Academic Essay

Name: Kishenraj A/L Ramaru

ID: 00012557

Date: 20th November 2013

The disadvantages of biotechnology

Biotechnology exploits natural biological processes to create a technology
that aids human being. It is used in environmental, pharmaceutical and
industrial areas which are commercialised as it improves peoples need in
their daily life. Some examples of biotechnologys products are detergent,
shampoo, toothpaste, and so on. These products contain enzymes, good
bacteria and chemicals to function without harming people. However, some
people are against biotechnology although it has many advantages. The
downsides of utilizing such a technology are it will affect the production
costs, ethics and ecosystem.
Firstly, the usage of biotechnology is too expensive. The profit of a
business will be lesser than amount of money thrown in by investors and it
could lead to bankruptcy of a company. Besides, to make a breakthrough in
biotechnology it takes many trials and errors to make a project successful.
Since there will be many trials and errors, the cost of a project may increase
making it expensive. Acmed's development incurs the costs associated with
additional animal studies, clinical trials, and filings to the FDA (Jeffrey J.
Stewart, Peter N. Allison and Ronald S. Johnson, n.d). Moreover, the products
might not be affordable for low income earner but only someone with deeppocketed can afford to buy those products.
Next, the appliance of biotechnology is against ethics of humanity. Some
objective of research may not be ethical such as controlling the gene of a
baby, cloning human and crossbreeding. People who are concerned on
advancement of biotechnology are even furious as they suspect that science
will be overpowered by the importance of technology and it will be
unavoidable (McLean R., 2012). Furthermore, people may stop believing in
God as creator as human can do more than what God limits to do. In addition
in the influence of biotechnology, there may be threat of bioterrorism. This
might lead to a bio-war that will kill all organisms if not stopped.
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Academic Essay
Name: Kishenraj A/L Ramaru

ID: 00012557

Date: 20th November 2013

Finally, it tampers with Mother Nature. The genetically modified crops

may disturb food chain if the crops are indigestible to animals or human.
Health risks are another thing, the worrisome part is the effects of
genetically altered organisms to the environment (Choong Tet Sieu and Keith
Loveard, 2000). Likewise, gene combining from other animal to another may
release new pandemic that weakens humans immune systems and will be
susceptible to other chronic diseases as well. Also, biotechnology may create
mutants that are not suited to live in this world as well as spread carcinogen
that will cause cancer to human.
Although biotechnology is a boon to mankind as it provides endless
possibilities in providing way to live healthier, the side effects of it can be
fatal to all living things in this world. Using biotechnology is costly, some
times against morality and interferes with environment. Governments should
establish a subject or education of biotechnology for people so that they
know the consequences of it. People also can prevent the negative effect of
biotechnology by standing behind the line of moral code. A single misstep
could prove wrong of using such a technology. In a nutshell, biotechnology
can be a threat to all living organisms and avoiding tinkering with it is the
best way to preserve the world as it is.

(539 words)

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Academic Essay
Name: Kishenraj A/L Ramaru

ID: 00012557

Date: 20th November 2013

Reference List
Choong Tet Sieu and Keith Loveard. (2000). MAGIC GENES [Online] Retrieved
on 27 November 2013 from: http://wwwcgi.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/97/0905/cs1.html
Jeffrey J. Stewart, Peter N. Allison and Ronald S. Johnson (n.d). Putting a price
on biotechnology. [Online].Retrieved on 27 November 2013 from:
http://www.nature.com/bioent/2003/030101/full/nbt0901-813.html
Margaret R. McLean, Ph.D.(2012). A Framework for Thinking Ethically About
Human Biotechnology. [Online]. Retrieved on 19 November 2013 from:
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/submitted/mclean/biotechframework.
html

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