Disadvantages Of Ageing As A Biotechnology

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Biology is a science that poses many questions and mysteries. Hence human beings are constantly seeking for answers to these doubts. One of these spectacular mysteries is ageing, which is a natural process by which most living beings go through. However, for many centuries, it has been unknown how and why this process occurs. As a consequence of the constant development of science and biotechnology, in the last couple of years, scientists have discovered some of the mysteries of this marvelous process. Now a day, it is even possible to reverse, in some cells the process of ageing. However, new challenges arise regarding the management and application of this new biotechnology. The purpose of this essay is to examine ageing as a biotechnology by discussing the positive and negative impact it might has. In this essay the advantages and disadvantages of ageing will be discussed. …show more content…

One of the advantages of reversing ageing is to find a potential cure for cancer. As shown in Figure 2, cancer appears because of the uncontrolled division of cells in mitosis, due to errors in DNA (Bernstein et al. 2008). Scientist has found that the molecule that enables ageing might also enables cancer. Thus, it is thought that both ageing and cancer can be physiologically similar (Cameron 2013). Hence, the higher the age of a living being, the higher the risk of cancer. Another advantage of reversible ageing, as a biotechnology, is that there is a correlation between ageing and damage of mitochondrion. As illustrated in Figure 3, structural changes in the organelle, due to oxidative damage cause mitochondrial deficit. Hence, the production of NAD decreases, which produces diabetes (CGRI 2014). It is believed by the Science department of the University of New South Wales (2013) that “if the compound is treated as needed they could safely cure both diabetes I and II and other mitochondrial diseases”. Thus, reversible ageing might be the answer to medical concerns and disease, which were thought to not have …show more content…

The purpose of this essay was to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of ageing, as a biotechnology. Reversible ageing can be the answer to cures for multiple diseases, such as cancer. However, the impact in human beings is still unknown because of the experimental stage in which this biotechnology is. Reversible ageing has given insight into genetic and medical research, in order to find new perspectives of treatment to fatal diseases. Nonetheless, the usage that the human race will give to this technology must be under strict control. Finally, reversible aging is a new biotechnology that leads science to a better understanding on how the human body works. And humans have the tremendous responsibility of using it in the correct way, thinking on the potential consequences it can

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