Biotechnology in Ecology (Class Reading)

            In Ecology of Eden, the author discusses both the positive and negative sides of something called biotechnology. Biotechnology is “the exploitation of biological processes for industrial and other purposes, especially the genetic manipulation of microorganisms for the production of antibiotics, hormones, etc.”. The people who use this technology are called Planet Managers, and the people who will not use this technology are called Planet Fetishers. The Planet Managers are more than happy to enlist the help of biotechnology to save the planet. They believe it can be used to clean up spills, to use farmland more efficiently, to check Global Warming or mute its effects. They believe that this isn’t manipulation; it is helping the planet to coevolve with you. Planet Fetishers think using any type of “unnatural” process to even help the earth is compromising on values we should all possess. They look at the little modifications and say it will only lead to worse things, even if the little things are helpful. For example, a drought-resistant plant may be nice, but it is a slippery slope down to stackable cows. Once we begin modifying them, critics argue that we would have no more reason to hold more value for them than something as inanimate as a coke bottle. This is already prevalent with how humans look at the smallest of insects. We are more than happy to squash them if they are inconvenient. What most people are afraid of is some science fiction fear of monsters. The public sees tampering with species as creating something like Godzilla, who will come later and hurt civilization. This debate is still relevant, and I believe it will become increasingly more so.