Impacts of advances in science and technology
Positive impacts
Science and technology can bring benefits to people's lives. A benefit is a positive effect of a product or a process.
For example:
- syntheticA material made by a chemical process, not naturally occurring.fertiliserA nutrient added to the soil to increase the soil fertility. increase crop yields
- genetic engineeringProcess which involves the artificial transfer of genetic information from one donor cell or organism to another. of crops to be pesticide or pest resistant
- bacteria have been genetically modified to possess the human gene for insulin
- Dolly the sheep was the first mammal to be cloningA scientific method by which genetically identical copies are made of animals or plants.
- farmyard animals and crops have been selective breedingAn artificial process in which organisms with desired characteristics are chosen as parents for the next generation. to increase their yield, taste or appearance
- mycoproteinProtein made from fungus. (protein from fungi) is now grown in fermenters to replace protein from meat - it can be grown in a wider range of places and is far more energy efficient than meat from animals
Question
How has genetic modification helped Type 1 diabetics?
Bacteria have been genetically modified to possess the human gene for insulin. As they grow, these transgenic microorganisms now produce human insulin. Type 1 diabetics use this to regulate their blood sugar.
Risks
A riskThe likelihood that a hazard will actually cause harm or damage. is an estimate of the likelihood that an undesired outcome will happen. The size of a risk is estimated based on the chance of it happening in a large sampleA collection of data about part of a population. In order to draw conclusions the sample must be representative of the whole population., and over a specified length of time.
Advances in science and technology can bring risks. Scientists devise ways to reduce these risks.
For example - the burning of fossil fuelNatural, finite fuel formed from the remains of living organisms, eg oil, coal and natural gas. increases the emission of air pollutants such as carbon dioxide. This gas is a greenhouse gasThe gases responsible for global warming - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons).. Increased emissions of greenhouse gases brings a risk to human health and of climate changeThe long-term alteration of weather patterns..
Scientists have designed catalytic converters and gas scrubbers to help mitigate (reduce) these emissions.
Question
What is a risk of genetic modification of crop plants?
Some people are worried that the genes that are inserted into crop plants might spread to wild plants creating 'superweeds'.