Minimal Organism
Chris Brunelle
Biology 112-online
Professor Gaskin
September 10, 2014
Minimal Organism “A minimal genome is generally defined as the smallest set of genes that allows for replication of the organism in a particular environment (Cho, M., 1999). The creation of these minimal genomes can be helpful and harmful at the same time. There are many opinions out there about the subject, I will share some of those and my position on the subject. First let me just start with my personal position on minimal genomes. I personally feel that the use of them is very important and the views out there that are negative are far too insignificant to matter. There are all kinds of ways that minimal organisms can be useful. One, is in the field of agricultural, scientist can create new species of crops that can be less prone to drought and pests. “No insecticidal sprays needed on crops that have insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-toxin genes engineered into them” (Heaf). This is amazing to me. In the end food costs could possibly go down and we would have products that did not have to use pesticides. Also this can be useful in supplying third world countries with food. Two, it can be useful to create new drugs or even a better way to create them, for example, synthetic insulin. Three, it can be used in research to test bacteria and viruses to see where they are weak and can be modifiable. Thus it can also help to create vaccinations and treatments of those viruses and bacteria. I believe that all of the good and useful ways that these minimal genomes can be used are a heck of a lot more important than the negatives and cons that people and groups out there propose. Next, I would like to explain some of the negative positions that there are on the subject. “Construction of a minimal genome thus can raise distinct questions as to whether and how such work can contribute to or change the definition of life, and whether policies are needed to assure an equitable distribution of
Biology 112-online
Professor Gaskin
September 10, 2014
Minimal Organism “A minimal genome is generally defined as the smallest set of genes that allows for replication of the organism in a particular environment (Cho, M., 1999). The creation of these minimal genomes can be helpful and harmful at the same time. There are many opinions out there about the subject, I will share some of those and my position on the subject. First let me just start with my personal position on minimal genomes. I personally feel that the use of them is very important and the views out there that are negative are far too insignificant to matter. There are all kinds of ways that minimal organisms can be useful. One, is in the field of agricultural, scientist can create new species of crops that can be less prone to drought and pests. “No insecticidal sprays needed on crops that have insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-toxin genes engineered into them” (Heaf). This is amazing to me. In the end food costs could possibly go down and we would have products that did not have to use pesticides. Also this can be useful in supplying third world countries with food. Two, it can be useful to create new drugs or even a better way to create them, for example, synthetic insulin. Three, it can be used in research to test bacteria and viruses to see where they are weak and can be modifiable. Thus it can also help to create vaccinations and treatments of those viruses and bacteria. I believe that all of the good and useful ways that these minimal genomes can be used are a heck of a lot more important than the negatives and cons that people and groups out there propose. Next, I would like to explain some of the negative positions that there are on the subject. “Construction of a minimal genome thus can raise distinct questions as to whether and how such work can contribute to or change the definition of life, and whether policies are needed to assure an equitable distribution of
Cited: Cho, M., Magnus, D., Caplan, A., & McGee, D. (1999). Genetics: Ethical Considerations in Synthesizing a Minimal Genome. Science, 286(5447), 2087-2090. Garfinkel, M., Endy, D., Epstein, G., & Friedman, R. (2008). Synthetic Biology. In From Birth to Death and Bench to Clinic: The Hastings Center Bioethics Briefing Book for Journalists, Policymakers, and Campaigns (pp. 163-168). Garrison, NY: The Hastings Center. Heaf, D. (2001, April 27). Lists of Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering. Retrieved September 11, 2014, from http://www.sciencegroup.org.uk/ifgene/proscons.htm