Science and Technology
Science is the study of how the universe works using the scientific method as a framework for asking questions. Throughout history, humans have built up a body of scientific knowledge and have used this knowledge to develop technologies to make life easier, or to broaden their knowledge. Scientific discovery drives technological advances and sometimes, as new technologies are developed, they enable scientists to answer questions that were unanswerable before. For example, researchers had to understand the physics of visible light and how it changes when going through different substances before they could use this knowledge to design microscopes.
Once microscope technology was developed, it allowed scientists to ask questions about things that were not visible to the human eye. For this assignment you will look at this interdependence between science and technology by learning more about one biotechnology that is crucial to the modern world such as feeding a growing world population, fighting disease, developing new fuels, or cleaning up the environment.
Example: If you were thinking about cell phones (not a biotechnology), you could look at the scientific discoveries that had to happen before cell phones could exist. The discovery of electricity, electromagnetic waves, and the electrochemistry of batteries all had to happen before cell phones could be invented. You could also look at the technological advances that had to happen before we could have cell phones. Batteries, electric circuit boards, receivers, speakers, and satellites all had to exist before someone could invent the cell phone.
For this assignment, you will be creating a presentation on biotechnology that could be presented to a college introductory science course. A Unit 8 Assignment Template is provided to guide you.
To learn more about biotechnology, review the assigned readings in your textbook for this unit and review these resources:
Article: (n.d.) How are biotechnology medicines discovered and developed? http://www.biotechnology.amgen.com/index.html
Article: (2015, December 2). 10 everyday uses of biotechnology. https://www.uk-cpi.com/blog/10-everyday-uses-of-biotechnology
Article: Future of Life Institute. (2018, November 14). Benefits and Risks of Biotechnology. https://futureoflife.org/background/benefits-risks-biotechnology/?cn-reloaded=1
Article: National Institutes of Health: National Human Genome Research Institute. (2020, August 15). Cloning fact sheet. https://www.genome.gov/25020028/
Article: National Institutes of Health: National Human Genome Research Institute. (2019, February 13). Genetic testing FAQ. https://www.genome.gov/19516567/faq-about-genetic-testing/
As part of this presentation, you will need to include the following:
1. Provide an explanation of the term “biotechnology”.
2. Select one example of biotechnology to discuss.
3. Explain what this biotechnology is and how it is used.
4. Provide information on how this biotechnology was developed.
a. Discuss at least two scientific discoveries that had to take place before the biotechnology could be developed.
b. Discuss at least two technologies that had to exist before the selected biotechnology could be developed.
5. Discuss two potential positive aspects of the selected biotechnology
6. Discuss two potential negative aspects of the selected biotechnology.
7. Explain at least one biotechnology that you think should not be pursued with an explanation as to why.
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Please see attached word document as well; Please complete both documents on the documents
