What are some of the benefits of biotechnology and genetic engineering?

Question

How can these benefits personally help you?

Answer 1

Stem cell research could cure a lot of diseases or repair injuries. Got a bum knee? What if stem cells could regenerate the lining of the joint, so that you could climb stairs without hurting? Have you lost some or all hearing? Maybe regenerating the damaged nerves could let you hear your grandchild, or your favorite music. Do you have Parkinson's disease? What would you give to have your hands not shake?

Genetic engineering could let you change things about your genetic makeup. If your family is predisposed to heart disease, you could change that, and maybe live beyond 60. Maybe you could reduce your susceptibility to high cholesterol, cancer, or Alzheimers, or maybe even your tendency to drink, smoke, or overeat.

Will things go wrong? Absolutely - the human body is one of the more complicated things around to tinker with, and we're only learning how to do tiny little things right now. But fear of progress means dooming the human race to never moving forward, and to me that is unacceptable. Proper oversight and peer review can minimize those mistakes. Those people that hide their head in the sand never get to see a sunrise.

Answer 2

I think the first two answerers do not fully understand what is meant by biotechnology and genetic engineering. There are no benefits. Try googling them and you will find nothing of any benefit to humanity. Europe, Asia and Canada will not import any of our GE/GM foods.

Here's an actual quote from Phil Angell, Monsanto's director of corporate communications:
"Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food. Our interest is in selling as much of it as possible. Assuring its safety is the FDA's job." And guess who's not doing their job?

EDIT: if you loosen your definitions to include technologies like stem cell research, in vitro fertilization and the like, you open up a new can of worms. We may see the day when we can grow our own replacement body parts with no risk of rejection, engineer germ lines to remove disease-conferring chromosomes, etc. - all beneficial applications. But keep in mind that these same technologies can design unborn babies to our specs (and you know that once we have the ability, we will put it to use, right or wrong) and engineer deadly pathogens that make anthrax look like a day at the beach.

If Syngenta, Genentech, Monsanto and the like continue without regulation...welcome to the Brave New Orwellian world.

Answer 3

longer life and quality of life. these benefits would help anyone interested in living after a catastrophic diagnosis

Answer 4

I think that it will help cure a lot of diseases