Advances in biotechnology can provide medical, social, and personal benefits through gene therapy and genetically modified foods. There are also ethical controversies, but advances in technology offer the possibility of resolving them.
A long time ago in South Korea, in 2009, a female contestant’s comments on a program called “Beauty Talk” on KBS caused a stir. While the show’s MC was asking the female contestants about their preferences for men, one of them said, “Anyone under 180 centimeters tall is a loser. This remark caused a stir in the society at the time and is still being criticized and talked about. People have been consciously or unconsciously dividing physical traits into hierarchies and trying to think of themselves as superior. The human mind has been strong to strengthen its inferior and weak characteristics, and has developed science and technology to do so. In the modern world, the rapidly developing science and technology has now extended to the realm of genes, which was once considered the domain of God, and in 1996, it succeeded in cloning a sheep named Dolly through somatic cell cloning.
This ever-evolving biotechnology is also utilized in gene therapy through genetic engineering, which can be beneficial in many ways. The idea is that biotechnology, including gene sequencing, can benefit all members of society.
First, let’s look at the medical aspect. Biotechnology can help many people whose genetic problems prevent them from living a normal life. For example, if a person is deaf, the deafness can be cured by manipulating the sequence of the disease gene. Biotechnology can also prevent the deafness gene from being passed on to future generations, thus eradicating the affliction.
In addition to sequence manipulation, biotechnology also provides a way to analyze an individual’s sequence to predict diseases that are primarily caused by genetic abnormalities. The Human Genome Project has made it possible to analyze an individual’s genetic information quickly and inexpensively, and to personalize targeted therapies for diseases caused by genetic abnormalities, such as cancer. This can offer a higher probability of cure than traditional therapies that rely on experience.
In addition, genes can be injected into the body via a delivery vehicle, or cells can be extracted, transfected with genes, and then re-injected. These methods have made it possible to treat incurable diseases and will continue to play an important role in overcoming many challenges. In this sense, biotechnology has benefited many members of society.
Some people worry that biotechnology can cause side effects, and that it will be expensive and inaccessible. However, as the technology improves, side effects can be solved, and the price will gradually decrease because it can be supported by national health insurance systems.
Let’s look at it from a societal perspective. Biotechnology can increase the productivity of society. For example, genetically modified foods (GM foods) can increase agricultural production. The idea is to extract the genetic components of certain plants and insert them into other crops to increase their productivity. When comparing GM foods to pure species, the yields vary greatly. While pure species are vulnerable to adverse conditions and often cannot be harvested, GMOs are resistant to pests and other diseases, resulting in higher yields.
Some argue that genetically modified foods are mostly used to feed livestock, so they don’t provide much benefit to humans. However, if we can promote the raising of edible livestock, the absolute amount of food will increase, and it will help solve the problem of hunger. In addition, the benefits of the technology can be fully realized by strengthening the safety verification of genetically modified foods.
Third is the personal aspect. Biotechnology can be used to reduce individual misfortunes. For example, a person with a short stature or a physical defect can be genetically enhanced to increase their height and eliminate the defect, thus regaining their self-confidence.
This is where the ethical question arises. Society could become a homogenized society filled with tall, good-looking people, and the essence of sports could be compromised by the emergence of genetically enhanced athletes. However, our current society also suffers from discrimination based on height and appearance, and genetic enhancement does not determine all sports performance. Even without the use of genetic enhancement, there is still an endless race for perfection. It”s important to consider whether it”s right to ban genetic enhancement when it can be used to solve individual disadvantages.
In the modern world of the 21st century, science and technology are advancing rapidly, and innovative treatments are being developed in the genetic realm. Biotechnology will continue to be of great benefit to all members of society. Despite the many benefits of advancing biotechnology, there are still many unresolved bioethical issues, such as embryos. However, beyond the issues directly related to bioethics, there are many medical, social, and personal benefits to be gained from biotechnology.
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