Yang Zhu

J. Tramper

According to Greek mythology Pandora was sent down to earth upon the orders of Zeus. She was given a mysterious box which she was not allowed to open. However, Pandora was very curious and when she arrived on earth she couldn't help taking a peek inside the box. She saw that it was filled with gifts and calamities and to her astonishment they all escaped and spread throughout humanity, with all the dire consequences thereof. Only hope was left at the bottom. Figuratively speaking, Pandora's box today represents a source of much suffering. Is modern biotechnology just such a Pandora's box, as the anti-biotechnology lobby would have us believe? Or can we selectively release the gifts and turn this new Pandora's box into a Panacea? Modern biotechnology makes use of the recombinant DNA technology to genetically modify microorganisms, plants and animals in order to make them more suitable for all kinds of applications, such as cultivating food crops, baking bread, making wine, antibiotics and hormones, xenotransplantation, and gene- and stem cell therapy. The book also particularly addresses the controversial aspects of these applications.

Panacea or new Pandora's box?

Modern Biotechnology

S. Bielecki

J. Polak

Food biotechnologists are expected to satisfy many requirements related to health benefits, sensory properties and possible long term effects associated with the consumption of food produced via modern biotechnology. The broad selection of papers contained in this book are grouped into the following four chapters; GMO in Food Biotechnology, Food Process and Food Products, Measurements and Quality Control, Legal and Social Aspects of Food Biotechnology. Special attention has focused on plant biotechnology during the last decade because transgenic plants can offer an increase in crop yield and are very economical sources of proteins and other products for industrial, pharmaceutical, veterinary and agricultural use. The content of this book covers many aspects of food biotechnology and presents the main trends and interdisciplinary information in this area.

J. Tramper

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