Biotechnology is a fairly polarizing topic and seen to be complex by many. However, it is not as difficult to comprehend or understand as many believe it to be. Biotechnology is essentially technology that is centered on biology. This means that biotechnology strives to harness both cellular and bimolecular processes to enhance existing technologies and move healthcare forward. Biotechnology has been around for many years, but biotechnology in humans is something that is not quite as common. Controversy surrounds biotechnology in humans, but the question remains if the benefits outweigh the downsides.
The only way to gain a better understanding of the topic is to take a closer look at both the pros and cons of biotechnology. There are two sides to every issue and both sides have valid arguments or points. By learning more about the pros and cons of biotechnology, you can form your own opinion based on real information. Here are some of the most important pros and cons of biotechnology in humans.
List of Pros of Biotechnology in Humans
1. Reduce Infectious Disease Rates
Infectious diseases can be a very scary thing is they are not prevented and reduced. Biotechnology has the ability to offer product and treatments that can actually help to reduce infectious disease rates and keep the spreading of these diseases to a minimum. This can reduce panic and promote health in a unique way. Without biotechnology being used on humans to reduce rates of infectious disease, there could be higher rates that create epidemics and pandemonium.
2. Alter Odds
Biotechnology is so powerful that this type of innovation is leading to the change of odds for many common diseases. This means that diseases that were once viewed as terminal or untreatable are now being seen as curable. The odds of many serious diseases are being changed for the better due to biotechnology in humans.
3. Saving Lives
The bottom line is that biotechnology has the ability to save countless lives. Even though some view using genetic makeup to cure diseases and improve health as controversial, it has a profound impact on the world of healthcare as a whole. It changes how diseases spread, how they are treated and the odds that people have or being cured.
List of Cons of Biotechnology in Humans
1. Ethical Issues
The main argument against biotechnology in humans has to do with the ethical aspect of this type of technology. Some view biotechnology in humans as playing god and view it as wrong on all levels. This type of belief is often tied to religion in some capacity. Since there are ethical issues centered on biotechnology on humans, it is a controversial subject that is divisive.
2. Expensive
Another downside to biotechnology in humans is both cost and lack of resources. This type of technology is very expensive to research and produce. This is a major drawback and could be the biggest reason why biotechnology research is not taken more seriously or expanded further.
Modern Breakthroughs
Many of the products and technologies over the past few decades that have been viewed as modern breakthroughs are products of biotechnology. Biotechnology can be used to solve common problems surrounding rare diseases, environmental footprints, hunger issues, manufacturing and everything else that has an impact on the world in some capacity.
Biotechnology and Healthcare
Right now, there are more than 250 healthcare-related products that have been developed as a result of biotechnology. These health products are designed to treat diseases and illnesses that were once viewed as incurable.
Biotechnology is slowly helping to make disease less prevalent and make cures more accessible. Using our own genetic makeup to find cures has the ability to not only reduce rate of disease and save the lives of millions, but also change the likelihood of exposure to disease and treat patients in a new way that limits the risk of possible symptoms. These benefits of biotechnology in the world are only possible if our own genetics are used to heal.
Biotechnology in other Forms
It seems that biotechnology is only a controversial issue in relation to humans. This means that biotechnology used to fuel and feed the world is seen as innovation at its finest. Biotechnology in the fuel industry has been able to streamline steps in chemical manufacturing, improve the efficiency of manufacturing and lower overall costs. In relation to hunger issues, biotechnology has been just as transformative. It has allowed for higher crop yields, lessened the amount of chemicals in foods and developed crops that have higher nutritional amounts.
Since biotechnology is seen to be so valuable and beneficial in relation to fuel and hunger issues, it is somewhat surprising that it is also viewed as controversial and even harmful in the world of health when biotechnology involves humans directly.