Biotechnology-And-Its-Application-Part-3
Ethical Issues:
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Ethical issues in biotechnology involve moral dilemmas related to gene manipulation and living organisms.
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Concerns include potential risks, unintended consequences, equitable benefits, and the rights of affected individuals and communities.
Turmeric:
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Turmeric is a spice with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties used in traditional medicine.
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Debates about biopiracy occur when turmeric-based formulations are patented without acknowledging traditional uses.
The Problem of Food Security:
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Food security concerns availability, access, and utilization of safe, nutritious food.
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Biotechnology addresses this through GM crops resistant to pests, diseases, and adverse conditions.
Benefits of GM Crops:
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GM crops enhance resistance, reduce pesticides, increase yields, and improve nutrition.
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They contribute to food security and sustainable agriculture.
Health Risks of GM Crops:
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Concerns include allergic reactions, unintended effects, and antibiotic resistance markers.
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Safety assessments and regulations mitigate risks.
Pharmaceutical Products:
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Genetic engineering produces pharmaceuticals cost-effectively.
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It revolutionizes the industry using genetically engineered organisms.
Ethics of Disease Prevention:
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Ethics relate to genetic testing, counseling, and disease prevention interventions.
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Dilemmas arise in decision-making and the use of genetic information.
Patenting Traditional Knowledge:
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Issues revolve around appropriating indigenous or traditional knowledge.
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It includes patenting plants, medicines, or techniques without recognizing or benefiting source communities.
Biopiracy:
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Biopiracy involves unethical appropriation of biological resources or knowledge from indigenous communities.
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It raises questions about equitable benefit-sharing and respect for traditional knowledge.
Neem:
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Neem is a medicinal tree from India known for pesticidal, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties.
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Concerns about biopiracy arise due to patenting neem-derived products without recognizing traditional uses.