Science Spin March 2009

Science: Is there anything we shouldn't do?

Wild, dark times are rumbling toward us, and the prophet who wishes to write a new apocalypse will have to invent entirely new beasts, and beasts so terrible that the ancient animal symbols of St. John will seem like cooing doves and cupids in comparison.

HEINRICH HEINE, "Lutetia; or, Paris," Augsberg Gazette, 1842

In the Bible, the Book of Revelations is a story meant to inspire hope. However, it also carries a stark message. A warning to men that if they cease to respect God's awesome power, there will be severe consequences. In one passage, the apocalypse is foretold and the four terrible horsemen that announce the beginning of the end are mentioned: Conquest. Famine. War. Death.

In the modern world, we can sometimes forget these ancient passages, but are they still relevant to us? And what of the four horsemen? It looks as though the road is clear for now. Or is it...?

Look! A white horse. The one riding it has a bow. A crown was given to him. He went forth conquering so he might finish his conquest.

Stem cell research is potentially a goldmine in the medical profession. A stem cell is, according to the glossary of biotechnology terms, a "generic" cell that can make exact copies of itself indefinitely. In addition, a stem cell has the ability to produce specialised cells for various tissues in the body, such as heart muscle, brain tissue, and liver tissue. ...

This multi-purpose cell is a revelation in medicine as it can allow for the study of diseases which involve genetic changes- diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

In fact, stem cells can also solve the problems in transplantation. In the UK hundreds of people die each year whilst on the waiting-list for organ transplants. Stem cells from cloned embryos can be used to create organs, and this method has the added advantage that the patient's body will not reject the new tissue. However, the creation of embryonic stem cells has several moral implications. These embryos have the potential to develop into human beings, and it is this loss of a future life, some say, which makes it morally wrong.

If cloned embryos were used in this way, what other implications does it have? If a transplant patient can receive an organ, which was almost identical to the previous one except for being healthy and new, then surely we can renew our organs every now and again to keep them from dying out. We could even replace parts of our brain, although this has serious consequences on the state of conscience mind. In short, we could achieve a dream held by humans since time immemorial- Immortality! This might sound great, but like the false messiah on the white horse, it will only upset nature's cycle.

I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.

Genetic manipulation is not a new concept and has been used widely in medicine and industry. Certain bacteria can be modified to create insulin and there is no doubt that this has been a great achievement in medicine. In the future the problem of world hunger can be alleviated by creating crops that are: resistant to disease, drought and, most importantly, able to grow in less arable land. However, we do not fully understand the mechanics of genetics, and to proceed now might upset the balance of the ecosystem and shake the roots of evolution- a process which has taken millions of years.

In addition, we may wittingly create an organism which causes the extinction of all other crops by out competing them or by carrying a lethal disease. This downward spiral might exacerbate the problems that it tried to resolve and lead eventually to a worldwide famine.

Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

Physics seems to be a science that holds all the answers to our problems. Problems such as replacing our main energy source of fossil fuels with clean, safe energy from nuclear fusion and maybe even antimatter. Physics has given us wonderful things, such as quantum theory, electromagnetism and thermodynamics. (Things I cannot even begin to understand!)

On the other hand, since the mastery of the neutron in 1932, physics had opened the doors to atomic bombs. Had the neutron been discovered earlier, it is said that the atomic bomb would have been developed first in Europe, undoubtedly by the Germans.

Therefore, discoveries in this field might not always be a good thing as it may lead to a path of greater destruction and war.

I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.

The discovery of penicillin (an antibiotic) in 1952 seemed to be the end for pathogens. William Stewart, a U.S. surgeon-general even declared, The time has come to close the book on infectious diseases. We have basically wiped out infection in the United States. In fact, it only intensified the battle. Bacteria, like any organisms, have the capacity to evolve. They can form resistance to antibiotics and evolve to become more lethal strains.

If we waged war against viruses, there will only be one winner -- the virus. They can survive extreme conditions and have an unnerving ability to burst upon the world with new and devastating strains, and then vanishing altogether. Examples of this include the 1918 flu and the Great Spanish Flu epidemics, which had mortality rates in the hundred millions. No one can rule out the possibility of these viruses rising again from dormancy, especially if we try too hard to eradicate them using medicine.

There is no doubt that scientific advancements have improved health, convenience and a general quality of life for the human species. However, if we let ourselves get carried away, there could be disastrous consequences.

Future scientists must take into account the moral implications of their actions and weigh the good aginst the bad.

We are at the beginning of great scientific achievements, let us pray we do not find the end.

 

Bobby Tang won the runner-up prize in the 2008 REMEDI National Science Essay Competition for this piece.