DNA technology is a current field that is researched and discovery is made frequently as years go by. It is known to be the study of manipulating of genetic material with its use being applied in many other scientific fields from medicine to agriculture. A common component of DNA technology is cloning which is the creating of multiple copies of a gene that are identical. It keeps evolving as new products are formed genetically altered in plants, microbes, and animals making it easier for human use (Glick & Pasternak, 1998). Dolly is known to be the first mammal sheep to be successfully cloned in 1997. That gave room to other advances in medicine field and was used to make developments in the cancer treatment, agriculture is also a field that is impacted by the developments. The developments include transgenic insect resistant crops and in animal husbandry developments such as hormones growth and animals with recombinant DNA. Use of DNA technology is one that has proved to develop at a fast rate and has a great potential scientifically. As discussed earlier, DNA technology has been used in the society and it is seen in the field of medicine and agriculture (Glick & Pasternak, 1998).
In medicine, it is through genetic engineering that development has been used. There are two products that were first prepared through genetic engineering which include; insulin and human growth hormone. They were manipulated and incorporated in the E. coli bacteria. Due to this factor, other products have been seen in the market and they include; tumor necrosis factor which is used to treat tumor cells, interleukin-2 is used to treat cancer, improve immunity and treat HIV-infected people (Glick & Pasternak, 1998). Proukinase is one that is used to treat heart attacks, Taxol is used to treat ovarian cancer and interferon treats cancer and viral infections. Apart from this, vaccines have been prepared through copying of microorganism and introducing it to the human body, therefore, acting as a vaccine. Through this, it helps to boost the immune system due to the proteins found on the surface of the microorganism. They are now in the process of creating vaccines for hepatitis B virus and malaria with a hope of trial use soon (Glick & Pasternak, 1998).
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Agriculture is another area where DNA technology is widely used. Biotechnology has been seen to focus on crop plants with the aim of developing insect resistant crops and the delay of ripening in order to give time for transport and avoid spoilage. Transgenic plant development was difficult as compared to animals due to difficulty in isolation of Ti plasmid which is found in the tumor inducing bacteria in soil. The process is seen to work successfully in vegetables and fruits but proved to be difficult in grain crops. Developing a specific herbicide resistant crop has proved to be successful due to the elimination of weed in the crop plant. The gene which is herbicide resistant is isolated and induced in the crop plant which takes up the resistant characteristic (Glick & Pasternak, 1998).
There are controversies that have been brought about due to DNA technology application. As much as the application of DNA technology can be helpful to human beings, it can also be harmful. Instances can occur where the technology is used I n the creation of potential pathogens or biological weapons (Glick & Pasternak, 1998). Creation of potential pathogen is well described by Bernard Davis where he refers to it as Andromeda Strain scenario. It is where the bacteria used is in recombinant DNA is E.coli and is known to be pathogenic sometimes.
Lastly, if certain information which is harmful to the human body is incorporated into it and released accidentally, it can cause harm to people. There can be great consequences if a toxin is released into the environment mainly because the E.coli bacteria is one found in the human intestine and therefore can easily find its way back while carrying the toxins (Fredrickson, 2001). There is also the creation of a biological weapon where the toxins are released purposely to cause harm to a human population. Therefore, as much as the technology is helpful, it can also cause tremendous harm to the society if not monitored closely.
References
Fredrickson, D. S. (2001). The recombinant DNA controversy: a memoir . ASM Press.
Glick, B. R., & Pasternak, J. J. (1998). Principles and applications of recombinant DNA. ASM, Washington DC , 683 .
