SCIENCE – ENHANCING LIFE?
LEAD-IN
Transhumanism
= replacing parts of the human body with technological devises → enhancing the human
abilities with technology
chances risks
replace damaged parts of the body, immortality, high costs, unknown side-
overcome biological limitations (higher, effects, humans replaced by robots (work!),
faster), help in household (time for getting out of control
recreation), robots work all the time
human advancement through technology
Genetic engineering
= manipulation or modification of organisms using biotechnology
- making vegetables resistant, more fruitful and profitable
- changing an unborn child’s genes in order to get trait or eleminate illnesses
chances risks
nutriution values plants more resistant, plants food based allergies, unknown dangerous
grow faster and this provide more food, side-effects of modified genes, impact on
help to get a child, prevention of illnesses environment
before birth
Manipulatio or modification of organisms using biotechnology
Energy transition
= using wind energy, or plants to produce electricity (corn or vegetables to produce biofuels)
chances risks
clean & renewable energy, limitless sources destruction of landscape, danger of birds,
of energy, help to fight climate change rainforests are cut down, cash crops versus
food crops
the path to a sustainable economy, e. g. by using biofuels
Gene pharming
the use of genetically modified organisms to produce pharmaceutical products
WORDS IN CONTEXT: SCIENCE – MOTOR OF
PROGRESS?
challenges in the 21st century: feeding the world, healing deadly diseases, finding renewable
sources of energy,… (field of science and technology will find answers)
Genetic Engineering
process by which the sequence of an organism’s DNA is altered by technological means (e.g.
by inserting a foreign gene); first genetically modified (GM) crop: slow-softening tomato (1995)
→ others: more insect-resistant or disease-resistant; pharma crops: genetically modified plants
that produce much-needed medicines (e.g. human proteins like insulin); risk and safety:
transgenic plants or animals may prove to be unhealthy or even dangerous; meddling with
reproduction: in vitro fertilization (IVF) → opportunity to preselect embryo free from genetic
disorders, custom-made designer babies → children designed to have particular eye colour or
IQ
Quenching the thirst of energy
rise of emerging countries (Brazil, India) → global thirst for energy is growing rapidly; Fukushima
nuclear disaster (2011) → nuclear power phase-out; renewable sources of energy: solar, wind
LEAD-IN
Transhumanism
= replacing parts of the human body with technological devises → enhancing the human
abilities with technology
chances risks
replace damaged parts of the body, immortality, high costs, unknown side-
overcome biological limitations (higher, effects, humans replaced by robots (work!),
faster), help in household (time for getting out of control
recreation), robots work all the time
human advancement through technology
Genetic engineering
= manipulation or modification of organisms using biotechnology
- making vegetables resistant, more fruitful and profitable
- changing an unborn child’s genes in order to get trait or eleminate illnesses
chances risks
nutriution values plants more resistant, plants food based allergies, unknown dangerous
grow faster and this provide more food, side-effects of modified genes, impact on
help to get a child, prevention of illnesses environment
before birth
Manipulatio or modification of organisms using biotechnology
Energy transition
= using wind energy, or plants to produce electricity (corn or vegetables to produce biofuels)
chances risks
clean & renewable energy, limitless sources destruction of landscape, danger of birds,
of energy, help to fight climate change rainforests are cut down, cash crops versus
food crops
the path to a sustainable economy, e. g. by using biofuels
Gene pharming
the use of genetically modified organisms to produce pharmaceutical products
WORDS IN CONTEXT: SCIENCE – MOTOR OF
PROGRESS?
challenges in the 21st century: feeding the world, healing deadly diseases, finding renewable
sources of energy,… (field of science and technology will find answers)
Genetic Engineering
process by which the sequence of an organism’s DNA is altered by technological means (e.g.
by inserting a foreign gene); first genetically modified (GM) crop: slow-softening tomato (1995)
→ others: more insect-resistant or disease-resistant; pharma crops: genetically modified plants
that produce much-needed medicines (e.g. human proteins like insulin); risk and safety:
transgenic plants or animals may prove to be unhealthy or even dangerous; meddling with
reproduction: in vitro fertilization (IVF) → opportunity to preselect embryo free from genetic
disorders, custom-made designer babies → children designed to have particular eye colour or
IQ
Quenching the thirst of energy
rise of emerging countries (Brazil, India) → global thirst for energy is growing rapidly; Fukushima
nuclear disaster (2011) → nuclear power phase-out; renewable sources of energy: solar, wind
