New Leaf Superior Potato example essay topic

Technology nowadays constantly seems to seep its way into our daily routines. Everything we do is somehow connected with technology, whether it be working on a paper in the computer lab, taking the H bus to class, or even eating dinner at Brower Commons... Without technology, life would be more difficult than it already is, knowledge would be limited and more difficult to achieve. The task of technology is to create a better, and easier living for ourselves and for the world; it's intentions are only positive, unless looked on in the subject matter of destruction, warfare or terrorism. Biotechnology goes down deeper than the computer chips and electronic devices that people think about when discussing technology. Biotechnology deals with the concoction of technology and life, which brings up various moral issues, yet at the same time acts positively for our world.

It has been practiced by human society since the beginning of recorded history in such activities as baking bread, brewing alcoholic beverages, or breeding food crops or domestic animals. Biotechnology in the case of Monsanto is a step forward in the field of technology, and a step forward for us. Without technology, our nation would not be where it is today, and I hope we continue to push technology to its outer limits, if that is, those outer limits do actually exist. Like most technological advancements and breakthroughs, problems arise depending on the willingness and readiness of us humans to accept the new form of technology. Biotechnology can be broadly defined as: using living organisms or their products for commercial use. The company Monsanto, specializes in biotechnology both in the pharmaceutical and agricultural fields.

The article "Playing God in the Garden" written by Michael Pollan discusses the topic of biotechnology in the field of agriculture, and touches greatly upon the New Leaf Superior, one of Monsanto's agricultural products which focuses on potato farmers. This New Leaf Superior product is basically a super-form of a potato. This super potato was genetically engineered by scientists in Monsanto's St. Louis research lab to automatically repel any Colorado Potato Beetle - a potato farmers worst enemy. The intent of this New Leaf Superior is to assist farmers in farming potatoes, and as Monsanto states on its website (web), it is clearly having an effect on farming".

[The New Leaf Superior] is more effective against potato leaf roll virus than any insecticide program, and it also prevents rotting and internal defects. As a result, it reduces insecticide use by over 80 percent, increases processor throughput, reduces inputs, protects yields and improves quality". I asked myself: "Why does Monsanto only allow farmers to grow one generation if they are trying to help them out" The answer took some thought but I came to a conclusion after Pollan explained the "software metaphor". Monsanto acts like a computer software company, only that the company does not revolve around a computer like a software company does. The company revolves around life. This company releases "software" which assists us in completing tasks, gaining knowledge, and succeeding.

Like all computer software companies, Monsanto includes a "CD key", so that reproduction and piracy would not be possible. This "CD key" is a gene added to the plant by Monsanto's scientists for identification purpose. After all, Monsanto did discover the New Leaf Superior, which obviously took a lot of research and development. Those against technology and it's advancement are most likely opposed to biotechnology as well. Included in the Unabomber's manifesto is his stressed position on technology and biotechnology. "Search the Unabomber Manifesto and you find the word 'computer' frequently used in conjunction with 'control' and 'technology.

' The serial bomber blames technology, especially computers, for a vast variety of social ills: the invasion of privacy, genetic engineering, and 'environmental degradation through excessive economic growth' " (Heim 27). It is clear to say that the Unabomber would most likely be against the New Leaf Superior because of the fact that it is genetically engineered. Yes obviously, the New Leaf is genetically engineered, rendering it artificial, but there is no real proven problem posed here. All of the problems with the New Leaf come from theories and ideas, which were never proven to be true. Pollan explains a telephone conversation with Andrew Kimbrell, the director of the Center for Technology Assessment, explaining a fear that the Unabomber most likely shares: " 'Biological pollution will be the environmental nightmare of the 21st century, ' he said when I reached him by phone.

'This is not like chemical pollution - an oil spill - that eventually disperses. Biological pollution us an entirely different model, more like a disease. Is Monsanto going to be held legally responsible when one of its transgene's creates a super weed or resistant insect' " (Pollan 4) Yes, Monsanto will be and should be held responsible if this happens, but my belief when touching upon technology is that we are always superior to it. A computer runs off of mathematical algorithms and binary code, which are both fabrications of man, putting the computer on a lower level than the programmer, as Heim describes, "The computer is a subordinate device". (Heim 33). Using the algorithms and binary code, a programmer is able to create anything he / she wants to within the boundaries of the computer.

The same concept applies for biotechnology; man being the programmer and nature being the computer... "One way to look at biotechnology is that it allows a larger portion of human intelligence to be incorporated into the plant itself" (Pollan 3) Biotechnology will always be subordinate to us because of the fact that we are the ones behind it. Like seen in many science fiction movies, when technology is able to expand itself on its own, is when we lose our position above it. If a resistance does happen, and the beetles do become resistant, Monsanto will be able to mend the problem, using the same research and technology they used while developing the New Leaf. In the world of computers, when a virus comes up, experts go to work dissecting the code of the virus to understand what it exactly does to the computer.

The programmers then go on to make a counter program which contains the code that will contradict the pattern of the virus, thus mending the problem. The term artificial comes into the picture when discussing the potatoes that the New Leaf plants create. These potatoes are artificial in the sense that their natural growth and makeup were tapped into and modified by man. Many see this as a health problem and are afraid to eat the them. "Last summer, biotech food emerged as the most explosive environmental issue in Europe.

Protesters have destroyed dozens of field trials of the very same 'frankenplants' (as they are sometimes called) that we Americans are already serving for dinner, and throughout Europe the public has demanded that biotech food be labeled in the market" (Pollan 1) In fact the potatoes are as safe to eat as organic potatoes, according to the FDA, which evaluated the nutrition and safety of the New Leaf product a numerous amount of times. "Monsanto, for its part, claims that it has thoroughly examined all the potential environmental and health risks of its biotech plants, and points out that three regulatory agencies - the U.S.D. A, the E.P.A. and the F.D.A. - have signed off on its products" (Pollan 4) Obviously, these potatoes were required to undergo numerous tests before they were open to consumers and farmers for purchase, which I believe is a worthy endorsement that the potatoes are safe to eat and grow. The new leaf potatoes fall into the same category as the artificial communities discussed in paper #3. An artificial, virtual community functions as a community, and delivers a sense of community gratification to users, such like the New Leaf Superior potato was developed by man, yet easily replaces an organic potato. Morality and ethics are also introduced when discussing the New Leaf and biotechnology. Individuals believe that humans are not in the position to meddle with nature, are not in the position to play god, yet some in the past and present, including myself, place technology before morality and ethics "Seventeenth century rationalists like Gottfried W. Leibniz and Rene Descartes pushed computation and mathematical physics far ahead of ethics and feelings.

The Cartesian revolution in philosophy put mathematical physics at the top of the list of priorities while ethics became the incidental victim of skeptical reasoning". (Heim 34) In Heim's terms, Monsanto is the idealist, those opposed to biotechnology, such as the Unabomber and the protesters in Europe are the na ve realists, and I, myself would be an optimist. I share the same view as Descartes and Leibniz, where technology comes before ethics and moral issues. Yes, I do have moral principles and I do think about them, but I believe that technology is essential to the advancement of man now and in the future. I would place Heim, the Unabomber, and those completely against technology in the category of those who are not willing to accept and who oppose the fact that our world is going through major technological advancement.

The change is quite evident, from the typical forms of communication to the new forms such as fax, email, and chat. The typical forms of agricultural development are now being moved in upon by technology. Like the Internet and many other technological advancements, biotechnology is being rejected by the whole. We need technology to learn more, to make more happen. Biotechnology, such as the New Leaf and other forms of genetic engineering aid greatly in the survival of the human race, although it is not noticed now, it may be noticed in the future. Technology is responsible for where our world is today.

Knowledge is power, and there is indeed, much knowledge through technology. Technology is a powerful tool, which we have complete control over..