WEEK 6 The Anthropology of Biology - Human Intervention and Manipulation of Life PDF

The Anthropology of Biology: Human Intervention and Manipulation of Life HOUSE RULES “HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY” REVIEW Differentiate national terrorism from international terrorism. ICE BREAKER LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Describe the science and technology behind genomics...

The Anthropology of Biology: Human Intervention and Manipulation of Life HOUSE RULES “HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY” REVIEW Differentiate national terrorism from international terrorism. ICE BREAKER LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Describe the science and technology behind genomics, biotechnology, and synthetic biology and their significance in society. 2. Explain the role of humans in relation to the widespread technological advancements in the field of Biology in the 21st century. 3. Evaluate the social impact and ethical concerns of genomics, biotechnology, and synthetic biology in terms of sustainable development, quality of life, health, economics, and political spheres. A. GENOMICS DEFINED Genomics is the study of all of a person’s genes, including interactions of those genes with each other and with the person’s environment. Genome- an organism’s complete set of DNA. - Every cell in the body contains a complete copy of approx. 3 billion DNA base pairs. - Egg cell and sperm cells have 23 chromosomes each. - Through fertilization, egg and sperm join to make a cell with 46 chromosomes. Cell during prophase- the chromosomes condense and centrosomes move to opposite sides of the nucleus, initiating formation of the mitotic spindle. Nucleosomes- is a section of DNA that is wrapped around a core of proteins. Histones- is a protein that provides structural support for a chromosome. Gene- The basic unit of heredity passed from parent to child. Genes are made up of sequences of DNA and are arranged, one after another, at specific locations on chromosomes in the nucleus of cells. DNA- Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the chemical compound that contains the instructions needed to develop and direct the activities of nearly all living organisms. Imagine a BOOK DNA-letters Genes-paragraphs Chromosomes-chapters Genome- the book Human Genome Project SIGNIFICANCE OF GENOMICS 1. Cancer genomics- study, diagnose and treat cancer. 2. Human origins and ancestry- trace human origins and ancestry 3. Agriculture- empowers farmers to improve food supply (GMO) 4. Rare genetic disease- diagnose and treat rare disease 5. Pharmacogenomics- right medication at the right dose for each patient- personalized 6. Noninvasive prenatal genetic testing- test for defects/ diseases before birth. 7. Enhanced forensics- DNA testing SOCIAL AND ETHICAL CONCERNS OF GENOMICS 1. Privacy and confidentiality 2. Access and ownership of genetic information and materials 3. Psychological risks in participating in genetic research studies 4. Potential group-related harms 5. Stigmatization (disgrace, shame) 6. Patient identification 7. Consent 8. Testing of children B. BIOTECHNOLOGY DEFINED Biotechnology is using biology to develop new products, methods and organisms intended to improve human health and society. Biotechnology is the use of biology to solve problems and make useful products. The most prominent approach used is genetic engineering. SIGNIFICANCE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 1. Agriculture - improve food quality, quantity, and processing. -bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides (promote growth, increase nutrients - increase yield and lower production costs. 2. Medicine - develop innovative techniques for diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases. - invention of drugs and recombinant vaccines SIGNIFICANCE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 3. Flora and Fauna - develop a micropropagation system- a method of plant breeding to produce new plant species and varieties. - production of genetically engineered plants (GMO) - in animal husbandry, transgenic animals were produced to transfer the growth hormones and improve the efficiency of egg, meat, and milk production. 4. Environment - controlling environmental pollution (bioremediation etc) SIGNIFICANCE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 5. Improved human health - produce enriched nutrients in food products such as golden rice, potato, maize, soybean etc. SOCIAL AND ETHICAL CONCERNS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 1. Privacy -Who controls the genetic information? Keep it private 2. Who owns modified organisms like bacteria? Can it be patented? 3. Are GMOs safe to eat? It might have harmful effects on people 4. Are genetically engineered crops safe for the environment? 5. Are children free of mutations? - Should a pregnancy be ended if the fetus has a mutation for a serious genetic disorder? 6. Bio-terrorism -use of biological agents to cause illness or death in humans, animals, or plants. C. SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY DEFINED Synthetic biology - is a field of science that involves redesigning organisms for useful purposes by engineering them to have new abilities. Synthetic biology researchers and companies worldwide harness nature's power to solve problems in medicine, manufacturing, and agriculture. Example nanotechnology https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/Synthetic- Biology#:~:text=Synthetic%20biology%20is%20a%20field,in%20medicine%2C%20manufacturing%20and%20agriculture. SIGNIFICANCE OF SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY 1. May enable new treatment techniques for cancer, immune disease, and metabolic disorders. 2. Personalized medicines 3. Environmental protection 4. Agriculture 5. Health 6. Develop artificial alternatives to commercial products 7. Improved industrial processes SOCIAL AND ETHICAL CONCERNS OF SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY 1. Bio-terrorism 2. Irreversible damage to health and environment 3. Biosafety (accidental infection) and biosecurity risks (unauthorized access, theft, misuse) 4. Health and safety 5. Release of synthetic life forms might damage ecosystems. ROLE OF HUMANS IN BIOLOGY DURING THE 21ST CENTURY 1. Advances in Genetic Research -genomics, genetic engineering 2. Biotechnology innovations - drug development, synthetic biology 3. Medical advancements - personalized medicine, regenerative medicine(stem cell) 4. Ecological impact and conservation - Biodiversity monitoring (monitor species population) -Climate change 5. Ethical and social implications - bioethics(ethical consideration) - public health (health policies, vaccinations etc ROLE OF HUMANS IN BIOLOGY DURING THE 21ST CENTURY 6. Education and research - Educating the public and policymakers about biological research and fostering an informed society to make health, environment, and ethics decisions. 7. Interdisciplinary collaboration - intersects with computer science( bioinformatics), engineering (biomedical engineering) and environmental science. ASSIGNMENT Presentation/Reporting Scientific Journal Review Group activity -look for one journal that tackles about: Social and ethical issues in any of the ff: genomics, biotechnology, or synthetic biology -20 minutes for each group to report -to be presented at the next meeting Format: Background of the study, Discussion and Summary Include citation in APA 7th edition RUBRICS RUBRICS This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA