AP+Group+1

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Type Team Position Here: Nate Perinovic- Genetic Agriculture / Joe Ernst- Gerontology / Frank Hermsen- Synthetic Life = = **Frankenstein Research Project **
 * Joe Ernst **
 * Frank Hermsen **
 * Nate Perinovic **
 * 7 October 2014 **
 * AP Literature and Composition **
 * Jeff Nienaber **
 *  Before delving into __Frankenstein,__  by Mary Shelley, questions were posed to illustrate some of the essential themes Shelley’s book addresses. Has scientific advancement cost us our humanity? Do the ends justify the means? Research into gerontology provides one of the more controversial topics surrounding the scientific world, that is prolonging life to a seemingly unnatural degree. Another controversial topic is synthetic life, which involves creation of life from nothing. Finally, there is the use of genetically modified agriculture and the possible effects it may have on the natural environment. Of course, can scientific advancement ever be truly stopped, or is it human nature to constantly explore further? **
 * Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological, and biological aspects of aging. It looks to answer the mysteries surrounding things, like why we age or how we age. Many scientists in this field of study are specifically looking at how we can add years to our lifespan; some think we could even become “immortal.” There are obvious benefits to this advancement. First, there is the prospect of more time in our lives. Time is seen as one of the most valuable resources known to man. This is because one has only a finite amount of time and everything takes time to create. Second, it has the potential to reverse disorders associated with age, like Alzheimer's. One of the preliminary studies that sparked interest into the field of gerontology involved HGH, or human growth hormone. This study showed that in “elderly patients in good health,” where HGH was injected, subjects “responded to injections by increased thickness of their skin, increased energy, better cognition, less forgetfulness, increased muscle mass, decreased fat mass” (NPR 1). However, this doesn’t come without its share of problems for the future. Increased lifespan could lead to rampant overpopulation with 5 to 6 generations of people inhabiting a world that already has problems with 4 generations, not to mention these generations will also be competing for other resources like jobs, money, etc. On the other hand, overpopulation might promote future exploration of uncharted territory and new frontiers as humanity looks for new celestial bodies to colonize for meeting the growing demand on Earth’s resources. Secondly, is this idea of advanced aging ethically sound? This is a multi-billion dollar industry funded by developed countries. There is a clear monopoly in terms of developed vs. underdeveloped countries. Is it wise to fund this technology when there are other areas of the world who don’t have access to clean water, good medicine, and many do not live past 30? **
 *  Synthetic life involves the creation of life from nothing. This technology is still very new, and there is some resistance for progressing it due to some of the difficult ethical issues. An example of an ethical dilemma is the modification of apes to create more human-like behavior. This would change the way they interact with their kind. Professor Mark Greene from the University of Delaware described this as a “kind of horrible between land” (Professor Mark Greene). This would not make them humans, but they would have similar mental capabilities to humans. Some organizations like the Synthetic Genomics company intend to "use these new species to do things like make new fuels and new vaccines” (Venter). The possibilities of new medicine and fuel would certainly be welcomed by society. With the development of these new technologies, mankind would be presented with new responsibilities. When we are ready for these responsibilities, these ethical problems will have to be addressed with caution to prevent any harm to other species, or our own. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Genetically modified agriculture is the use of crops inserted with favorable genes to create a final product that is highly resistant to natural and artificial growth inhibitors. GMO crops have several benefits, but at the same time, many downfalls: because GMO crops have a high survival rate and ,in turn, high yields, they provide a cheap and ever increasing food supply which could pave the way for ending world hunger; but at the same time, GMO crops can pose a serious threat to the environment through the introduction of invasive species’ that could overtake the naturally growing plants. Although GMO crops offer up a quick and relatively easy way of creating enough food for the planet, other alternatives for enhancing plant growth should be considered in the event that GMO crops prove to be worse than anticipated. **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Both sides of the issues have strong and valid points. Is humanity heading down the right path? The fact of the matter is, to stop scientific advancement is like quenching the fire of the human spirit. Humanity will always look to advance technology, whether it is as simple as agriculture or as advanced as the Internet. Humanity has always looked to conquer new territory, like sailing to the “New World” or landing on the moon. Handling and controlling this technology is key. Humanity must learn to control this technology to stop the overarching problems that it might cause. There must be regulations in place that balance our world’s population and this technology cannot be monopolized by the few, in terms of gerontology. Yes, these ideas may be controversial, but so were the ideas of other great scientists, like Galileo and Copernicus. Where would society be in a world without people who dared to explore and to advance? The prospect of advanced aging and increased life spans, if controlled properly, is a worthwhile advancement of the future in a society that is better prepared to handle its impacts. In this case ,the ends will justify the means. **

**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Work Cited: ** =**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“A Look At Anti-Aging Tactics In 'Eternity Soup.’” NPR. NPR. n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2014. **= =**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Science vs. Ethics in Creating Intelligent Primates." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 07 Oct. **= =**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2014. **=
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Scientists Reach Milestone On Way To Artificial Life." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 07 Oct. **
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2014. **
 * <span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Supreme Court Lifts Ban On Biotech Alfalfa." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2014. **
 * <span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"'Green' Genetic Plant Claims Draw Skeptics." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2014. **

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