Unit 8 Text Questions Review Questions

1. Briefly discuss some of the major advances or advantages in the biotech industry in the last 50 years by segment: medical, agricultural, and environmental/industrial.

2. What is “regenerative medicine?” What are the major advantages of this new medical application?

3. Briefly describe the meaning of immunotherapies in medicine. Distinguish between CAR-T and CRISPR. Are these considered immunotherapies?

4. What are the economic and social impacts of agritech or agricultural biotech?

5. Why do we say that environmental or industrial biotech represents the “third wave of biotechnology?”

Critical Thinking Questions

1. Biotechnology is becoming more and more important in medicine because of the accelerating role of chronic diseases and the potential of pandemics. The rise of these diseases and pandemics are especially apparent in emerging countries. What relationship is there between biotech, the rise of chronic disease and pandemics, and climate change?

2. Biodefense is a developing area of biotech. What is the role of governments in funding or participating in the development of products to counter bioterrorism?

3. One-third of US agricultural product exports are the result of genetic engineering. What could be the benefits? Drawbacks?

4. Briefly discuss the shared commonalities of biotech in medicine, biotech in agriculture, and biotech in environmental science.

5. Assume you are an investor or venture capitalist with several hundred million dollars to invest. You are attracted to biotech. In which area of biotech would you invest? Medicine? Agriculture? Environmental/industrial biotech? One or several areas? Discuss the pros and cons of your decision.