TTR: How Can Biotechnology Solve 21st Century Global Public Health Issues?

GoGlobalFIU・2 minutes read

Dr. Diraj discusses the role of biotechnology in addressing global health challenges, highlighting its impact on health and food production. Biotechnology offers solutions for sustainable agriculture, food security, and healthcare, raising ethical questions about genetic manipulation.

Insights

  • Genetic engineering through biotechnology has led to significant advancements in creating transgenic animals and plants, offering potential benefits but also raising concerns about long-term health and environmental impacts, highlighting the need for careful consideration and ethical evaluation before widespread implementation.
  • Biotechnology plays a crucial role in addressing global public health challenges by revolutionizing sustainable agriculture, food security, and healthcare through innovations like recombinant technology, potentially paving the way for personalized medicine and ethical dilemmas surrounding genetic manipulation, emphasizing the transformative power of biotechnology in shaping the future of health and food production.

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Recent questions

  • What is the role of biotechnology in global health?

    Biotechnology plays a crucial role in addressing global health challenges by offering innovative solutions through genetic engineering, disease modeling, and personalized medicine. It aims to reshape life on Earth, impacting society and future generations positively.

  • How does genetic engineering work in biotechnology?

    Genetic engineering involves introducing foreign genes into an embryo's development to create transgenic animals, identifying gene functions, attaching them to promoter sequences, and expressing proteins. This process is essential for creating disease models, studying pathways, and advancing biotechnological research.

  • What are the potential benefits of transgenic technology?

    Transgenic technology offers potential benefits such as creating disease models, studying biological pathways, and developing salt-tolerant plants for sustainable agriculture. It provides valuable insights into genetic modifications and their impact on health and the environment.

  • What ethical concerns arise from biotechnological advancements?

    Biotechnological advancements raise ethical questions about playing "god" by altering natural selection processes, manipulating genetic outcomes, and intervening in biological processes. These dilemmas revolve around the safety, ethics, and long-term consequences of genetic manipulation.

  • How does biotechnology contribute to sustainable development?

    Biotechnology contributes to sustainable development by offering solutions for agriculture, food security, and healthcare through processes like recombinant technology. It leads to cheaper drugs, improved vaccines, and enhanced food production methods, promoting environmental sustainability and addressing global health challenges.

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Summary

00:00

Biotechnology: Shaping Global Health and Future

  • Professor Alex is the moderator, a faculty member at FIU, specializing in environmental and occupational health.
  • Dr. Diraj advises graduate students and teaches global public and environmental health courses.
  • Dr. Diraj's research focuses on environmental health effects on neuroendocrine control and reproductive health.
  • Dr. Diraj has published over 45 articles in various scientific publications and serves as an academic editor for the Plus One journal.
  • Dr. Diraj holds a certificate of management from Belmont University, a PhD from the National Institute of Immunology in India, and a master's degree from Patna University in India.
  • The topic of the discussion is "How can biotechnology solve 21st-century global public health issues?"
  • The session aims to provoke imagination and discussion on the role of biotechnology in addressing global health challenges.
  • Biotechnology is described as a powerful tool for reshaping life on Earth, with significant implications for society and future generations.
  • Recent headlines, such as Angelina Jolie's preventive mastectomy and lab-grown food, highlight the impact of biotechnology on health and food production.
  • The history of biotechnology dates back to ancient times, with examples like fermentation processes for bread, wine, and beer, and the discovery of genetic elements by Gregor Mendel in the 19th century.

18:14

Genetic Engineering: Risks, Benefits, and Controversies

  • DNA level issues arise in response to environmental challenges or stress, leading to mutations that can be linked to diseases or resistances.
  • Angelina Jolie's BRCA1 gene mutation put her at an 85% risk of breast cancer, prompting her double mastectomy decision.
  • Understanding biological processes is crucial before taking drastic steps like surgery.
  • The first transgenic mouse, created in 1982, showcased the impact of genetic engineering on size and traits.
  • Genetic engineering involves introducing foreign genes early in an embryo's development to create transgenic animals.
  • Genetic engineering involves identifying gene functions, attaching them to promoter sequences, and expressing proteins.
  • Transgenic technology is commonly used in labs to create disease models and study pathways.
  • Different methods like gene guns and microinjections are used to introduce genes into plants and animals.
  • Transgenic technology has led to controversies regarding its impact on ecosystems and health risks.
  • Biotechnology advancements, like transgenic fish for drug screening and salt-tolerant plants, offer potential benefits but also raise concerns about long-term effects on health and the environment.

34:49

"Debating GMOs: Benefits, Risks, and Ethics"

  • Mark Lenas, a former anti-genetically modified organism (GMO) activist, apologized in 2013 for his lack of scientific knowledge and now acknowledges the potential benefits of biotechnology.
  • Despite concerns about GMOs, approximately 90% of groceries contain genetically modified ingredients, raising questions about their impact on health and fertility.
  • The increase in food production through GMOs poses environmental challenges, potentially exacerbating catastrophic outcomes with a growing population.
  • Genetic modifications for mass food production may have unforeseen consequences, affecting different populations in varying ways and potentially leading to long-term negative effects.
  • Nature naturally undergoes genetic changes for survival, but human intervention through GMOs raises ethical questions about playing "god" and altering natural selection processes.
  • Selective breeding has been a historical practice, leading to the development of crops like wheat, showcasing the accelerated genetic advancements in agriculture.
  • Approved GMO products include herbicide-tolerant soybeans, corn, canola, and plums, as well as genetically altered traits like virus resistance, insect resistance, and vitamin enrichment.
  • The sequencing of the human genome in 2000 revealed three billion base pairs, with only 25,000 to 30,000 genes influencing genetic outcomes and disease development.
  • Technologies like polymerase chain reaction enable the replication of DNA for genetic analysis, while cloning animals like Dolly the sheep has raised debates about the safety and ethics of consuming products from cloned animals.
  • Current biotechnological advancements focus on developing biomarkers to predict disease predispositions based on genetic interactions with the environment, potentially leading to personalized medicine and ethical dilemmas regarding genetic manipulation.

52:23

"Biotechnology: Future of Sustainable Food and Health"

  • Biotechnology is emerging as a dominant force for the future, particularly in the realm of sustainable food production and health advancements.
  • Biotechnological innovations include growing organs like hearts and livers in animals, as well as utilizing stem cell technology to address conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
  • Global health concerns have shifted from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases due to improved living standards, impacting factors like population growth, life expectancy, and infant mortality rates.
  • The focus has transitioned from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to address issues like feeding a growing population, urbanization challenges, and environmental degradation.
  • Biotechnology offers solutions for sustainable agriculture, food security, and healthcare through processes like recombinant technology, leading to cheaper drugs, improved vaccines, and enhanced food production methods.
  • Biotechnological advancements also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing waste, minimizing water usage, preventing pollution, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions through practices like aquaculture and vertical farming.
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