Surprisingly, I was most engaged in this topic of all the materials so far during the course.
The animal biotechnology video (1) shows how the controversial topic of cloning can be beneficial for humans. In this video they explain how they take cells from the cow, create a sequence of DNA, put in genes to make antibodies, clone the cow, and than that cow has a little bit of human chromosome and anti bodies can be collected from the cows and used to treat humans.
My mother was diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia, (SAA-a syndrome of bone marrow failure) in 1980 in Sweden. At that time there was no treatment other than bone marrow transplants, but no suitable donor was available.
She was given the option to try a research drug, called ATG (antithymocyte globulin) (3) Human lymphocytes ( a type of white blood cells) are injected into an animal, rabbit or horse. The animal develops antibodies and the antibodies
are retrieved from the animal, treated and then infused into the bloodstream of the patient. My mother was the first woman and the second person to receive ATG in Sweden in 1980.
This type of work in biotechnology is heroic if used in order to cure or help, I think experimenting with animals for an aesthetic reason is wrong. This is why I was very disturbed by Eduardo Kac's genetically engineered GFP bunny.
However, in the Part III lecture, (5) I enjoyed learning about Kathy High's experiments because she incorporated empathy. Her goal was to solve our health problems with the assistance of rats. High wanted to work and help rats while using their assistance to solve health issues human's have.
(1) "Animal Biotechnology." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 17 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCIvAuwaf-o#t=1018>.
(2) Personal photograph of Carina and Emma Degerstedt. 13, April, 2013.
(3) "Antithymocyte Globulin Rabbit (Intravenous Route)." - Drugs and Supplements. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 July 2014. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/antithymocyte-globulin-rabbit-intravenous-route/description/drg-20061948>.
(4) "GFP BUNNY." GFP BUNNY. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 July 2014. <http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html>.
(5) "5 BioArt pt3." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 19 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EpD3np1S2g&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7>.
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