They are therefore no different to any other derivative that comes from plant or mineral and has been altered to provide some useful medicinal diagnosis. Laypeople react with revulsion since they are unaware of the scientific steps that have gone into the procedure and resulted in a totally modified entity. Were they aware of this, ethical concerns may be obliterated.
Issue 20 -- Should the world continue to rely on oil as a major source of energy?
Issue Synopsis and Opinion
Energy researchers have developed a model called Hubbert's Curve that seems to indicate that oil is running out. As oil recovery technology has been introduced, this curve has lengthened leading some to say that we can continue relying on resources of oil. However, the curve is still there and contraction in oil supply has an enormous effect on the way that America functions in many aspects of its life.
There are two major dimensions to the oil crisis. The first is a management dilemma about how to control this reduction of oil that may pit business against business and raise taxes amongst other hugely unpalatable consequences.
The second is an industry crisis caused by an environmental threat of how to adjust the automotive industry to minimize the damage done to the environment by burning of fossil fuels. If the world has to resort to alternatives, the question is how the automotive industry should respond.
The Argument for relying on oil
The recent revolutionary advances in technology will overcome problems of oil shortages and yield sufficient quantities of oil for the foreseeable future.
Advances in technology include the following three areas:
1. Directional drilling
2. Horizontal drilling
3. 3-D Seismic technology
The argument for searching for alternative sources of energy
The peak of oil production, so-called Hubbert's Peak, was the important turning point in our species' relationship to petroleum. Then USA passed its oil peak in 1970 and since then production has dropped steadily. Since we continue consuming more and more oil, however, this means that we have import about two-thirds of our oil and this will only increase.
Some say that there is possibility of potentially large resources still to be found in America, but this is a miasma. Moreover, American natural gas-production is also declining at 5% a year despite frantic drilling, and there promises to be grater declines ahead.
Unless strong conservation efforts are implemented, the new scarcity of oil will destroy much that we have taken for granted in our lives. Changes will include climate change, epidemic disease and population overshoot.
There is no 'hydrogen economy', nor can we rescue our way of life with "renewables." The only solution may be nuclear power despite all its problems. And oil conservation. It is an emergency that we will have to get used to.
Analysis Annabelle Lever makes a very strong argument for her case, and is ultimately convincing in her assertion that the degree of manipulation necessary to create a patentable gene warrants their continued patentable nature without ethical fears entering the picture. While it is important to respect life and the building blocks of life and to ensure that these building blocks do not suddenly fall under ridiculous legal restrictions or controls, it
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Genetically Modified Foods: Rational for Topic Selection Genetically modified foods are frequently in the mainstream media, making them a highly relevant topic of discussion in the areas of genetic science and gene technologies. As with most technologies and techniques related to genetic science, genetically modified foods are controversial and thus politically charged issues. It is important to be armed with facts before forming an opinion about whether or not genetically modified
I wonder if Europe is experiencing similar issues with the motivation system for its examiners. They could be pushed into demanding higher quality. However, compared to the drops in the U.S., the drops in Europe are not as staggering. Or the quality of patent applications is genuinely decreasing. The bigger issue as I see it is trying to determine if the decrease in patent rates is directly indicative of an
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Genetics Nathan's mother died of Huntington's Disease, a genetic condition to which he may or may not have been predisposed. He opted not to take a genetic test, even when asked to do so by his employer. It was Nathan's right to opt out of the test, but Nathan claims discrimination and can make a case based on HR493, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. Likewise, the Council for Responsible Genetics is
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