Synthetic Biology Essay - 1508 Words

Impacts on the Environmental Movement David Park, Expos 101, Prassack, 11/15/2011 The environmental movement, addressed in Rewilding North America by Caroline Fraser, focuses on the negative outcomes of human activities in the environment. It is a movement that restores the environment that humans have damaged. Scientists have addressed the idea, in A life of its own by Michael Specter, of using synthetic biology to mend environmental issues. Synthetic biology combines the elements of engineering, chemistry, computer science, and molecular biology†¦to assemble the biological tools necessary to redesign the living world (Specter 364). There are both positive and negative impacts of a synthetic world on the environment movement.†¦show more content†¦However, synthetic biology would essentially compete against rewilding for funds, and hinder the environmental movement. One example of the competition between the environmental movement is the option of using cores and corridors versus to previous established programs. Initially, the promotion of cores and corridors was rejected by the organizations at first. Later on, rewilding advocates created a new group, seeking to reshape the environmental movement, and acquired money from Tompkins and Johns. The rewilding movement ultimately took money away from other programs, and changed the concept of the environmental movement. Now another decision has to be made between rewilding and synthetic biology. Because money is limited, organizations can only support a limited amount of movements. By funding synthetic biology, other environmental movements will be halted, whether it is better or for worse. The environmental movement is important, but it does not take priority over synthetic biology. On the issue of nature, the environmental movement and a synthetic world stand at different spectrums. Nature has constantly been molding the earth, and ever since humans came, with their technology, the environment has started to deteriorate. The movemen t for nature focuses on the negative impact of humans on to nature. Many of the movements that are in affect recognized that wilderness cannot be preserved by sealing itShow MoreRelatedA Research Study On Synthetic Biology1324 Words   |  6 Pages2.1 Fundamental research Synthetic biology has a lot to offer in fundamental research. Starting from the most well characterised laboratory organism, E.coli, we are still in half way from full knowledge of understanding the function of all its genes as the functions of 20% of them are still to be identified (Keseler et al., 2011). Moreover there are many more other microorganisms with great importance which are even less-well understood. Synthetic biology provides the ability to make specificRead MoreSynthetic Biology Therapies And Treatment Of Infectious Diseases And Cancer Therapies1490 Words   |  6 Pagesthe biomedicine and pharmaceutical industry. Synthetic biology therapies has been developed for the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer, as well as approaches in vaccine development (Ruder et al., 2011). As Ruder et al. (2011) have discovered, effective synthetic biology therapies can been rationally designed and constructed to alter mechanisms underlying disease and related biological processes. In the process of developing synthetic biology for prevention of infection, bacteriophages haveRead MoreSynthetic Biology : An Interdisciplinary Branch Of Biology And Engineering1933 Words   |  8 PagesSynthetic Biology Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary branch of biology and engineering that incorporates the design and development of new biological elements, equipment, and systems, as well as the re-design of existing natural biological systems for useful functions. It is a practice that guarantees improved drugs, better hydrated crops, greener fuels and even a potentially modernized or reconstructed chemical industry. Synthetic biology also has the potential to reduce our dependence onRead MoreThe Process and Applications of Synthetic Biology1605 Words   |  6 Pagesmicroscopic level. Synthetic biology is a very useful tool that can lead to milestones in the science field. Synthetic biology is the design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and systems. 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In fact, the workhorses of biology- enzymes- enable high specificity in biochemicalRead MorePlaying God s Footsteps : Synthetic Biology And The Meaning Of Life1067 Words   |  5 PagesFrankenstein’s Footsteps: Synthetic Biology and the Meaning of Life. By Henrik Van den Belt. In the article Playing God in Frankenstein’s Footsteps: Synthetic Biology and the Meaning of Life, published in Nanoethics in 2009, Professor of Reformed Theology Henk Van den Belt discusses bioethics and theology in the context of the meaning of life, as a scientific definition and as viewed and explained by religion and in society. The article analyses different views on creating/modifying synthetic life, and providesRead MoreSynthetic Biology: Transplanting an Artificial DNA to a Living Bacterium Mycoplasma560 Words   |  3 Pageswebsite, the names of the scientists and three quotes. This is followed by transplanting the artificial DNA into a living bacterium Mycoplasma capricolum with its own DNA. They then allowed the bacterium which now contains both artificial and synthetic DNA to multiply. This means that the daughter bacteria will contain both artificial and authentic DNA. To remove the authentic DNA bacteria, they used an antibiotic that kills the bacteria with authentic DNA but not the bacteria with artificial