Tomorrow's Science Chronicles

12/13/13

What Is Happening To Our Food?

All around we are haring about how our natural food is no longer good for us. That the healthy food isn't as healthy as we believe. It's extremely confusing so the real question is "What is happening to our food that we eat?". The answer can be simply answered as biotechnology which is the manipulation of the natural life of plants and animals or their genes human needs and want such as medication or bigger and better food. The use of biotechnology isn't a new concept, it actually dates back to 4,000 BC with the ancient Egyptians who used yeast to make bread and beer. Scientists have further developed the use to take it into our daily ingredients. The reason for having genetically modified food is to make plants more resistant to diseases, weeds, and insects. The topic is very divided because the organic food is smaller and more expensive compared to the genetically modified food. Personally I would prefer for my food to be organic and to not have unknown substances that can harm me and the plants yet some of the food we eat we don't even know they are genetically modified. The awareness needs to rise but the prices need to deduct.

12/13/13

Is Biotechnology Really Complex As We Think?

Whenever anyone hers the world thinks that biotechnology is one of the most complex subjects while we have been using these techniques without even knowing so. In 4,000 BC the Egyptians had used Yeast which is a living organism that metabolizes oxygen and expels carbon dioxide (CO2), Recently, archaeologists have discovered an ancient bakery south of the Giza plateau. The bakery, used from 2686 to 2181 B.C., served numerous breads and pastries and used yeast as a key ingredient. Since yeast requires heat to rise, the ancient Egyptians had quick-rising bread, because of their desert environment. The type of yeast that the ancient Egyptians used in breads and beverages is Saccharomyces carlsbergensis. Peruvians grew potatoes nearly 10,000 years ago as a source of nutrition. The vegetable was

a crop that would last in the harsh, cold climate of mountainous Peru. Around 3000 B.C., however, the Mochia, Chimu and Inca cultures started to develop the potato — to make it a larger, frost-resistant vegetable. They had to use different growing techniques and crossbreeding the potatoes, the Peruvians helped develop the classic biotechnology techniques. Without their work, our potatoes today would be small and thin, and would rot quickly. Do you still think that biotechnology is complicated as the word seems?

12/14/13

Timeline of Biotechnology

4,000 B.C.

Egyptians use yeast to make leavened bread and wine

3000 B.C.

Peruvians select and cultivate potatoes that have made larger potatoes that last longer

1683

Invention of microscope by Antoin van Leeuwenhoek. Even though the microscopes are now stronger without her we may have never been able to view DNA closely

1861

Pasteurization is invented by Louis Pasteur. Rising the temperatures to kill bacteria has now come to the invention of pasteurization named after Louis Pasteur. Pasteurization has made milk, cheese, and butter fresher longer and safer.

1865

Gregor Mendel (Father of Genetics) begins the study of genetics by cross breeding the pea plant. Coming to the conclusion that specific traits will be passed from parent to offspring. Gregor helped us to understand why we look like our realatives.

1981

The first genetically engineered plant is reported.

Mice are successfully cloned.

12/15/13

Science Isn't Always a Subject to Groan About

Whenever you think of science you feel as if that you just might as well bring out the blankets and pillows. While science doesn't always seem to be the wildest adventure but it sure has inspired its fair share. While the details are a drag the concept is never short of amazing. Now we have technology that is responsive to our touch. A thousand years ago that would have never been a plausible thought ad anyone would have thought of that they would've been a mad man. Did you know that now we can make bones out of gums and tissues. If that isn't an interesting life-saving fact then what could be considered one. The Breen in Star Trek use starships with organic technology. The starship USS Voyagerused bio-neural gel pack circuitry. Species 8472 used organic spacecraft. Even without us knowing we had been enjoying the topic and thinking it was cool. We have a great way of putting something down that we love but don't associate with it.

12/15/13

Growing Population = More Food. How to Meet the Challenge

The human population is growing and is showing no signs of stopping at this rate. With 7 billion and counting the question of survival is pending and scientists are thinking of one answer. Biotechnology. How do we produce healthy crops that will flourish under our strong demand and harsh circumstances that are now occurring now. Use of biotech plants can produce more food on less land, by reducing the amount of crops lost to disease and pests. It can reduce CO₂ emissions from the farming process, the amount of pesticides used to produce foods, and in the future, the amount of water needed to grow crops. Researchers are also continually looking at ways they can enhance the nutritional value of foods. This fact sheet will examine how biotechnology contributes these benefits and what they mean for the environment, the consumer and the farmer. Even though unknown chemicals may be going into food, practice makes perfect. One day it would be one of those things that when you look back you don't want to go. The mystery of the future is still dark but we can still foreshadow it.

12/16/13

Two Heads Are Better Than One?

There are many things that are always a controversial topic to discuss. How would you feel about another person who looked exactly like you, but they weren't actually your twin but your clone? Biotechnology is carving that path and while people believe that it is the future of scientific twins. Although I support the good that biotechnology has to offer I believe that it isn't a good idea. it would involve hundreds of damaged pregnancies to achieve one single live cloned baby and evidence suggests that clones are unhealthy and often have a number of genetic defects that will result in premature ageing and death. It would be completely wrong to bring a child into the world knowing that it was extremely likely to be affected by problems like these. People might be cloned unwillingly some of us wouldn't want to be cloned but someone could do it for us. we all leave thousands if not millions of cells around everyday we could be cloned by a simple strand of hair falling. Who will control who gets cloned? What gets to me the most is that companies are already making money and storing tissue from dead people until the time that human cloning becomes available. The problem is, is that if you're a clone it really isn't you. The question is "Are two heads better than one?"

12/18/13

Easy D.N.A. Experiment

Materials:

♦ Banana 1

♦ Distilled water

♦ Disposable cups

♦ Coffee filter

♦ Shampoo

♦ Salt

♦ Ice-cold 70% alcohol (chilled in the freezer)

♦ Test tube

♦ Spoon

Procedure:

• 1. Create a banana mixture by adding a peeled banana to 1–2 cups of distilled water in a blender.

  2. Blend the mixture until it has the consistency of a smoothie.

  3. Add 20 mL of distilled water to a disposable cup and add one teaspoon of shampoo and a couple pinches of salt to the water.

  4. Mix this slowly with a spoon (Try to avoid creating foam in the cup).

  5. Add 3 teaspoons of the banana mixture to the cup and stir slowly for 5–10 minutes.

  6. Place a coffee filter inside a second (empty) cup. Fold the sides of the coffee filter around the edge of the cup so the filter is not touching the bottom of the cup. Stir for 5–10 minutes, slowly pour the mixture from the first cup into the coffee filter. Hold the filter to prevent it from falling to the bottom of the cup. Do not overfill the filter.

  7. Allow the mixture to drain for 5–10 minutes until several milliliters of liquid have passed through the filter into the bottom of the cup.

  8. Remove the filter and throw it in the trash.

  9. Use a pipet to transfer the liquid at the bottom of the cup to a test tube of ice-cold 70% isopropyl alcohol. Add the filtrate slowly; try not to agitate the solution. Continue adding more filtrate to the alcohol.

  10. Look for a white precipitate to form. That's the DNA and spool it out with a spoon.