Science and Technology
Science attempts to describe and explain natural phenomena in fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, geology, computer science, and social science. It is used to develop new technologies that can improve life and solve problems, but it can also be misused and harmful.
Challenges of the 21st Century
The 21st century presents challenges such as less natural resources, the need for sustainability, the use of renewable energy and recycled materials, and the balance between the needs of present and future generations. Some of the most important and controversial developments include internet technology, genetic engineering, nanotechnology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence and robotics.
Genetic Engineering
Genetics is the study of the way living organisms inherit their features, and genetic information is carried by DNA in the form of a double helix. Genes are segments of DNA.
Genetic engineering is the direct manipulation of genes within an organism, where DNA is added or removed. Some important milestones in this field include the discovery of the double helix in 1953, the first work with human genes in the 1980s, the cloning of Dolly the sheep (the first cloned mammal) in 1996, the sequencing of the human genome in 2003, and the cloning to create human stem cells in 2013. In 2018, the first genetically modified human babies were born in China using CRISPR/Cas9. Genetic engineering is a relatively young field of science.
Cloning
Cloning is the creation of organisms that are an exact genetic copy of another. Dolly the sheep (1996-2003) was the first cloned mammal, but she died of diseases that might be traced back to her cloning. It is speculated that clones are born with the genetic age of their double.
Human Cloning Pros
Some potential benefits of human cloning include a medical revolution, the creation of replaceable organs, and the ability to provide babies for couples who are unable to have their own children.
Human Cloning Cons
However, there are also concerns about using humans as organ producers (as depicted in the novel "Never Let Me Go") and treating humans as products or objects. The long-term consequences of human cloning are unknown.
