Chapter 1,299 The pros and cons of genetically modified technology
Debates and disagreements about genetically modified technology have never stopped since the advent of this technology. It can be said that the debate about this technology has become an issue that is being debated by academic circles, society, and the public today, and it has long ceased to exist.
It is no longer an issue debated by academic circles, but has become an issue that all mankind is paying attention to.
Transgenic technology refers to the use of modern biotechnology to artificially isolate and recombine desired target genes, then introduce and integrate them into the genome of an organism, thereby improving the original traits of the organism or giving it new excellent traits.
In addition to introducing new foreign genes, transgenic technology can also be used to process, knock out, and shield genes of organisms to change the genetic characteristics of organisms and obtain desired traits.
The main process of this technology includes a series of genetic engineering technologies such as cloning of foreign genes, construction of expression vectors, establishment of genetic transformation systems, screening of genetic transformants, genetic stability analysis and backcross breeding.
Scientists and researchers can use genetically modified technology to artificially cultivate some excellent new plant varieties.
These new plant varieties have many obvious advantages over traditional plant varieties.
For example, genetically modified biotechnology can speed up the growth of crops, enhance disease resistance, increase yields, enhance adaptability to the environment, and enhance resistance to herbicides and pesticides.
Plants are easily attacked by other weeds, diseases and insect pests, and genetically modified technology is about implanting some disease and insect resistance genes into the plant, so that it can resist the invasion of immune-related diseases and insect pests.
In addition, weeds and insects in farmland have a greater impact on crops. Generally, large amounts of herbicides and pesticides need to be sprayed when clearing large areas.
While these herbicides and pesticides kill weeds and insects, they can also affect or even damage crops or specific plants.
In this way, when there are weeds and large-scale insect damage, such as locusts, seed flies, grubs, etc., you can spray herbicides and insecticides with confidence and boldness, and you don't have to worry about the damage to crops and specific crops.
Plants cause damage.
Furthermore, it is also the transgenic or gene editing technology that Wu Hao and the others are researching.
That is, cloning some stress-resistant genes and transferring them into plants can improve the plant's resistance to drought, low temperature, salt-alkali and other stresses.
For example, the new transgenic Haloxylon ammodendron tree they are cultivating has some genes from moso bamboo transferred into it. Not only does it increase the plant height of the Haloxylon ammodendron tree several times, but it also has the rapid growth ability of moso bamboo and can grow in a very short period of time.
It can grow to several meters high in a short period of time, which is difficult for plants in arid desert areas to do.
In addition to its large-scale application in agricultural plants, genetically modified technology is also used in industry, medicine, fishery, animal husbandry, and even environmental protection.
For example, in industry, it can be used in industrial fermented food strains, such as the improvement of yeast and lactic acid bacteria. In addition, genetically modified technology can also be used to improve the production of food additives and processing aids.
In medicine, genetically modified technology is also widely used. Transgenic technology can be used in the production of protein and peptide drugs, such as the production of insulin, interferon, immunoglobulin, human hemoglobin, granulocytes and other rare drugs. It can also be produced using animals and plants.
Vaccines, such as hepatitis B surface antigen gene, foot-and-mouth disease virus protein gene, rabies virus G protein gene, etc.
In fisheries, transgenic technology can also be used to improve fish breeding performance and enhance its cold and disease resistance. According to relevant reports and published papers, a variety of related genes from mammals and poultry have been successfully transferred into
Into the genome of fish, the muscle protein content and feed conversion rate of transgenic fish are significantly improved, and the growth rate is accelerated.
In addition, technicians also use genetically modified technology to cultivate ornamental fish, such as the small tropical ornamental fish that have become popular and even rampant in recent years. They are very rich in red, green, and blue colors, and some can even fluoresce at night. These fish
It does not exist naturally, but is a brand new species created by technicians who transferred genes from some luminous jellyfish and deep-sea fish to these fish.
In the livestock industry, the same genetically modified technology is also showing its talents.
It can improve the production traits of livestock and poultry. Through transgenic technology, it can promote the growth rate of animals, improve feed utilization efficiency and shorten the growth cycle. Secondly, the application of transgenic technology can improve the disease resistance of livestock and poultry. The pathogenic genes of pathogens can be
The anti-gene is introduced into livestock and poultry to play a role in disease resistance.
Finally, in terms of environmental protection, one is what Wu Hao and the others are doing, cultivating some better drought-resistant, wind-sand-resistant, salt-alkali-resistant, and barren-resistant plants, and carrying out afforestation in arid desert areas to prevent wind and sand fixation.
Improve the environment.
In addition, you can use the characteristics of certain plants, bacteria, and microorganisms to absorb heavy metals and other toxic elements, extract the relevant genes of these plants, bacteria, and microorganisms, and then cultivate super plants that can absorb heavy metals and toxic elements.
This will control these polluted areas and purify the environment.
Having said so much, it seems that genetically modified technology is perfect and can help us humans solve various problems. It can be said to be a great biotechnology that can change the human world and even human civilization.
However, the risks it brings have also become a common concern among academic circles, society and the public.
Some countries and regions have even set up bans to strictly regulate the planting, production and application of such genetically modified plants and genetically modified technology.
For example, the European Union has implemented a mandatory labeling system for genetically modified products, and the House of Commons of China passed a ban on the planting of genetically modified corn. There are also some countries that directly ban the planting of genetically modified crops and strictly restrict the circulation of related genetically modified crops.
The reason why people are so worried about genetically modified technology is mainly because they are afraid of the serious ecological disasters and dangers caused by the abuse of genetically modified technology.
For example, many people believe that genetically modified technology itself still has some hidden dangers that are not yet confirmed but are extremely harmful, including threats to the earth's ecological environment and human health.
In addition, in terms of ecology, if genes related to genetically modified crops are transferred to related wild species, it will contaminate the entire seed resource gene pool, thereby changing regional plant genes, or even global plant genes, which will cause great harm to the ecological environment.
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Moreover, humans are also part of the natural ecosystem. People are worried that these genetically modified plants may also endanger the genes of some animals fed by plants, and ultimately affect human genes.