Oryx & Crake Technology Report: Biotechnology & Genography
At the first look at the title of this report, you will be thinking ‘Oh wow, he is so out of touch with what is going on in the world today that he doesn’t even know genetic engineering/ gene splicing is already in effect.’ I am fully aware that many different genetically modified organisms are being researched on, such as the Flavr Savr Tomato on 1997, as well as corn crops being much more resistant to the cold weather in the north. Though we have those certain organisms, which have had a specific gene implemented into them from a certain animal, plant or insect, we still have to have a backbone in which we can actually add that gene towards. For example, we have things
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After doing research on Atwood and visiting her website
MaddAddams world, it is clear to see that she has a big interest in human fiction. I do not say science fiction in this case, because the book Oryx & Crake does not deal with spaceships laser blasters, and other stereotypical sci-fi ‘props’. Instead, she puts focus on something that could be completely plausible in the world we live in today. There are already many genetic testings on animals, and we are already able to grow certain appendages on other life forms, such as ears and other cartilage based body parts. It is thought by many people that implementing emotions to A.I would be done by cognitive scientists and psychologists, but it is rather done by software engineers who attempt to add emotions into certain operating systems. As you can see in this article http://ceramics.org/ceramic-tech-today/is-artificial-emotional-intelligence-possible-itdepends-on-whom-you-ask Atwood is not too far gone to believe that the ability to control emotions in a ‘man-made’ species is not far off in a non-organic life-form, but the question with relation to Oryx & Crake is how it can be done in a mind that thinks freely.
Much like the Rakunks within the novel, we can take a certain gene that we like from one animal, and implement it to another. For example, during the early 90’s, researchers at the
Calgene research centre in California
To me, I don't think altering the genetic code and helping thise with genetic based
In recent decades, there have been many advances in technology, specifically in the field of genetic engineering, that allows precise control over changing the genes in an organism. Today, it is possible to incorporate new genes from one species into a completely unrelated species through genetic engineering. The
The science to gene manipulation and gene splicing leads us back to the question, are we playing God? In a secular sense, yes, but what religion fails to see is that man and animal have had a connection that extends through our genetics. We share DNA with many animals, but certain DNA have long been turned off because we evolved to our current state. As Dr Marilyn Strathern was quoted as saying, “relatives are always a surprise and biotechnology extends the scope of kinship along with all of its social entailments.” (642) While religion asks that we not engage in this discussion, there will come a time when it must be discussed and a possible plan must be put in place for the end of humanity. All options must be considered, and gene splicing is one of those options.
The modified genes of transgenic species can be of benefit to humans especially infants. It is possible to modify the genes of a cow in order to allow them
In the technology of genetic engineering of animals the first essential step is to ensure that the
Although genetic engineering has been going on and used for the past thirty years, it has just recently begun to cause
This is known as recombinant GMOs and the non-native proteins have also been modified to some extent in order for it to be a suitable expression in its new host. This is known as transgenic modification (Rotman, 2013)
Genetically modified organisms genes are transferred is by using “infectious, tumor-forming bacterium such as agrobacterium. Genes with desired characteristics are cut out of the donor DNA and spliced into bacteria DNA using a special enzyme. The bacteria then infects plant cells and carry altered DNA into cell’s nuclei. The cells multiply, forming a tumor, or callus, which can grow into a mature plant” (Cunningham 2015).
Genes could be acquired by different organisms which introduces unique characteristics into the organism. The gene acquired may have been modified using
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) is organisms whose genetic makeup has been altered through recombinant DNA technology, thus producing something different from the species. There exist various examples of genetically tailored organisms comparing transgenic animals, plants, fish, as well as microorganisms like parasites, fungi and bacteria. A particular example would be an introduction of the insulin gene of human into E. coli to give rise to human insulin. Nowadays, GMOs are developing and being used globally, in the U.S., most of their soybeans and corns are modified genetically (Carter, 2011).
The genetically modified organisms (GMO) correspond to plants, animals as well as microorganisms whose DNA has been altered. They are also known as transgenic, genetically manipulated, or engineered organisms. The intentional incorporation or deletion of their genes is intended to introduce or modify some of its characteristics. Although this has been seen as a great advantage by many scientists and supporters of this technology, transgenic organisms suppose a danger that has not been conceived at all and that may affect the world in an unrepairable and decontrolled way.
As biotechnologists have learned how to interpret and manipulate genetic code, they have begun to take the useful genetic information from one organism and add it to another. This has become the groundwork of genetic engineering, or synthetic biology. It has allowed researchers to
Our emotional response to the world around us is a fundamental key to the way it affects our lives. Intelligent individuals, or even those that are aware of their emotional response to the conditions around them, can use these skills to manipulate and control their emotions, which is a concept common in both real world situations and literature.
Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen first established the Genetic Modification of Organisms in 1973. The successful accomplishment arrived after thousands of years of selective breeding in which farmers used unreliable methods that took many years to achieve the desired characteristic within an organism. However genetic modification allows specific individual genes to be transferred from one organism to another instantly and occurring in the same generation of the organism. The insertion, deletion and mutation of genes allow desirable characteristics to be developed that would be impossible to obtain from selective breeding. Genes carry the information for the necessary characteristics that determines what the organism inherits and through changing or inserting genes; genetic modification allows specific qualities to be produced more accurately. First the chosen DNA must be isolated and copied by either synthesising DNA to insert or by generating a DNA sequence through molecular cloning methods. Genes can be ‘switched’ on or off and can be removed or ‘knocked out’ using nuclease to change the way an organism develops. This allows genes to be transferred from non-related species and by isolating individual genes, scientists could gain high-value medical products form animals in the future. GMO’s are involved throughout society in research, medicine, agriculture and environmental management. This report will investigate the involvement of mammals, microbes, crops and the
Ok, There’s this amazing new thing called Genetic engineering, So much fun right! Well most of you probably don’t actually know what it is, so here is a very basic explanation of it. Simply put, Genetic Engineering is the modification of genes within an organism, Ok, I know you guys would rather me speak English. It basically means that using scientific equipment, scientists have discovered that it is in fact possible to make your child perfect! That's correct, Scientists have discovered a way to choose the traits of your child, Such as eye color or hair color, or maybe even eliminating certain birth defects and disabilities by manipulating the genes that it was made from.