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Books : The BioTech Century ( Health )

The Bio Tech Century

Rifkin does not attack the idea of creation as an anti-thesis to an divine creator. Instead proposes the genesis of life was a composition of diversity produced by genes. Rifkin says man first major break through was fire. Fire allowed elements to be separated and recombine. Fire empower man to move into the industrial century. The next century would be the biotech century. It all started with a major advancement in science put a Japanese company who gained the the spotlight after they discovered who to classify a gene, remove specific gene material, and reinsert the geneic material various DNA species. The effective extracting and recombination open the door of new life. Thus, man would be able to recombine the genes to create new forms of life blocked orignial by barriers of the species. The idea of the second genesis is to take the best genes properties and introduce them into high demand life forms. Rifkin points out that the biotech century emerged proportional to increasing computer computations. The commerical of living material was thoughtfully presented. Rifkin explains legally, we do not have ownership over cell matter taken from our body. Unique celluar resistence to specific diseases can be exploited, catalog, recombined, and marketed. The gene database will produce exponential increase in new drugs, products, foods, and material. Commerical companies use the gene information which does not necessarily benefit the original sources of the genetic material. So, the creator created all diversity of life. Life was suppose to act within a sphere of influence. It seems to enhance of modify those bounds of influence would be unwise. Just rationally, I fear the unknown and lack of control. Those spheres of influence limit the range of destructive capability nature can impose. Nature can not produce an elephant which can walk up a wall.

Suppose, a gene is introduced into a potatoe plant to kill aphids. The genetic property responses effectively and the number of aphids significantly drops. However, a drought reduces the water supply and the genetic deterence stops because the gene does not remain active in drought conditions. The point, genetic engineer works well in a laboratory where all the variables are controlled and measured. It is conceivable Rifkin warnings are valid consider, we don't know all the properties of the gene and how they will act, in all conditions. The example, did not demonstrate harm, because the farmers could apply pesticide to kill the aphids and recovery some their crop.

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