Rj's BIO BLOG

In other parts of the world, bio solids (human waste)from sewage treatment plants are treated and used as sustainable agriculture fertilizer. Research the pros and cons of this method and take as to whether this can be a realistic alternative to our current agricultural practices. Who are the potential stakeholders in the issue? Are we influenced by the western view of human waste as an unsanitary and disgusting nuisance?

The thing with every form of matter, is that it never simply "disappears" it always changes into a different form. Food is consumed and is turned into energy and waste. The waste gets flushed and depending where you are,it either is simply thrown into somewhere or used as a fertilizer. The process for creating biosolids is simple. First they take the raw sewage and strain it several times to remove the large chunks of waste, then the more harmful microorganisms in the waste are eaten by other microorganisms that feed on them. This is done continuously until the harmful bacterias are fully removed. Some of the "good" bacteria can even convert the "bad" bacteria into hydrogen and carbon dioxide gas which can then be converted into methane gas, and can be used to power several gas powered objects, including the plant itself.


The use of biosolids is a brilliant way of using our wastes to create even more produce, but why is'nt its use being widely accepted in the U.S? Many people still can't bare the thought of growing produce from human feces and waste. Also, it is still widely believed that the process that "cleans" the sewage doesn't remove all the harmful chemicals found in it like arsenic, copper, and the several medicines that have been consumed and excreted. But what some people don't know is that, the process of cleaning sewage and recycling the water is used both here in Canada and in the United States, it is up to the municipalities to decide what to do with the waste product; either burn it, bury it in a landfill or use it as biosolids. And that the water that is cleaned, is then poured again in the river that we use as a water resource, for us to consume, its a continuous cycle of resources.

The use of human feces or "night soil" as a fertilizer has been around since the ninth century in Japan, and even in ancient Athens. Its use is found heavily today, in under-developed countries like Ghana who use land which had been irrigated with human urine and feces to grow crops that produce vegetables to eat, because its an incredibly cheap alternative to the other fertilizer. Apparently, a study released by the university of Kupio in Finland, stated that human urine is the best substitute for water, to grow a plant; it will make it grow more rapidly because it is rich in nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate. The brave testers that ate the urine infused tomatoes used as a test plant, agreed that the tomatoes tasted "different", but decided that they were all equally good.

works cited:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosolids

http://www.compost.org/Biosolids_Composting_FAQ.pdf

http://www.perc.ca/PEN/2001-02/s-mills2.html

The use of artificial selection for breeding specially designed living organisms has been around for a long time. Artificial selection can be seen in almost everything we see from the fruits and vegetables we eat to the dogs we keep as pets. Selective breeding itself isn't too complicated, all it really boils down to is managing its reproduction process; for example I saw a National Geographic video on these genetically engineered cattle that were practically just walking mounds of muscle! These cows were created after years and years of selective breeding, they took the cows that were missing the gene that regulated muscle growth and made them mate only with cows with the same trait! Making generations and generations of cows with irregular amounts of muscle growth because of the missing gene! These "Belgian Blues"as they are called, literally weigh more than a ton!

“Designer babies” is the term being used by the media to describe the future of modifying or selecting our children’s genes for desirable characteristics (medical and cosmetic). Are things getting out of hand with our research into genetic processes? In this blog investigate social and ethical implications of this research and technologies that have been developed from it.




From a religious standpoint, I can understand why this is a major topic amongst people. We see it as tampering with mother nature and disturbing the natural order. The creation of "Designer Babies" in the near future could possibly make or break our future as a species. When you think about it, the countless few who managed to change the world dramatically did so, without being "perfect". In a few years scientists will have completed the "Human Genome Project" a scientific research project created to determine the complete structure of the human genetic material (or DNA). In this lifetime, we have evolved to the point where we can direct our own evolution. Imagine a race of "perfect" human beings running around in cities, all designed to live well past the age of a hundred. But what is "perfect" ? some people would want a kid who was as smart as Albert Einstein, as musically talented as Ray Charles, and as talented in oratory as JFK, but all these people were not "perfect" human beings; they did not have the "perfect" genome. Einstein had dyslexia, Ray Charles had Primary Glaucoma, and JFK had Addison's Disease. These men were put in history books despite their slight imperfections. If we were to have figured out how to create the perfect babies well before today, these people would have never been born.



Currently, there are two ways technology has replaced human reproduction. The first being IVF or In Vitro Fertilization. In this process, the ovulatory process is controlled by extracting the eggs from a woman's ovaries, and then releasing the sperm to fertilize them in a fluid. This is all done outside of the womb, thus the name "in vitro" or "within the glass". This technique was first used by Dr. Patrick Steptoe in 1978, when he and a team of scientists in Oldham, UK successfully gave birth to Louise Brown through the use of IVF. This technique is still being used today and can run around for 1,200$ to do such a procedure. The second is PGD or "preimplantation genetic diagnosis" this is done durinf the IVF process, where, after the embryo's are fertilized, they are screened for any possible genetic disorders. This allows the creation of a "perfect baby".



How far are we gonna go? I recently saw a movie called "Gattaca" in this movie, a large fraction of the population is genetically enhanced. The world has embraced the use of science as a means to create the perfect baby and doing so; has made the people born naturally into the social underclass. As they say in the movie: "We've got discrimination down to a science". The main protagoist is Vincent Freeman, he was born natrually within the womb. His brother on the other hand, was created as the perfect specimen and because so; made him the favorite. As the movie continues; him and his brother go swimming in the sea to see how far who could go the longest without chickening out and swimming back to shore. They used to do this all the time as kids, and his brother Anton would always be the clear winner. But one day in their teenage years, they begin their race again, but surprisingly Vincent is the clear winner; because Anton begins to drown halfway. Vincent saves him, and finally departs from his family. In the beggining of the movie; Vincent was given a 99% chance of having a heart problem, and he was given a 30 year lifespan. He had always dreamed about becoming an astronaut, but because of his "genetics" he is only accepted to do very menial jobs. In this future, job applications and social statuses are replaced by genetic reading. Applying for a job, simply consists of giving a DNA sample by blood, piss, or any other disposable human waste such as loose skin or hair. Vincent then decides to impersonate a "valid" specimen in order to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut. He does this by taking human samples from Jerome Morrow, who was destined to become the greatest track runner in history because of his genetics, but after coming second in a big name race, he decides to commit suicide. But he fails to, and instead paralyzes his spine leaving him in a wheelchair for life. So, he decides to "rent his identity" by giving samples to Vincent in order for him to become a celestial navigator. After a group of events that nearly compromises true Vincent's identity, he is able to pull through and eventually go up in to space.

This movie helped bring a full realization of what might happen in the near future, and the problems that would succumb. The entire sexual productive act is eliminated, and couples who decide to have a baby together, propose so by presenting a hair strand.

Many scientists consider humans as the most invasive species, humans can greatly change and environment and impact the living things that reside there. Are we being stewards of the world? Take a look at an issue in which human intervention has positively or negatively affected the biodiversity of our ecosystems?

Scientists are also begininning to try and clone previously extinct species, Just earlier this year, scientists were able to clone the "Pyrenean Ibex" which went extinct in the year 2000. Sadly the newbon clone diedminutes after birth. Sure, we are manipulating nature, but to re-write previous wrong doings; by introducing a previously extinct species in the wild, it could greatly affect the biodiversity in the ecosystem.


There are many negative impacts humanity has done that negatively affected biodiversity; pollution, de-forestation, extinction of various wildlife and many more. But then you have to keep in mind this was all to help us meet our needs. Pollution happens because it just so happens that the energy we use to heat food, power cars to travel long distances, etc. emits a harmful by-product. So until we find a new way to create energy, that doesn't involve installing million dollar fans or glass panes this is our only way of getting energy.Forests are torn down so it would provide an area where people can build housing for the sudden increase in population countries don't just tear down forests for no reason. Although it might be a sad realization, we can't live amongst animals in harmony, we can't just walk around the forest while singing and dancing with a bear about the importance of friendship.





Sources\Sites Read:

http://redpath-museum.mcgill.ca/Qbp/3.Conservation/impacts.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_footprint

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/02/090210-bucardo-clone.html

http://socyberty.com/issues/human-impact-on-earth/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Fish_and_Wildlife_Service

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Wildlife_Refuge