I have to give a shout out to my fellow scientists who decided to study biology by wishing everyone a Happy Darwin Day! This is a biggie as it February 12th, 2009 marks 200 years since the birth of Chalres Darwin. Darwin is sometimes called the Father of Modern Biology. His legendary trip to the Galapagos Islands on his ship the Beagle led him to his Theory of Natural selection. He published his ideas in the book On the Origin of Species, arguably one of the most influential science books of all time.
Celebrations are taking place all over the world. There are a couple of events in Milwaukee. The U of Arizona's event includes a Darwin Look Alike Contest (I thought sure they would get the U of A improv troup, The Charles Darwin Experience, to perform).
200 years later, our knowledge of biological evolution is getting to the point that we can apply it in fields such as food production and medicine. Biotech has the potential to revolutionize our lives in the next century.
Happy Birthday, Charles Darwin!
While biotech does have the ability to revolutionize our lives, some of it is great. There needs to be ethical controls though.
ReplyDeleteI just read of new drugs that are being made from biologically altered animals. The idea is great, {sort of} naturally producting thrombin, but the question remains... what if these animals were accidently set free or somehow entered the regular gene pool?.... kind of scary.
You always have the risk of that one scientist who wants to make a name for themselves and goes beyond the natural limits of what is ethically good. Who determines that line?
Yes, there are lots of potential problems as well. Some we have already started seeing. Genetically modified food entering our food supply for example.
ReplyDeleteThe most immediate danger is probably genetically modified plants. The problem is that pollen doesn't stay in once place so that is very hard to contain and can spread far very quickly...and it is already being applied in crops by seed companies.
Different strains of bacteria are probably next on the list of dangers. They are usually handled in labs and, if caught quickly, can be contained through quarantines. The risk is still there, however.
You might remember I did a blog on The Bio-Hacker Next Door. Unregulated home experimentation with bacteria poses a bigger risk than the professionals. Even the best and most cautious home experimenter is not subject to the review and regulation of a professional lab. They also are more likely to scrimp on safety equipment.
Even when things are regulated, problems arise. What comes immediately to mind are drugs that the FDA rushed into the "safe zone" but later revealed their use caused an unknown side effect: heart valve problems in patients.
ReplyDeleteThere are two sides to the story. I know if I was diagnosed with something terminal and there was no definitive answer, I would fight like hell to get the newest and most potential "cure" known, whether it was deemed safe or not.
The problem is that pollen doesn't stay in once place so that is very hard to contain and can spread far very quickly...
ReplyDeleteNow I know why all the honey bees are disappearing!
And everyone thought Frankinstien was a joke...he was REAL!
Sad day. Read a recent survey. Over 60% of the populace rejects Darwin. Talk about embracing ignorance and the dark ages.
ReplyDeleteHappy Darwin Day! So when do we post the nominees for the Darwin Award?
ReplyDeleteHuck, I believe the survey you saw was a U.S. based survey. Look at most of western Europe, Canada and Australia and you will see very different results.
ReplyDeleteYes, but we LIVE here. Isn't it sad that our once great nation is embracing the same zealotry as the Muslim natons? We as a nation point fingers at them for their beliefs? It just gets worse and worse. Eventually we wil be as rigid as they are and people that don't profess the same views will be ostricized and set upon. It may become even dangerous to be known as a scientist. Look at the way the majority of the anti global warming folks ridicule scientists now. It isn't going to get better.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago people were laughing at ebonics, now more and more are adopting the same disdain for education. A real travesty
I'm glad I don't have to make any bio-ethical decisions. Talk about difficult....
ReplyDeleteHuck, we get so many calls about UFO's/the asteroid is going to hit us/we are going to die in 2012/etc. that I have a fairly good idea of the state of science literacy here...oh, and I am part of the conspiracy to cover up these doomsdays!
ReplyDeleteI agree that Darwin made some great observations regarding evolution, but his book was titled "Origin of the Species", not "Evolution of the Species". I doubt that science will discover the true origin of the species any time soon.
ReplyDeleteOne can disagree with Darwin and/or the global warming crowd and not be "ignorant", "rigid" or "in the dark ages".
KK, I think I saw some biologically altered animals set free in Henry and Wanda's last weekend.
AA, oh really? With more proof that global warming exists than God, how do you defend religion while condemning climate change? If it isn't ignorance, then the current choices of the public is astonishing.
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