I just introduced the application of genetic engineering technology in some fields. Genetic engineering technology is also widely used in many other fields, so I won't talk about it in class. We can see that genetic engineering technology has a huge application prospect, so the biological industry will be a huge industry in 2 1 century. People of insight call for two pillar industries in the 2 1 century, namely, information industry and biological industry. China lost the development opportunity of information industry, and paid a huge price for it. We can't lose the bio-industry any more, or we will pay a higher price. Fortunately, our country started at a low level in this respect. In terms of technology, our country has obtained 1% human genome sequencing task. Although it is only 1%, we naturally enjoy 100% of the data, information and technology, and have the right to speak in related affairs. Moreover, taking advantage of this 1% opportunity, it only took our country a little more than a year to technically complete the course of nearly ten years in other countries. It can be said that the level of science and technology in China has quickly caught up with that in developed countries. In terms of technology and resources, the developed countries are rich in species resources, which is unmatched by any other country. Therefore, we believe that as long as our younger generation works hard and innovates boldly, China is fully capable of taking the lead in this respect.
However, gene technology is a double-edged sword, which can not only benefit mankind, but also harm mankind. First of all, the safety of genetically modified food, whether the genes transferred from genetically modified food are more likely to mutate, drift in organisms and even induce the expression of proto-oncogenes, many genetically modified organisms are transformed with vectors with resistance genes, whether the resistance genes on the vectors will have adverse effects on the human body and so on. These problems have always been the reasons that hinder the promotion of transgenic technology. At present, there is no evidence that genetically modified food is harmful to human body. However, the market time of genetically modified food is too short, and the safety of genetically modified food needs time to confirm. China's policy on genetically modified products;
Vigorously support plant genetic engineering research; Do not vigorously promote genetically modified foods; Strengthen examination and approval and management; Formulate relevant laws and regulations;
In March 2002, China stipulated that genetically modified foods should be labeled. .
In addition, another negative effect brought by genetic engineering is also worrying, that is, genetic weapons. Just like many other high-tech achievements were quickly applied to the military field, as soon as genetic engineering came out, some military powers ignored the Biological Weapons Convention and rushed to invest a lot of money and manpower to study genetic weapons. The so-called genetic weapon is a new generation of viruses and pathogenic bacteria produced by some engineering technology. Some highly contagious and deadly bacteria or viruses, such as cholera, plague, tuberculosis and smallpox, may become the first choice materials for genetic weapons. On this basis, after genetic engineering transformation, a new type of genetic weapon with greater lethality, stronger resistance and stronger infectivity will be produced, which will make the existing detection, fire prevention and treatment methods almost completely ineffective. According to foreign press reports, 1 year, the US government spent about $2 billion on biological weapons research. The American Institute of Military Medicine in Maryland is actually a research center for genetic weapons, and it is reported that some genetic weapons with practical value have been developed. Russia is also developing a new influenza virus by recombining cobra venom gene and influenza virus gene. If someone is infected with this virus, it's not just a cold, and the snake venom gene carried will kill people. What is even more frightening is that with the completion of the human genome project, some countries try to make racial weapons against a certain race by using research results. According to British media reports, the Israeli military is developing a genetic weapon specifically for Arabs. If this weapon is successfully researched, it will kill people invisibly. However, it is gratifying that intelligence agencies and military scientists agree that such weapons will not become a reality in the short term. So far, people have not mastered the technology that can treat viruses or bacteria to distinguish different races. Therefore, it is generally believed that SARS is a genetic weapon specifically aimed at China people. However, if with the progress of biotechnology, people not only decipher the human genome, but also know all the details of the "secret of life", then while people's lives are greatly improved, the nightmare of genetic weapons may quietly become a reality.
Transgene is to separate a gene from an organism by biotechnology and then implant it into another organism, thus creating a new artificial organism. For example, scientists think that a gene in arctic fish has antifreeze effect, so they extract it and implant it into tomatoes to make a new cold-resistant variety of tomatoes, which is genetically modified organisms. Foods containing genetically modified organisms are called genetically modified foods.