LH which triggers ovulation). The egg is released in ovulation from a follicle that's now termed the 'corpus luteum' which produces progesterone (ive seen like 2 questions on this in the HSC) to thicken the endometrial lining to prepare for implantation
 

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