Science is highly valued by society since the use of scientific information aids in satisfying several humans wants. Getting the remedy for cancer and an unpolluted form of energy are basically two examples of science application. Science is also justified to people as the driver of economic growth which is often viewed as a return on investment from the public finances. Scientists state that most tools, medicines, technologies used today are products of research. The advanced use of this scientific knowledge shows how science has molded the world, from discovering life until the 21st century. Technology as a product of science is inseparable from the society; society has a cyclical co-reliance on technology. People use and depend on technology in our day to day life, and the technological demands continue to rise. Biotechnology is a part of science and is the technology that makes use of biological systems, living organisms or their parts to create and develop different products (Zulfiqar et al., 2015). This paper will look into how science through biotechnology has improved human health by biotechnological advancement in medicine, vaccines, diagnostics and nutritionally enhanced genetically adapted crops and management of waste.
Biotechnology has provided modern medical equipment for preventive and diagnostic purposes; these include diagnostic vaccines, test kits and radio-labelled genetic therapeutics used for analysis and imaging. Human health is a significant growing issue globally due to emerging infectious diseases. Biotechnology has made an incredible contribution in tackling the challenges concerning human health since it is flexible in lowering global health disparities through advanced technology. Health, quality of life and life expectancy have improved globally through services offered by biotechnology. Malnutrition emanates from lack of crucial nutrients and food vitamins resulting to death. Biotechnology comes in by providing nutrients enriched food. It also aids in controlling environmental pollution through biodegradation of pollutants. Biotechnology plays a huge role in growing global and public health demands. It has transformed mankind since existence. It offers operative diagnostics, preventive and treatment methods including manufacturing recombinant vaccines and novel drugs. New drug delivery approaches therapeutic procedures and nutritionally enhance crops developed to ensure a clean environment.
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Therapeutic proteins influence non-communicable illnesses that account for over 60% of deaths in most developing countries (Zulfiqar et al., 2015). Transgenic yeasts, bacterium mammals are used to manufacture therapeutic proteins. New preferred genes are normally introduced into the systems to produce these proteins in large amounts and are then purified. The most important therapeutic protein is erythropoietin which treats anaemia. Interferon alpha treats leukaemia along with viral diseases while insulin against type-1 Diabetes mellitus. Various therapeutic agents such as growth hormones, recombinant blood produces, monoclonal antibodies and molecular pharming agents have been engineered through biotechnology.
Biotechnology offers affordable drug and vaccine delivery equipment that eradicate blood-borne contagions caused by recycling needles. Vaccines and drugs are delivered proficiently in a controlled way. Drugs are impelled into the body much faster through gas jets; they can also be dispersed into the system or gasped through nasal sprigs. Drugs are delivered efficiently into the body through Nano-particles. Recent development in bio technology has lowered drug dosage needed for certain treatments.
Genetically adapted crops are an essential product of bio technology which meets the demands for essential vitamins and nutrients in the body. These vitamins and nutrients aid in the physical and intellectual growth of children. Novel and preferred genes are injected into the crops which in turn enrich them with nutrients needed in the emerging needs for health care in people. Examples of these crops include iron-rich rice which helps in reducing anaemia, golden rice that is rich in vitamin and potatoes have been genetically engineered to contain all the vitamins. Other enriched crops include corn, flax seeds, maize, tomatoes, squash and soya beans. Biological herbicides, fungicides and insecticides have also been produced for pest control.
Biotechnology has significant applications in cleaning up the environment for human health. Contaminated water, soil and air are cleaned using microorganisms and plants through bioremediation. Plants and microorganisms can detoxify biological waste and heavy metal pollution emanating from lead, cadmium, mercury (Kapuscinski et al., 2003). Radioactive waste, acid mine drainage and oil spillage are treated through biotechnology. Plant biomass is converted to ethanol which is in turn used as biofuel which is also environmentally friendly. Biological enzymes make paper processing and pulp manufacturing much easier, faster and more efficient.
Approximately 40% of deaths are caused by parasitic and infectious illnesses annually. The spread of such diseases can be overcome by developing quick and accurate diagnostic equipment. The development of these tools helps in boosting survival rates and preventing wastage of resources on non-suitable treatment. Most diagnostic tools are time-consuming, inaccurate, and expensive and labor intensive. Contrarily, modern biotechnology made up of molecular diagnostic equipment draws recent developments in biology to detect diseases. Molecular diagnostics is ranked as the ideal technology that has improved human health status. Biotechnology is grounded on the following diagnostic procedures: Monoclonal, PCR, microarrays and antibodies. These are cost-effective, simple and have high specificity. PCR needs minimal size sample to identify and augment DNA sequence of pathogens. PCR recognizes the communicable and dangerous organisms such as HIV that are hard to developPCR. Multiplex PCR detects pathogens that cause a wide range of diseases all at once hence saving both time and money.
Nanotechnology entails detection without magnification at molecular levels. Usually, a blood sample is placed between electrodes in a probe coated on gold specks. The probes harden to the pathogen’s DNA sequence. If present, the circuit is closed by the gold particles to give detectable signals. The technique is more sensitive than the conformist diagnostic procedures. Lately, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, microarrays are a powerful tool contrary to the ancient DNA tests. It is essential in the study of the causes of complex genetic disorders as it can recognize and quantify numerous genes simultaneously. DNA microarrays, genotypic and protein microarrays are used in modern society and play a significant role in improving the health status of individuals in society.
Biotechnology has played a critical role too in the improvement of public health. Public health is deemed a major concern globally both in the developed and developing nations. Scientists globally have made tremendous contributions in preventing contagious diseases to curb challenges concerning human health. Global health discrepancies are on the rise and the crucial role of science in the improvement of human health can never be ignored. Biotechnology assists in identifying the challenges with regard to human health and development in third world nations (Kapuscinski et al., 2003). Towards the end of the past century, communicable diseases have had significant public challenges. These are a result of ecology variations and the jeopardies linked urbanization set up. Vaccination involves administering a vaccine to stimulate one's immune system to develop adaptive immunity against the pathogen. They are considered the most successful achievements in medical advancement over time. Smallpox wastotally eradicated through vaccines. Vaccines help in the annihilation of polio and offer a substantial decline in the prevalence of most communicable infections. A wide range of recombinant vaccines is used globally to treat human illnesses. These vaccines include DNA vaccines, plant obtained vaccines, and viral vector vaccines. Subunit vaccine RTS offers protection against malaria infection in adults. Various types of vaccines have been manufactured through biotechnology approaches and are now being used to cure various human diseases.
Pollution and untreated waste are major hazards to human health. Direct exposure to these impurities by individuals should be eluded. Environmental biotechnology has transformed public health safety. It gives a methodical platform that immerses the acquaintance of science and engineering concepts. Through using microorganisms, it curbs pollution through treatment and biodegradation of the perilous waste. Using organic microbes in detoxifying harmful substances and the complete waste obliteration through biotechnological methods are the chief benefits of biotechnological treatment. Methods of bio-treatment vary based on the physiological category of microbes used that is, aerobic, anaerobic and microaerophilic. Soil within the contaminated sites with industrial debris has high contents of pollutants, for instance, PAHs (Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) where the degradation process can be enhanced through soil remediation.
From the facts discussed, biotechnology proves to impact every aspect of the society particularly human health. It has offered up-to-date medical equipment for diagnosis and prevention use which include vaccines, diagnostic test kits, radiolabelled biological therapeutics for analysis and imaging. Malnutrition emanates from lack of crucial vitamins and nutrients in the body eventually leading to death. Biotechnology has played a critical role by eliminating the problem through produces of nutrients enhanced food, for instance, maize, potato and Golden rice. Untreated waste and pollutants are a great danger to people’s health and are cancerous. Biotechnology comes in by evolving several strategies to biodegrade the pollutants through microorganisms. According to UNICEF, the drizzle of heavy metals and bioremediation of contaminants are the most significant benefits of biotechnology (Zulfiqar et al., 2013). Science therefore through biotechnology has proved to be important in every aspect of society through improving human health.
References
Kapuscinski AR, Goodman RM, Hann SD, Jacobs LR, Pullins EE, et al. (2003) Making' safety first' a reality for biotechnology products. Nature Biotechnol 21: 599-601.
Zulfiqar S, Hafeez MN, Iqbal MS, Ali Q (2015) Role of genetic studies towards solving problems of human society. Nature Sci 13.
