Section 1.2 “Biology in Your World” Biologists address problems like the growing human population, increasing damage to the environment, and life- threatening diseases.

Overpopulation World’s pop is over 6 billion people! What problems are associated with so many people? China’s unique problem problem World POPClock Projection U.S. POPClock Projection

Losing Rainforests What’s the big deal? The world’s TRF are home to one-half of the world’s species of plants & animals. We would lose more than a million species (greatest extinction since the dinosaurs!); potential foods & medicines are being destroyed.

The TRF are being destroyed at the rate of more than an acre per second. At this rate, all of the rain forests will be gone in less than 30 years.

Possible solution to feeding a growing population Genetic engineers are transplanting beneficial plant genes into other plants to create crops that are more resistant to insects and microorganisms. It is hopeful that these genetically engineered crops will reduce the need for insecticides and increase crop yields.

Biology Advances in Fighting Disease 1.Aids (Auto Immunodeficiency Disorder)- Intensive research to find a way to help those already suffering and to halt the spread of the disease Hiv vaccinevaccine 2. Cancer- The number of people with cancer is increasing despite research that has found that many cancer deaths are preventable. cancercancer vaccine

3. Cystic fibrosis- currently, scientists are working on the replacement of a defective gene with a normal gene. This procedure is called gene therapy. cf