1.

Benefits of Biology
Biology is with us or inversely, we are in the middle of the world of biology. It
has been stated earlier that biology is highly beneficial to the improvement of human
welfare. Biology can be applied in different fields such as medicine, industry,
agriculture, animal husbandry, and others.
The branches of science which make use biology among others are as follows.

a. Agriculture
In agriculture, knowledge of biology has a very important role. By
implementing knowledge of botany, physiological anatomy, and genetics,
farmers can select and produce prime crops. Through genetic engineering,
food production can also be improved.
By combining various genes, a prime variety of crop such as rice
variety which is immune to ‘wereng’ pest and has high productivity can be
obtained. Cotton produced through genetic engineering, hybrid coconut,
and other prime crop varieties can be obtained.
People also make use of biology to eradicate pests. Biological pest
eradication is much safer than chemical pest eradication. In addition,
biological pest eradication can also maintain ecosystem balance and
biodiversity.

b. Animal Husbandry
By implementing knowledge of zoology, physiological anatomy,
embryology, taxonomy, and genetics, farmers can produce prime breeds
through insemination and crossbreeding. Examples of prime varieties of
animals are purebred chickens, broilers, milk cows, etc.

c. Medicine
Some branches of biology, such as anatomy, physiology,
microbiology, and pathology help doctors to cure particular diseases. Such
branches of biology help to find the problems occurring in certain organs
of the body and the causes of the problems.
The branches of biology can also help doctors to perform various
operations, repair or replace broken organs, and to get rid of diseased
 tissue or organs which do not function anymore. A surgeon can also take
away growth that disturbs the work of the body.

d. Industry
Men can identify types of animals and plants which can be used as raw
materials for industry by using knowledge of botany, taxonomy, zoology,
and microbiology. For example, botany can be used to find out that
cinchona bark can produce quinine for preventing and curing malaria.
Microbiology can be applied in the production of alcohol, soybean sauce,
tape (fermented cassava or rice), tempe (fermented soybean), and tofu
(soybean cake).

The role of biology in our life is so wide in scope that the development of a
nation may be judged by the nation’s development in biology.
Therefore, we should study biology more seriously, and this means that we
should prepare ourselves to participate in developing our country, especially in
advancing biotechnology.

2. Danger of Biology
The advances of sciences and technology have stimulated progress in biology
too. Researches are conducted by biologists to discover new things. However, the
progress can also endanger human life and the life other beings.
Some of the dangers of biological advances are as follows.

a. Biological Weapons
Biological weapons are deadly microorganisms which are multiplied
on purpose in a laboratory for a specific purpose. The microorganisms
which are often used are viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
Some countries have developed such biological weapons. These
weapons are very dangerous because even when only a small number of
the organisms 9including humans) in the area will be killed.
b. Cloning
Actually, cloning is important to obtain prime plants or animals. For
humans, cloning can also be used as a solution to the problem of infertile
couples because either the wife cannot produce ovum or the husband
cannot produce spermatozoa. Cloning can also be used to replace the
damaged cells in the body.
Despites the above advantages of biotechnological cloning, it remains
a subject of arguments among scientists, especially human cloning. Those
who are against human cloning consider it as intervention of God’s
creation and is therefore immoral.

c. Transgenic Method
Transgenic method is a spectacular product of biotechnology. This
method enables a certain variety of animal or plant to have prime
characteristics. But this biotechnological process may be dangerous if it is
not based on proper analysis and not well regulated and strictly controlled.
For example, it has been found out in Indonesia that transgenic cotton
plants contaminate the non-transgenic cotton plants nearby. This
contamination may stimulate the outbreak of pests because the pests have
become immune. Transgenic plants can even turn into weeds. Besides,
according to some opinions, consuming transgenic food may increase the
risk of intoxication, cancer, and allergy to certain food.

d. Human Genome Project

e. Genetic Pollution
Genetic pollution is the release of an organism that has mutated (mutant)
into the environment. If this happens, it will be very dangerous because it
can cause imbalance or damage to the ecosystem.