Mrs. Porter
AP Biology per.5
20 December 2012
“Largely through science, billions of us live in one small world, densely packed and intercommunicating. But science cannot help us decide what to do with that world, or how to live. Science can make a nuclear reactor, but it cannot tell us not to build it. Science can make pesticide, but cannot tell us not to use it. And our world starts to seem polluted in fundamental ways – air, and water, and land – because of ungovernable science.”
Humans have the ability to control the technology that they create but they cannot predict the following repercussions. There have been many times in history where fascinating technology came into the public and became famous for their usefulness. However, the effects and precautions that came along with this technology never reached the public until it became an issue. Exactly like lysogenic cycle in viral reproduction, the parasite, or the effect of the technology, hides in the nucleus of the host cell, copies itself, and exits sometimes undetected. Without limitations on science, the ability of humans to control the technology they create has put forth a lot of pollution on the Earth’s land. A huge land pollution that has been going on for centuries that has to do with humans using technology is habitat destruction. Humans have always cleared out land in order to build their own industries that will benefit their community. By industrializing the land, they do not realize that other organisms are suffering. Although this may affect the land indirectly, habitat destruction destroys and forces organisms out of their homes that they have built to survive. Habitat destruction lowers the population of the organisms and affects the biodiversity of the land. Nonexistent limits on science has allowed for humans to control technology that has caused pollution in the Earth’s waters. A lot of pollution in rivers, oceans, and lakes has to do with sewage from industrial buildings and homes connected through the pipelines. All the waste that humans have caused affects all the organisms that live in those bodies of water. Some of the creatures die off while others are mutated from the strong chemicals flowing in the water. The mutated organisms are at a disadvantage because their DNA is now damaged and the cell cycle must stop to repair the harmed cells. If they cannot repair the cells, the cells will go through apoptosis and just shut down. Another effect of pollution in local waters includes any diseases that may be spread. If humans are able to control technology, I believe that there should be some limits placed that will effectively treat and remove any contaminants in the water to protect water ecosystems. Technology controlled by humans created pollution in the air since science lacks restrictions. One of the greatest inventions was the car which was massively produced. As the technology advanced, more and more different models were produced to fit every individual need. Because of all the heavy motor vehicle activity, smog has drastically increased. Not only do cars cause smog but boats, trucks, buses, and any other motor powered vehicles that produce exhaust fumes also cause it. Power plants that burn coal cause smog and other toxic air pollution. I believe that there should be some new technology invented and used to reduce the emissions that cause pollution in the air. Disasters occur often because there are no restrictions that limit technology controlled by humans. A huge example of dangerous technology would be the assembly line that began when products were being mass produced. Back when the assembly line was in use, children, women, and other