GENETIC ENGINEERING

GENETIC ENGINEERING

-the direct manipulation of an organism’s genome using

biotechnology

APPLICATIONS

In medicine

used to mass-produce insulin, human growth

hormones, vaccines, and many other drugs.

In research

where organisms are genetically engineered to discover

the functions of certain genes.

Industrial applications

include transforming microorganisms (bacteria or yeast)

for a useful protein.

In agriculture

used to create genetically-modified crops or genetically

modified organisms

THE PROMISES OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

To revolutionize agriculture by increasing crop

yields while reducing the use of pesticides;

To create tens of thousands of novel species of

bacteria, plants, viruses, and animals;

To replace reproduction, or supplement it, with

cloning;

To create cures for many diseases, increasing

our life span and our quality of life;

And much, much more.

“These profound changes in the biological sciences are

imminent and will challenge all our notions of what LIFE

is.” — BILL JOY

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

An animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA has been

altered using genetic engineering techniques.

Genetically modified animals are mainly used

for research purposes.

Genetically modified plants are common in

today’s food supply.

GMO Salmon

Created so that it continuously produces growth

hormones and can be sold as a full-size fish after 18

months instead of 3 years

“DOLLY”

First cloned animal by Scottish scientists in 1996 using

an udder cell taken from an adult sheep

CLONED BEAGLES

successfully cloned in Seoul, South Korea by a

biopharmaceutical company that specializes in stem

cell-based therapeutics.

“GOLDEN RICE”

Is genetically modified to produce beta-carotene, which

is not normally present in rice. Beta-carotene is

converted into Vitamin A which is necessary for

healthier skin, immune systems, and vision.

“This milestone puts Philippines at the global forefront

in leveraging agriculture research to address the issues

of malnutrition and related health impacts in a safe and

sustainable way,” said Dr. Jean Balie, Director General

of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

THERE IS AN INTENSE OPPOSITION TOWARDS GOLDEN

RICE

According to Stop Golden Rice Network (SGRN), Golden

Rice is an unnecessary and unwanted technology being

peddled by corporations purely for profit-making

agenda. It will only endanger agrobiodiversity and

people’s health as well.

Nutrition does not need to be an expensive commodity,

nor rely on advanced technology. Instead of using

genetic modification, governments should promote

biodiversity in farms and on tables by supporting safe,

healthy and sustainable food production.

“Given the incredible power of genetic engineering, it’s

no surprise that there are significant safety issues in its

use.”

“Food for the Future: Someday, rice will have built-in

vitamin A. Unless the Luddites win.”

I believe we all would agree that golden rice, with its

built-in vitamin A, is probably a good thing, if developed

with proper care and respect for the likely dangers in

moving genes across species boundaries. - - Bill Joy

HUMAN CLONING

is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a

human.

Generally used to refer to artificial human cloning,

which is the reproduction of human cells and tissue

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-the direct manipulation of an organism’s genome using biotechnology APPLICATIONS In medicine used to mass-produce insulin, human growth hormones, vaccines, and many other drugs. In research where organisms are genetically engineered to discover the functions of certain genes. Industrial applications include transforming microorganisms (bacteria or yeast) for a useful protein. In agriculture used to create genetically-modified crops or genetically modified organisms THE PROMISES OF GENETIC ENGINEERING  To revolutionize agriculture by increasing crop yields while reducing the use of pesticides;  To create tens of thousands of novel species of bacteria, plants, viruses, and animals;  To replace reproduction, or supplement it, with cloning;  To create cures for many diseases, increasing our life span and our quality of life;  And much, much more. “These profound changes in the biological sciences are imminent and will challenge all our notions of what LIFE is.” — BILL JOY Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) An animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.  Genetically modified animals are mainly used for research purposes.  Genetically modified plants are common in today’s food supply. GMO Salmon Created so that it continuously produces growth hormones and can be sold as a full-size fish after 18 months instead of 3 years

“DOLLY”

First cloned animal by Scottish scientists in 1996 using an udder cell taken from an adult sheep CLONED BEAGLES successfully cloned in Seoul, South Korea by a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in stem cell-based therapeutics. “GOLDEN RICE” Is genetically modified to produce beta-carotene, which is not normally present in rice. Beta-carotene is converted into Vitamin A which is necessary for healthier skin, immune systems, and vision. “This milestone puts Philippines at the global forefront in leveraging agriculture research to address the issues of malnutrition and related health impacts in a safe and sustainable way,” said Dr. Jean Balie, Director General of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) THERE IS AN INTENSE OPPOSITION TOWARDS GOLDEN RICE According to Stop Golden Rice Network (SGRN), Golden Rice is an unnecessary and unwanted technology being peddled by corporations purely for profit-making agenda. It will only endanger agrobiodiversity and people’s health as well. Nutrition does not need to be an expensive commodity, nor rely on advanced technology. Instead of using genetic modification, governments should promote biodiversity in farms and on tables by supporting safe, healthy and sustainable food production. “Given the incredible power of genetic engineering, it’s no surprise that there are significant safety issues in its use.” “Food for the Future: Someday, rice will have built-in vitamin A. Unless the Luddites win.” I believe we all would agree that golden rice, with its built-in vitamin A, is probably a good thing, if developed with proper care and respect for the likely dangers in moving genes across species boundaries. - - Bill Joy HUMAN CLONING is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a human. Generally used to refer to artificial human cloning, which is the reproduction of human cells and tissue

 Raised our awareness of the profound moral and ethical issues we face.  Threatens the notion of “equality” that is the very cornerstone of our democracy. Self-replication is the “modus operandi” of genetic engineering which uses the machinery of the cell to replicate its designs. It is most of all the power of destructive self-replication in genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics (GNR) that should give us pause Bill Joy’s major concern with genetic engineering is narrower: It gives the power – whether military, accidentally, or in a deliberate terrorist act – to create a White Plague. “THE WHITE PLAGUE” by Frank Herbert A molecular biologist is driven insane by the senseless murder of his family. To seek revenge, he constructs and disseminates a new and highly contagious plague that kills widely but selectively HOW CAN WE AVOID THIS? “RELINQUISHMENT” To limit development of technologies that are too dangerous, by limiting our pursuit of certain kinds of knowledge. All men by nature desire to know.” - Aristotle We have been seeking knowledge since ancient times. And in recent times, we have come to revere the scientific knowledge If open access to unlimited development of knowledge henceforth puts us all in clear danger of extinction, then common sense demands that we reexamine even the basic, long-held beliefs. Is Bill Joy a Luddite? “I trust it is clear that I am not a Luddite. I have always, rather, had a strong belief in the value of the scientific search for truth and in the ability of great engineering to bring material progress.”

WHY THE FUTURE DOES NOT NEED US?

William Nelson Joy  Born: November 8, 1954, Farmington Hills, Michigan, U.S.  American software developer and entrepreneur  Co-founder of the computer manufacturer Sun Microsystems  His article “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us” was published in April 2000 Bill Joy’s now famous Wired magazine essay, “ Why the future doesn’t need us,” (2000) sets forth his deep concerns over the development of modern technologies. “Our most powerful 21st-century technologies are threatening to make humans an endangered species.” Joy’s Main Arguments are the Following:  Robots would intellectually and socially dominate, if not replace humanity in the relatively near future  There will be a growing advance in genetic engineering and nanotechnology that would bring risks to humanity  There will be an increasing computer power; computers will eventually become more intelligent than we are Possible Scenarios in the Future Bill Joy argued that if machines do all of society’s work, as they inevitably will, then we can:  Let the machines make all the decisions; or  Maintain human control over the machines. If humanity let the machines make all the decisions: we might become so dependent on them that we would have to accept their commands The tiny elite:  would exterminate the masses;  reduce their birthrate so they slowly became extinct;  become benevolent shepherds to the masses. If humanity will maintain human control over the machines

economical by reducing the cost of constructing solar panels and related equipment. Energy storage devices will become more efficient as a result. Nanotechnology will also open up new methods of generating and storing energy. NANOTECHNOLOGY IN MEDICINE Nanotechnology has the potential to bring major advances in medicine. Nanobots could be sent into a patient's arteries to clear away blockages. Surgeries could become much faster and more accurate. Injuries could be repaired cell-by-cell. It may even become possible to heal genetic conditions by fixing the damaged genes. CONS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY: NANOTECHNOLOGY IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION the so-called "gray goo" scenario, where self-replicating nanobots consume everything around them to make copies of themselves, was once widely discussed but is no longer considered to be a credible threat. It is possible, however, that there will be some negative effects on the environment as potential new toxins and pollutants may be created by nanotechnology. NANOTECHNOLOGY IN PRIVACY AND SECURITY Nanotechnology raises the possibility of microscopic recording devices, which would be virtually undetectable. More seriously, it is possible that nanotechnology could be weaponized. Atomic weapons would be easier to create and weapons might also be developed. NANOTECHNOLOGY AND TOXICITY TO HUMAN AND ANIMALS Toxicological studies of fibrous and tubular nanostructures have shown that at extremely high doses of these materials are associated with fibrotic lung responses and result in inflammation and an increased risk of carcinogenesis. Single walled carbon nanotubes have been shown to inhibit the proliferation of kidney cells in cell culture by inducing cell apoptosis and decreasing cellular adhesive ability. In addition, they cause inflammation in the lung upon instillation. "This is the first moment in the history of our planet when any species, by its own voluntary actions, has become a danger to itself - as well as to vast numbers of others." - a quote from the article - WHY THE FUTURE DOESN'T NEED US ROBOTICS What are Robots? The word robot comes from the Czech word “robota” which means “forced work or labor.” We use the word "robot" today to mean any man-made machine that can perform work or other tasks, either automatically or by remote human control. Some robots do work according to instructions programmed in advance, while others must have a human giving continuous commands. Robotics is the science and study of robots. What do Robots do? According to Bill Joy, Robotics Deals with the design construction, operation and use of robots, as well as computer system for their control, sensory feedback and information processing Robots are sometimes thought of as devices for the far- off future, or as something in science fiction. But the truth is that robots are part of our lives today. In fact, robots are all around us! Our world is inhabited by machines that can talk to us, listen to us, perform as asked, and even solve problems without specific direction from humans. However, the most common uses of robots involve them acting as substitutes for human labor, doing work that humans could do but those robots are better suited for. BRIEF History Robots seem like a modern-day invention, but in reality, evidence suggests that automations were created for everything from toys to parts for religious ceremonies in ancient Greece and Rome. Leonardo da Vinci sketched plans for a humanoid robot in the late 1400s. Jacques de Vaucanson was famous in the 18th century for his automated human figure that played the flute and for a duck that could flap its wings. These early automations were often controlled by ropes, wheels, air or water. REAL LIFE ROBOTS SOPHIA  Developed by Hongkong based company HANSON ROBOTICS using artificial intelligence technologies developed by David Hanson  She is capable of making "realistic" human facial expressions. And learning the relevant and familiar human emotions behind those gestures.  AUDRY HEPBURN Tokyo, Japan on the other hand, granted residency to robot named MIRAI

A juvenile Al chatbot on the Japanese messaging service LINE who was designed to behave like a 7 years old boy Humanoids Robots The computer scientist succeeds in developing intelligent machines that can do all things better than human beings can do. TWO CASES MIGHT OCCUR: The machines might be permitted to make all of their own decision making without human oversight.  we can't make any conjectures as to the results, because it is impossible to guess how such machines might behave.  Human accept and follow all the machines 'decision.  People won't be able to turn the machines off, because they will be so dependent. Human control over the machines might be retained.  Due to improved techniques the elite will have greater control over the masses;  If the elite is ruthless, they may simply decide to exterminate the mass of humanity.  If they are humane, they may use propaganda or other psychological or biological techniques to reduce the birth rate  If the elite consists of soft-hearted liberals, they may decide to play the role of good shepherds to the rest of the human race Conclusion As society and the problem, it faces become more complicated and machines become even more intelligent, people will just allow these machines make more of their decisions for them Due to improved techniques the machine completely controls over the society because human work is rendered obsolete not workable anymore, society will be unnecessary WHY DOES THE FUTURE NEED US? HOW FAR OFF WILLIAM NELSONJOY IS? in about 30 years, a new idea suggests itself: that I may be working to create tools which will enable the construction of the technology that may replace our species. How do I feel about this? Very uncomfortable.

BILL JOY, WIRED, APRIL 2000

"OUR MOST POWERFUL 21ST- CENTURY

TECHNOLOGIES—ROBOTICS, GENETIC ENGINEERING,

AND NANOTECH—ARE THREATENING TO MAKE

HUMANS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES.

ARGUMENTS

Kaczynski argued that if machines do all of society’s work, as they inevitably will, then we can: OPTION 1 - Let the machines make all the decisions OPTION 2 - Maintain human control over the machines IF WE CHOOSE OPTION 1  HUMANS WILL BE TOO DEPENDENT ON MACHINES THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ACCEPT THEIR COMMANDS  HUMANS WILL BE RENDERED AS OBSOLETE IF WE CHOOSE OPTION 2  would exterminate the masses  reduce their birthrate so they slowly became extinct  become benevolent shepherds to the masses. KARL MARX, THE GERMAN IDEOLOGY “...in communist society, where nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes, society regulates the general production and thus makes it possible for me to do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticise after dinner, just as I have a mind, without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, herdsman or critic.” ARGUMENTS “Constructs and disseminates a new and highly contagious plague that kills widely but selectively. According to Joy, self-replication amplifies the danger of GNR: “A bomb is blown up only once—but one bot can become many, and quickly get out of control.” “Engines of creation” may transform into “engines of destruction" “The only realistic alternative I see is relinquishment: to limit development of the technologies that are too dangerous, by limiting our pursuit of certain kinds of knowledge.” BUT IF WE CAN CONTROL OUR TECHNOLOGY, THERE IS ANOTHER SOLUTION TO OUR DILEMMAS.

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