BIOTECHNOLOGY AND FOOD SUSTENANCE IN AFRICA

ABSTRACT

Genetically engineered foods containing genes derived from bacteria and viruses are now starting to appear in the shops, and foods with insect, fish, and animal genes will soon follow. These genetic changes are radically different from those resulting from traditional methods of breeding. Yet, the sale of these foods is being permitted without proper assessment of the risks and without adequately informing the public, even though many scientists say that genetically modified foods could cause serious damage too health and the environment, despite of the benefit.

INTRODUCTION

            The word “biotechnology” is a lexicographic amoeba. It is the process of artificially modifying these blueprints. By cutting and splicing DNA. Genetic Surgery – genetic engineers can transfer genes specific to one type of organism into any other organism on earth, while genes are the blueprints for every part of an organism.

            Biotechnology derives from three ancient Greek words “bios, life; teuchos, tool; logos, meaning ‘study of’ or ‘word’ or ‘essence’. Thus extracted etymologically, it becomes ‘the study of tools from living things’.

            Historically, Robert Bud of the science museum in London has traced the use of “biotechnology” at least as far back as 1917. During the world war, it referred to the use of industrial fermentation to produce industrial feeds tocks, such as acetone used to make cordite, an explosive. Now, “biotechnology” can encompass ancient uses such as microbial fermentations to flavor and preserve foods, including leavening bread, brewing beer and making cheese and Yogurt.

            Biotechnology tools also include selection and breeding, chromosome analysis (such as used to diagnose Down Syndrome), tissue culture for growing tissues or cells in glass jars (used in plant propagation and in producing drugs such as penicillin and monoclonal antibodies), and DNA analysis (for example, DNA fingerprinting or massive DNA sequencing efforts such as the Human Genome Project). But for many people, biotechnology means recombinant DNA and genetic engineering (Robert, 1917).

During the 1970’s scientists used “biotechnology” as shorthand for “recombinant DNA techniques”. With these cut-and-splice tools developed in the early 1970’s, researchers can cut a copy of a segment of DNA containing a gene, and paste it into another segment of DNA.

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