Daily Archives: June 3, 2022

Over the last century, the field of genetics and biotechnology has greatly developed because of the better understanding of the gene. Because of the improvement of technology, scientists have already gone up until the manipulation of the genome (complete set of genes) of organisms. This process is called genetic engineering. In this article, we will explore 13 important genetic engineering pros and cons.

The sharing of genetic material among living organisms is known to be a natural event. This phenomenon is known to be very evident among bacteria, hence they are called natures own genetic engineer. Such phenomenon is the inspiration of scientists in this endeavor.

In literature, there are in fact many synonyms of the term genetic engineering: genetic modification, genome manipulation, genetic enhancement, and many more. However, this term shall not be confused with cloning because genetic engineering involves the production of new set of genes while the latter only involves the production of the same copies of genes in the organism.

Genetic engineering is the process of manipulating an organisms genome using biotechnology and the products of it are either referred to as genetically modified or transgenic organisms. Check out the disadvantages of genetically modified foods here.

Basically, genetic engineering is done by inserting a gene of interest from sources like bacteria, viruses, plants, and animals into the target organism. As a result, the organism with the inserted gene of interest is now able to carry out the new trait or characteristic.

This technology grants us the ability to overcome barriers, exchange genes among organisms, and produce new organisms with favorable traits.

For a more detailed explanation of the process, check out this video below:

Now we will dive into the pros and cons of Genetic Engineering now.

Supporters of genetic engineering believe that genetic engineering is indeed safe and is still comparable to the traditional process of breeding in plants and animals. Advocates of genetic engineering support the technology primarily because of the following reasons:

On the other hand, there are several types of potential health effects that could arise from the insertion of a novel gene into an organism. Critics disagree with the methods of genetic engineering because of:

Because of the technology used to create genetically modified crops and animals, private companies that produce them do not share their products at a reasonable cost with the public.

In addition, they believe that the process is somewhat disrupting the natural way and complexity of life. In addition to this, critics fear the misuse and abuse of biotechnology.

Indeed, genetic engineering will always have two opposite sides. While the possibilities of what science can create are endless, and the harmful effects also are. At present, it is important to know that the real risks and benefits of genetic engineering lie in how science is interpreted and used.

But theres really no doubt that with the rapid advancements in technology, the creation of GM organisms are also increasing.

What do you think? Are GM organisms slowly becoming the future?

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13 Important Genetic Engineering Pros And Cons - Bio Explorer

Published 06-02-22

Submitted by Bayer

The carrot on your plate might seem like the most simple thing in the world a hardy root that has nourished humans, from kings to peasants, for generations. But as humble as it seems, the common carrot long, orange and crunchy is actually just one result of a genetic engineering project that has been going on for the last ten thousand years. In the wild, carrots are small, pale and have thin, forked roots with a strong flavor. Only centuries of selective breeding for desirable traits has given us the carrot we see today.

The fact is, a huge amount of the fruit and vegetables we take for granted never looked that way to begin with. These are the results of the great story of human agriculture, a story in which our prehistoric ancestors methodically identified plants with desirable traits the biggest, most flavorsome, or most disease resistant and cross bred them.

While individually, the changes can be minor, over time, that process has radically reshaped what we put on our plates. Consider the brassica this single plant, carefully cultivated over centuries has given us kale, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage and turnips.

But as remarkable as all this is, the story is far from over.

Modern Problems...

Prehistoric agriculturists made the breeding decisions they did to cope with their environment. When food was scarce, making that ear of corn more nutritious and more weather resistant could be the difference between life and death over a long and cold winter. Of course, these farmers didnt have a scientific understanding of the genetics underlying this process. Crop improvement was slow and produced random results, as genes interacted in unpredictable ways at the molecular level. Civilization and science have come a long way since then, but we face our own set of challenges.

"The world population is growing, and climate zones are changing constantly; with this there is more pressure on plants from diseases, and insects. We need scientific answers to these problems."Jonathan Jenkinson, Head of Product Design at Bayer

Theres also the small matter of commercial imperatives. It doesn't take a crop scientist to point out that we like to buy things that taste better, look edible and stay fresh on the shelf for longer, whatever the season. Probably the biggest thing that has happened to impact what's on your plate is the ability to grow and ship fruits and vegetables year round, says Tom Osborn, Head of Vegetable Analytics and Pipeline Design at Bayer.

In response, agricultural scientists and plant breeders continue to innovate, creating crop varieties adapted to different growing conditions around the world that are more nutritious, more resistant to drought, disease and other forms of environmental stress as well as prettier and tastier.

Need Modern Solutions

But unlike farmers of the past, todays plant scientists have a vastly expanded set of tools available to them, which they are using to transform how we practice plant breeding to improve the food supply.

Every year, Bayer deploys over 500 new hybrids and varieties across corn, cotton soybeans and vegetables

Phenotyping

Traditionally, the process by which farmers have bred plants has been phenotyping. Phenotyping means assessing a plant's expressed traits and then selecting the desired plants and seeds. In practical terms this means visually identifying differences within plants for example, selecting for desirable colors, sizes, or number of fruits.

Plants reproduce by pollinating themselves or each other, so all the traditional agriculturist needed was to plant the seeds of the healthiest of their crop, and then they would grow, and fertilize each other, leading to a new generation of plants with the range of inherited traits contained in the parents. Though an imprecise science selective breeding could often produce random results as breeders had limited knowledge of the genetic mechanisms at work over time it led to significantly improved products. However, traditional plant breeding has seen significant changes over the last 15 years due to the introduction of genetic sequencing.

Genotyping

Now rather than just being able to see the results of breeding through phenotyping, we can see what happens to the structure of DNA and know why these changes occur in the plant at a genetic level this is called genotyping. And thanks to recent developments in genetic science (three decades of rapid improvement in genetic technologies in order to understand human genetics and health), mapping out the DNA of humans, animals, plants and all living organisms is quicker and cheaper than ever.

This means that scientists are now using technology to identify individual genes within plants, giving them a deep understanding of exactly what clusters of DNA are responsible for certain traits and characteristics. This gives scientists an unprecedented ability to develop seed varieties for specific environments and markets.

Want a strain of corn that is specifically resistant to your drought? Thanks to genotyping, a plant breeder could go in and identify which parts of the DNA strand can give resistance to that, and only breed seeds with those genetics. Breeders can then select those seeds, and distribute them as a standalone or product.

Gene Editing

Gene editing has the potential to solve real challenges for farmers and the planet, like reducing the need for pesticides and the use of energy, land, and water. In agriculture, this process typically looks to improve a beneficial trait within an organism, or to remove an undesirable trait. For years, gene editing was done through selective breeding in plants. But now we can make changes with more precision than ever before.

Gene editing tools, like CRISPR, are already helping researchers to make improvements within plant DNA. These tools have the potential to offer unmatched precision to farmers, allowing them to grow enough food while confidently reducing their use of natural resources. Its important to note, as well, that although plant breeding is a form of genetic engineering, it is not the same as genetic modification, or GM.

Data Analytics

And its not just about the seeds themselves. Coupled with broader technological improvements into data gathering and analysis, the process by which genes are selected and new crops make it into fields and onto your table is more efficient than ever before. If we can use data to make a better decision today about which corn hybrids to produce over the winter, that can get us to a new commercial product much faster, says Jonathan Jenkinson.

For him, who spent years working on-site in plant breeding programs, the result is significant. When I started researching in the field, I had to save all the seed from every plot and put it in a bag, and then take it back to the building where our facilities were. That meant moving about 30 tons of seed by hand, in the form of little bags that weighed three kilograms each. And that, of course, slowed the time-to-market right down.

Thanks to the development of modern data capture and analytics techniques, today its a very different story and thats good news for global farmers who are looking for solutions. In the last 30 years, it's probably gone from a time to market of 11 to 13 years, down to 6 or 7 years, says Jonathan.

As communities continue to fight poverty, hunger and malnutrition, its our responsibility to expand the reach and impact of Bayers global breeding resources. We approach this in a number of ways, but chief among them are the ways that we work outside of our walls to improve the seeds available to global farmers including partnerships aimed at knowledge-sharing, and germplasm and data contributions.

Why Collaboration is Key

Innovations in plant breeding have advanced the prosperity of civilizations for centuries. Continuously improving seeds to grow more resilient and high-yielding, more nutritious crops remains one of agricultures strongest tools in fighting hunger and supporting the farmers who feed communities around the world. Bayer develops crops using cutting edge breeding technologies and an expansive library of germplasm. And even with the resources of a market leader, the challenges facing agriculture cant be tackled by a single player alone. Having diverse germplasm living genetic resources such as seeds or plant tissues that are maintained for the purpose of plant breeding and preservation to tap into when developing new seed varieties makes plant breeders more successful in solving the problems facing global farmers and thats where collaboration comes in.

And thats why Bayer contributes germplasm and genetic characterization data to other research programs around the world. The donation is intended to facilitate the incorporation of underutilized genetic diversity into modern maize breeding programs including organizations that help improve regional crops for smallholders based on regional needs.

Donating germplasm isnt the only way that Bayer collaborates. Since 2020, Bayer has partnered with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture to launch the Modern Breeding Project, focused on realizing crop resilience and yield potential for cassava, maize, cowpea, banana, yam, and soybean to support crop productivity, economic growth, and poverty reduction for African agriculture.

The project builds capacity and scale by leveraging insights from Bayers breeding program models and best practices. Our shared goals in leveraging research and product development are providing new solutions towards food security and empowering African scientists and farmers, supporting Africa rising to achieve the grand challenges in the face of climate change while developing new ways of working in a dynamic food system, says Stella Salvo, Head of Breeding Partnerships for Smallholder Farming at Bayer. Our Bayer breeding teams engage in sharing best practices in breeding program management, design and use of digital tools that will support the IITAs research priorities and product outputs.

The Breeding Story Continues

And thats not all. Crop scientists currently consider themselves to be moving from the third generation of breeding, powered by genomic knowhow, and into a fourth generation. The goal is to build more flavorful, sustainable, and high yielding crops, which are more resilient against climate change from the ground up. And scientists they will do this for example by harnessing the targeted abilities of gene editing techniques.

I would say the fourth era of breeding will be what were calling precision breeding at Bayer, says Jonathan. Weve become really good at knowing how to find the best traits; that's what we perfected over the last 30 years. But precision breeding seeks to fundamentally change that entire approach. Instead of selecting the best traits, we are moving to an era where can actually design what's going to be the best from the very beginning.

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Bayer: Science For A Better Life

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2015, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of EUR 46.3 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.6 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.3billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015. For more information, go to http://www.bayer.com.

More from Bayer

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Survival of the Best: The Past, Present and Future of Plants - CSRwire.com

"The year 2022 is still full of opportunities and challenges. We will continue to strengthen care technology based on the protein technology platform. Vazyme has been dedicated to our mission 'Science and Technology Make a Healthier Life'to focus on technology innovation and continuously expand the application fields of care technologies in life science, biomedicine, in vitro diagnostics, animal health and synthetic biology in human health. We have been holding ourselves to pursue the highest standards in quality of products and services for our customers and partners. Our global business network and operations make sure we could be close to the local markets, and more importantly, to do as much it can to meet the unmet customers' needs", said Cao Lin, chairman and founder of Vazyme.

This year also marks the Vazyme's 10th anniversary. Moving forward, the company plans to ramp up efforts in R&D and innovation, continuously upgrade and transform its core technologies, and expand business in new sectors. As one of the few R&D-focused biotech company in China, Vazyme holds a longstanding commitment in technology innovation. Over 2000 papers have been published by Vazyme in top academic journals worldwide, including more than 260 in CNS(stands for Cell, Nature, Science). By 2022, it has some 3000 employees and 27% of that are in the R&D team.

"Looking ahead, we will make further inroads in our key businesses and expand into new domains. I believe the market demand for COVID-19 and other related detection materials and products will continue to be strong. During the pandemic, China has remained one of the largest supplier for COVID-19 detection products."said Cao. In addition to pandemic-induced detection businesses, other regular detection products will be further developed, according to Cao. "When the prevention and control of the pandemic become regular, there will be new demands for detection products. In the future we will focus on the development of that,"added Cao.

Vazyme can not only provide COVID-19 and other related detection materials and products, but only offer various products and solutions in life-science industry for universities, laboratories, and related R&D centers, such as scientific research reagents, NGS Library Prep Kits and molecular diagnostics solutions. Currently, Vazyme has over 200 kinds of genetic engineering recombinases, more than 1,000 kinds of high-performance antigens, monoclonal antibodies, and other key raw materials, in addition to over 600 finished products.

As Vazyme's 10th anniversary slogan "Together for a Better Future", Vazyme aims to get close to its partners for a better future. In the future, Vazyme will provide better products and solutions, contribute to improve R&D efficiency for its partners, realize more scientific breakthroughs and dedicating to the mission "Science and Technology Make a Healthier Life".

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Vazyme Releases 2021 Annual Report: Announces More Efforts in Technology innovation and Together with Partners for a Better Future - PR Newswire

DUBLIN, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --The "Global Synthetic Biology Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Products, Technology, and Application" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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The global synthetic biology market is expected to grow from US$ 10,544.16 million in 2021 to US$ 37,850.85 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 20.0% from 2021 to 2028. The report highlights trends prevailing in the synthetic biology market and factors driving its growth. The increasing investments in synthetic biology and the rising number of start-ups are driving the market growth. However, the renewed regulations for biotechnology hamper the market growth.

Synthetic biology is the science of designing, altering, and building simple organisms to perform specific therapeutic or industrial utilities. The organisms created are genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which do not require a definition that distinguishes them from genetic modifications.

The rising number of start-ups is expected to support market growth during the forecast period. Biotechnology entrepreneurs easily raise funds and procure equipment and space from governments of the respective countries. Indie Bio (California, US) and EU (Ireland) are among the first synthetic biology accelerators. The start-ups are emerging in Asia Pacific, as governments in this region are providing funds for the domestic development of synthetic biology.

For instance, the Government of India funded IITM Bioincubator, a department of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, to start a state-of-the-art research facility for cancer biology and a Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility. The funds were provided by agencies such as the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras raised US$ 7.86 million (550 million rupees) in the fiscal year 2016-2017. In China, Chinaccelerator is a financer that provides mentorship programs for helping start-ups. It is also associated with SOSV, a venture capital and investment management firm,, which helps establish start-ups by providing funds under programs such as RebelBio and Indie Bio. The easy availability of funds for ideas is motivating entrepreneurs in the world to establish synthetic biology businesses.

Story continues

Based on product, the synthetic biology market is segmented into oligonucleotides, chassis organisms, enzymes, and xeno-nucleic acid. The oligonucleotides segment is likely to hold the largest share of the market in 2021. Moreover, the same segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period of 2021 to 2028. Based on technology, the synthetic biology market is segmented into, gene synthesis, genome engineering, measurement & modeling, cloning & sequencing, nanotechnology, and others. In 2021, the gene synthesis segment is likely to hold the largest share of the market. However, the genome engineering segment is expected to register highest CAGR during 2021 to 2028. The growth of genome engineering segment is owing to the rising applications of genetic engineering and gene therapy.

Further, based on application, the synthetic biology market is segmented into medical applications, industrial applications, environmental applications, food and agriculture, and others. The medical applications segment is further segmented as, drug discovery & therapeutics and pharmaceuticals. In 2021, the medical applications segment held the largest market share, and it is expected to register the highest CAGR during 2021-2028.

Various organic and inorganic strategies are adopted by companies operating in the synthetic biology market. The organic strategies mainly include product launches and product approvals. Inorganic growth strategies witnessed in the market are acquisitions, collaboration, and partnerships. These growth strategies have allowed the synthetic biology market players in expanding their business and enhancing their geographic presence, along with contributing to the overall market growth. Additionally, growth strategies such as acquisitions and partnerships helped them strengthen their customer base and extend their product portfolios.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

2. Key Takeaways

3. Research Methodology

4. Synthetic Biology Market - Market Landscape4.1 Overview4.2 PEST Analysis4.2.1 North America PEST Analysis4.2.2 Europe PEST Analysis4.2.3 Asia Pacific PEST Analysis4.2.4 Middle East & Africa PEST Analysis4.2.5 South & Central America PEST Analysis4.3 Experts Opinion

5. Synthetic Biology Market - Key Market Dynamics5.1 Market Drivers5.1.1 Increasing Investments in Synthetic Biology5.1.2 Rising Number of Start-Ups5.2 Key Market Restraints5.2.1 Renewed Regulations for Biotechnology5.3 Key Market Opportunities5.3.1 Collaboration Between Companies5.4 Future Trends5.4.1 Advanced Synthetic Biology5.5 Impact Analysis

6. Synthetic Biology Market - Global Analysis6.1 Global Synthetic Biology Market Revenue Forecast and Analysis6.1.1 Global Synthetic Biology Market Revenue Forecast and Analysis6.1.2 Global Synthetic Biology Market - Market Potential Analysis, By Region6.2 Company Analysis6.2.1 Market Positioning of Key Players6.2.2 Comparative Company Analysis6.2.3 Growth Strategy Analysis6.2.4 Performance of Key Players6.2.4.1 Thermo Fisher Scientific6.2.4.2 Twist Bioscience6.2.4.3 Agilent Technologies, Inc.

7. Synthetic Biology Market Analysis - By Product7.1 Overview7.2 Synthetic Biology Market, By Product, 2021 & 2028 (%)7.3 Enzymes7.3.1 Overview7.3.2 Enzyme: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2028 (US$ Million)7.4 Oligonucleotides7.4.1 Overview7.4.2 Oligonucleotide: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2028 (US$ Million)7.5 Chassis Organisms7.5.1 Overview7.5.2 Chassis Organisms: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2028 (US$ Million)7.6 Xeno-Nucleic Acids7.6.1 Overview7.6.2 Xeno-Nucleic Acids: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2028 (US$ Million)

8. Synthetic Biology Market Analysis - By Technology8.1 Overview8.2 Synthetic Biology Market Share by Technology - 2021 & 2028 (%)8.3 Gene Synthesis8.3.1 Overview8.3.2 Gene Synthesis: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)8.4 Genome Engineering8.4.1 Overview8.4.2 Genome Engineering: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)8.5 Measurement and Modeling8.5.1 Overview8.5.2 Measurement and Modeling: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)8.6 Cloning and Sequencing8.6.1 Overview8.6.2 Cloning and Sequencing: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)8.7 Nanotechnology8.7.1 Overview8.7.2 Nanotechnology: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)8.8 Others8.8.1 Overview8.8.2 Others: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

9. Synthetic Biology Market Analysis - By Application9.1 Overview9.2 Synthetic Biology Market Share by Application - 2021 & 2028 (%)9.3 Medical Applications9.3.1 Overview9.3.2 Medical Applications: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)9.3.2.1 Drug Discovery and Therapeutics9.3.2.1.1 Overview9.3.2.1.2 Drug Discovery and Therapeutics: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)9.3.2.2 Pharmaceuticals9.3.2.2.1 Overview9.3.2.2.2 Pharmaceuticals: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)9.4 Industrial Applications9.4.1 Overview9.4.2 Industrial Applications: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)9.5 Food & Agriculture9.5.1 Overview9.5.2 Food & Agriculture: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)9.6 Environmental Applications9.6.1 Overview9.6.2 Environmental Applications: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)9.7 Others9.7.1 Overview9.7.2 Others: Synthetic Biology Market Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)

10. Global Synthetic Biology Market - Geographic Analysis

11. Impact Of COVID-19 Pandemic on Synthetic Biology Market11.1 North America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic11.2 Europe: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic11.3 Asia-Pacific: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic11.4 Middle East and Africa: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic11.5 South and Central America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic12. Synthetic Biology Market - Industry Landscape12.1 Overview12.2 Growth Strategies in the Synthetic Biology Market (%)12.3 Organic Developments12.3.1 Overview12.4 Inorganic Developments12.4.1 Overview

13. Company Profiles13.1 THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC.13.1.1 Key Facts13.1.2 Business Description13.1.3 Products13.1.4 Financial Overview13.1.5 SWOT Analysis13.1.6 Key Developments13.2 Agilent Technologies, Inc.13.2.1 Key Facts13.2.2 Business Description13.2.3 Products and Services13.2.4 Financial Overview13.2.5 SWOT Analysis13.2.6 Key Developments13.3 MERCK KGaA13.3.1 Key Facts13.3.2 Business Description13.3.3 Products and Services13.3.4 Financial Overview13.3.5 SWOT Analysis13.3.6 Key Developments13.4 New England Biolabs13.4.1 Key Facts13.4.2 Business Description13.4.3 Products and Services13.4.4 Financial Overview13.4.5 SWOT Analysis13.4.6 Key Developments13.5 Integrated DNA Technologies13.5.1 Key Facts13.5.2 Business Description13.5.3 Products and Services13.5.4 Financial Overview13.5.5 SWOT Analysis13.5.6 Key Developments13.6 Twist Bioscience13.6.1 Key Facts13.6.2 Business Description13.6.3 Products and Services13.6.4 Financial Overview13.6.5 SWOT Analysis13.6.6 Key Developments13.7 GenScript Biotech Corporation13.7.1 Key Facts13.7.2 Business Description13.7.3 Products and Services13.7.4 Financial Overview13.7.5 SWOT Analysis13.7.6 Key Developments13.8 Novozymes A/S13.8.1 Key Facts13.8.2 Business Description13.8.3 Products and Services13.8.4 Financial Overview13.8.5 SWOT Analysis13.8.6 Key Developments13.9 Codexis13.9.1 Key Facts13.9.2 Business Description13.9.3 Products and Services13.9.4 Financial Overview13.9.5 SWOT Analysis13.9.6 Key Developments13.10 Amyris Inc.13.10.1 Key Facts13.10.2 Business Description13.10.3 Products and Services13.10.4 Financial Overview13.10.5 SWOT Analysis13.10.6 Key Developments

14. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/otcjef

Media Contact:

Research and MarketsLaura Wood, Senior Managerpress@researchandmarkets.com

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Insights on the Synthetic Biology Global Market to 2028 - Featuring Thermo Fisher Scientific, Agilent Technologies and New England Biolabs Among...

How Synthetic Biology Could Change Life as we Know it

Synthetic biology (synbio) is a field of science that redesigns organisms in an effort to enhance and support human life. According to one projection, this rapidly growing field of science is expected to reach $28.8 billion in global revenue by 2026.

Although it has the potential to transform many aspects of society, things could go horribly wrong if synbio is used for malicious or unethical reasons. This infographic explores the opportunities and potential risks that this budding field of science has to offer.

Weve covered the basics of synbio in previous work, but as a refresher, heres a quick explanation of what synbio is and how it works.

Synbio is an area of scientific research that involves editing and redesigning different biological components and systems in various organisms.

Its like genetic engineering but done at a more granular levelwhile genetic engineering transfers ready-made genetic material between organisms, synbio can build new genetic material from scratch.

This field of science has a plethora of real-world applications that could transform our everyday lives. A study by McKinsey found over 400 potential uses for synbio, which were broken down into four main categories:

If those potential uses become reality in the coming years, they could have a direct economic impact of up to $3.6 trillion per year by 2030-2040.

The medical and health sector is predicted to be significantly influenced by synbio, with an economic impact of up to $1.3 trillion each year by 2030-2040.

Synbio has a wide range of medical applications. For instance, it can be used to manipulate biological pathways in yeast to produce an anti-malaria treatment.

It could also enhance gene therapy. Using synbio techniques, the British biotech company Touchlight Genetics is working on a way to build synthetic DNA without the use of bacteria, which would be a game-changer for the field of gene therapy.

Synbio has the potential to make a big splash in the agricultural sector as wellup to $1.2 trillion per year by as early as 2030.

One example of this is synbios role in cellular agriculture, which is when meat is created from cells directly. The cost of creating lab-grown meat has decreased significantly in recent years, and because of this, various startups around the world are beginning to develop a variety of cell-based meat products.

Using synthetic biology, products could be tailored to suit an individuals unique needs. This would be useful in fields such as genetic ancestry testing, gene therapy, and age-related skin procedures.

By 2030-2040, synthetic biology could have an economic impact on consumer products and services to the tune of up to $800 billion per year.

Synbio could also be used to boost efficiency in clean energy and biofuel production. For instance, microalgae are currently being reprogrammed to produce clean energy in an economically feasible way.

This, along with other material and energy improvements through synbio methods, could have a direct economic impact of up to $300 billion each year.

While the potential economic and societal benefits of synthetic biology are vast, there are a number of risks to be aware of as well:

According to a group of scientists at the University of Edinburgh, communication between the public, synthetic biologists, and political decision-makers is crucial so that these societal and environmental risks can be mitigated.

Despite the risks involved, innovation in synbio is happening at a rapid pace.

By 2030, most people will have likely eaten, worn, or been treated by a product created by synthetic biology, according to synthetic biologist Christopher A. Voigt.

Our choices today will dictate the future of synbio, and how we navigate through this space will have a massive impact on our futurefor better, or for worse.

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Visualizing The 50 Biggest Data Breaches From 20042021 - Visual Capitalist

HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 25 percent of all marine species are supported by coral reefs. They provide for the lives and livelihoods of people throughout the world, yet their future is uncertain. Mary Kay, a global sustainability advocate, celebrates World Reef Day by supporting coral reef protection and restoration initiatives, including the Nature Conservancys Super Reefs project.

Coral reefs are magnificent structures with contributions to oceans that are unmatched. They not only provide food and habitats for many species, but they are living ramparts that actively protect our coastlines from waves and wave energy. Healthy reefs can reduce wave energy by up to 97%. Thus, they serve as living breakwaters, protecting tens of thousands of kilometers of coastline from seasonal flooding and erosion.

Despite their importance to our ecosystem, reefs are being degraded due to pollution, destructive fishing practices, and climate change. Rising ocean temperatures threaten their existence and make extinction a real possibility.

The window of opportunity to save the worlds coral reefs is closing, said Dr. Lizzie Mcleod, Global Reef Systems Lead at The Nature Conservancy. We must act now to save these vital habitats.

Hope is here. Super Reefs are resilient and can survive the warmer ocean waters because of their ability to adapt to higher temperatures. Some of these resilient reefs are also naturally located in areas protected from heat. Their potential to survive climate change gives hope for the future, especially in Asia Pacific where tropical waters are filled with at least 500 species of reef-building corals. The Nature Conservancys Super Reef team unites experts in ocean science and conservation to grow a global network of super reefs through genetic engineering, reef restoration, and coral farming.

Coral reefs can still be saved, but real action must take place to ensure their survival. The first step is to identify and protect Super Reefs. Once protected, they can breed strong larvae and create a new generation of resilient corals. With the continuing work and support of Mary Kay, coral reefs still have a chance.

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our worlds toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 79 countries and territories, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit http://www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

About Mary Kay

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We bet youre quite familiar with the phenomenon of robots taking over the world. And we surely wont be surprised to see that happening too soon, considering the fast-paced digital world that were all accustomed to.

As it is, artificial intelligence is ruling todays world, and as more and more research uncovers the great benefits of this ordeal, theres bound to be a lot of change taking place by 2025.

But the real question on our minds is how much is too much? Do we really want a world that replaces humans altogether? Are we ready to say hello to all things automated?

On one end of the spectrum, weve got no questions being asked in terms of artificial intelligence replicating the human mind and body in terms of labor. Yes, its a great development and we dont mind seeing automation taking command of some of the worlds most difficult and dangerous jobs.

Similarly, so many processes are getting simplified and that enhances a users experience in general. Be it data processing or even intricate execution, your algorithms are your strength and when a firm is nailing that aspect, there are no complaints.

As mentioned by one leading research by Tradeshift, machines are excelling at their game and in the end, theyll be the ones providing great solutions for mankind.

But with the positives come the negative and while technology can be great, programming a robot to perform a skill can be a daunting task. And you certainly cant expect any human to get the job done right because there is very little room to work with.

Imagine a world where humans train robots and robots perform tasks for the betterment of humans- what a unique world indeed.

The news comes as were being made aware of how Elon Musks Tesla failed to meet its yearly target for production. And thats when we saw the CEO come forward and admit that there was one robot too many in the firm, despite the fact that everything is super technical.

But Musk conveniently shifted the blame to robots in general, adding how everything was super automated in his company. Thankfully, the billionaire says its a mistake that he acknowledges and now his Tesla Model 3 is suffering. This was closely followed by another statement on Twitter where he revealed that humans were underrated and definitely deserved so much more credit than theyre given,

He also felt that is the edge that gives his organization an upper hand against other rivals in the market. But that again makes any sane person wonder how the underproduction of Tesla model 3 was due to robots, despite them being so efficient.

Look, we believe that no matter how hard and well you train your robots, theyll never be as efficient as humans and their hard and soft skills. After all, not everyone has the ability to implement the world of AI with great success.

Those that believed they could solely rely on AI in the past have failed with their project designs miserably and if thats not a wake-up call, then were not quite sure what is.

In general, we feel that if robots dont have humans in the workplace, they just might end up merging with them to establish a new form of a human in augmented shape.

Today, humans are being enhanced via plastic surgery to look a certain way or behave in a certain manner, thanks to the world of drugs that empower humans' skills and their performance in general.

Soon, were going to be seeing humans connecting their minds to different networks performing online. Were also going to be seeing genetic engineering take a new turn while bioprinting in 3D is another aspect worth the glance.

But how ethical is human enhancement? Are we okay with brain chips being implemented into our minds? Clearly, we dont think its normal because youre de-tracking the mind from doing something that they were planning to do.

Meanwhile, were also hearing science experts say we wont be having any decision-making power soon as everything will lie in the hands of robots. For now, we just hope AI is used for the betterment of society and not the exact opposite.

Theres nothing worse than knowing youve been fired because a robot was better than you, had more skills than you, or if the robot felt you just were not fit for the job.

We might be getting too far ahead of ourselves with this debate and for now, were just hoping Musk and others start to value humans before its too late.

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Elon Musk Feels Humans Are Underrated As Tesla Criticized For Using Too Many Robots Instead Of 'Real People' - Digital Information World