The Golden Age Of Computing

Discoveries in DNA, cell biology, evolution, biotechnology have been among the major achievements in biology over the past 200 years with accelerated discoveries and insights over the last 50 years. Consider the progress we have made in these areas of human knowledge. Present at least three of the discoveries you find to be most important and describe their significance to society, health, and the culture of modern life.

Survival of the Sickest, written by author Dr. Sharon Moalem, is a book discussing why evolution has not allowed for the destruction of certain diseases. He states that these deadly diseases, such as Anemia, Hemochromatosis, and High Cholesterol, are in fact tools that evolution used to help the human race survive. He explains how these diseases helped fight against more dangerous and life threatening sicknesses such as, Malaria, the Bubonic Plague, and Vitamin D deficiency related illnesses. The main idea of this book is a simple one. Evolution did not necessarily favor adaptations that made us better. Instead, it favored adaptations that helped us survive. Even if these adaptations would end up killing us in the long run.

believed that genetically aberrant hemoglobin evolved as a protection against malaria."(2) It has also been said that, "People with a single copy of a particular genetic mutation [sickle cell trait] have a survival advantage. One copy of the mutation confers a benefit." (3) Its quite interesting to find that original purpose of this gene was

Dr. Sharon Moalem, the author of Survival of the Sickest, provides a fascinating glimpse into the idea that modern human diseases that afflict us actually have a significant role in the selection and the existence of our ancestors. Before reading this book, I was used to thinking of diseases as disorders that adversely affect a person. While this may be the case for most individuals, Moalem explained in his book that that there’s an underlying connection between various diseases and longevity of a species. He explained how these diseases helped fight against more life threatening situations such as the Bubonic Plague, malaria, and the ice age. Most importantly, I learned that evolution did not necessarily favor adaptations that make us better, but those that help us survive, even if these adaptations would kill us in the long run.

Be it through evolutionary selection over time or even death, nature finds a way to eliminate unwanted traits. This much being said, many of the costs of disease symptoms, though painful, are necessary evils. Many of these are accidental byproducts of genetic mutation, such as the occasional death linked to the anti-malarial genes predisposing favism or sickle-cell anemia. But there are no accidents in nature, these deaths prevent this mutation spreading into future gene pools. Occasionally over time genes may begin to clash within a creature's modern environment faster than the species can evolve, causing survival to become a challenge that could potentially kill off a species completely. Though its important to keep in mind not always are such drastic measures required- many disorders that are linked to genes provide trade-offs, as they may be the result of mismatches between ancestral conditions and the modern world, and as Moalem proves that disadvantages are necessary to evolve

The most commonly used genetic altering purpose today is seen in animals, and it produces a multitude of opportunities. Industries, such as agriculture, have already taken action with this opportunity. Cows can be made to produce more milk, higher quality beef, and higher quality milk. Sheep can be made to produce more wool, or salmon could be made to grow faster and larger than usual. In other words, one needs less cows to produce the required milk, less sheep to produce enough wool, and less salmon to get the desired meat. Additionally, to an increase in productivity, these animals will most likely have a high tolerance to a number of diseases and illnesses. This means that not only will the cattle, sheep, and salmon be more productive, but also live a longer, healthier life. Andrew B. Perzigian in, “Brief summary of Genetic engineering and animals” says that

In "Survival of the Sickest" by Dr. Sharon Moalem and Jonathan Prince, the authors prove that modern day diseases were actually vital survival traits for our ancestors. Traits of certain passed on diseases that we would now normally consider deadly or unhealthy helped humans adapt to other sicknesses and problems. Diabetes, favism, and hemochromatosis are three examples of how hereditary diseases have once helped humans survive in the past.

Scientists continue to find new ways to insert genes for specific traits into plant and animal DNA. A field of promise—and a subject of debate—genetic engineering is changing the food we eat and the world we live in.

Starting around “the 1920s, scientists theorize[d] that DNA carried genetic information” and about half a decade later, altering of DNA began (Genetic Engineering, Opposing Viewpoints). Today genetic engineering in agriculture booms as it provides us with year-round access to

Genetic disorders can also be hereditary and can be passed down from generation to generation. There are two types of genetic disorders, single gene and multigene. Single gene focuses specifically on one gene while multigene disorders affect multiple genes and there are more of them. Moreover, single gene disorders are far more numerous than generally assumed, and as a group, they are certainly not rare (Ropers, 2010). As stated by Hans-Hilger Roper, single gene disorders are more rare than many might think. The chances of being born with a certain genetic disorder could possibly range from 1 in 500 to 1 in 10 million. While these numbers for a single genetic disorder might not be significantly high, the tens of thousands diseases bundled together adds

What if you could change your baby's eye color, height, or hair color? Genetic engineering is becoming the new trend across America. In this blog You will learn how genetic engineering was used in history, how it is used today, and how it affects everyday lives. Techniques of genetic engineering can be applied to almost anything in the aspect of human well beings. This includes food production, disposal of waste, medicines, and possibly treatments of disease.

Genetic engineering techniques have been applied to various industries, with some success. Medicines such as insulin and human growth hormone are now produced in bacteria, experimental mice such as the oncomouse and the knockout mouse are being used for research purposes and insect resistant and/or herbicide tolerant crops have been commercialized. Plants that contain drugs and vaccines, animals with beneficial proteins in their milk and stress tolerant crops are currently being developed

Genetic engineering is widely used today. Genetically altered bacteria are used to make human insulin, human growth hormone, and a vaccine for hepatitis B. Two vaccines against AIDS created with genetic engineering have begun clinical trials here in the United States ("The

Genetic Engineering has developed by very rapidly over the past twenty years. It is also one of the most controversial topics to go through the United States. From the research gene therapy to the cloning of different animals, genetic engineering can save lives while at the same time, endanger them as well. There are many pros and cons which are being heavily debated by political, scientific, and many other organizations. Most are centered on the idea of using Stem cells as a way of curing diseases.

Over the years, new innovations, ideas, and emerging technologies have transformed our society and our daily lives. These new discoveries have not only been developed to help make our lives easier, but to also help us live longer and stronger lives. Living in a world that continues to evolve, creates opportunities for new innovations and breakthroughs to arise within our society. Genetic engineering is just one of many examples of the advancements that young, intelligent minds have developed throughout the years. Genetic engineering is defined as “isolating a desirable gene” and injecting it into a plant or organism to produce “a desired characteristic” (Nutrition & Weight Control for Longevity, 2005). This biological technology has provided many advancement opportunities “for several industrial sectors such as agriculture, food manufacture and pharmaceuticals” (Rastall, 2002). Along with everything else in life, genetic engineering has some upsides and downsides. Today I am going to discuss the positive and negative outcomes that genetic engineering is recognized for in the agricultural industry.