Genetic Modification to Synthetic Biology?

[Chapman333]

Over the last decade there has been such an advancement in fields related to genetic manipulation. The Human Genome Project results were published in 2001 and that now seems like a distant memory? Only this week in New scientist, Craig Venter is stating that his research team is close to creating synthetic life from scratch (he also stated that the efficiency of biofuel production via metabolically engineered algae has improved 3-fold). Also, how can we forget the instrumental work of Jay Keasling in the same field when he announced the production of an anti-malarlial compound via genetically altered microorganisms.

 

But, it seems like yesterday that GM foods were removed from UK supermarket shelves? The technology condemned as 'Frankenstein-like' and unnatural. I fail to see how a few years ago, the GM food market plummeted, yet GM medicines and research is continually happening and becoming more and more exciting by the day. It seems a great anomaly to me how this technology can be accepted it certain areas and yet abolished in others? One of the glorious attributes of science is that it is universal- a rule is a rule.

 

When we are using biofuel from GM algae to run our cars and injecting insulin produced via GM micro-organisms, I hope that GM foods will be brought out of the closet and accepted!

 

What are your views on this progression?

 

Please Note- An expanded & referenced piece on Genetic Modification and previous is available at:

http://biochemperspectives.blogspot.co.uk/

[CharonY]

Not all biotechnological applications are of equal use. Letting microbes produce metabolites has been done for some time (insulin being a textbook example), yet the utility for it for food is at best disputed. What is even more important is that the economic aspects of GMO food cannot be overlooked. I am not convinced that having patented strains under the control of biotech companies is a terribly good idea. These biotech products are rarely made available for free. The thing is that food as it is is already pretty good. We evolved to use it. We have more than enough food to provide basically everyone on earth with a healthy diet. The issue is that many cannot afford it. The very same that cannot afford resistant GMO strains (which usually have to be rebought).

 

 

Craig Venter, according to him (or rather press releases) he created artificial life already twice. Third time is the charm? Finally, increasing biofuel harvest from algae sounds impressive, until one realizes that the yield is still incredibly low. Not that these may not be important progresses, but in this field there is a lot of fluff to wade through. Extrapolating that to everyday life is usually not that easy.

Edited March 23, 2013 by CharonY