BIO235 Introduction to Microbiology
Unit 4 Discussion
Biotechnology Out of Control?
The Boston area is famous worldwide for its cutting edge research and its leading frontiers in biomedical advances. Therefore, it is not surprising that Boston University has received federal government funding and has built a high security, state of the art Bioterrorism Research Facility right in the heart of Boston. Many are upset that this laboratory facility is built in the city next to the low socioeconomic neighborhoods, thus putting these neighborhoods at risk if an accident happens. Others are against it being built at all, saying that the biotechnology will get into the hands of the wrong people and promote bioterrorism. Some do not like that fact that the city and the Mayor of Boston have been so secretive about this project, indicating a possibility that the government is actually conducting secret genetically engineered organisms/plants to be released in our environment!(?)!
So what do you think? Should this facility be built somewhere else – maybe in other state? Was it a mistake to build it at all? What controls should be placed to guarantee that “mad scientists” don’t genetically modify our food, plants, etc.? Would you want to work there? Would you mind living next to that facility? What happens if a mistake occurs and some experimental organisms somehow get released into the environment? Should we just slow down biotechnology and keep it out of our food supply and environment just like the organic food farmers are saying?
Start the discussion board by clicking on the blue, underlined “Biotechnology out of control?” heading. Express your original thought/post, then make at least one reply to 2 different classmate’s original posts.
