Connections to economic systems

Connections to economic systems

Hello, everyone! As you guys know MsKwan recently has instructed to read a book,so we've been reading the science novel named "Oryx and Crake" which talks about the only man -- Jimmy  survives after the terrible doom caused by the calamity of one unstoppable pestilence around the whole world. The reason is the overdeveloped biotechnology. Biotechnology is the most crucial element in this book, and most readers are interested in what exactly it is. "What effects would this technology bring to world economic issue?" is one of hot questions people want to ask. Well, fortunately, this is what am I going to talk about today.

  First of all, lets define what biotechnology is. Biotechnology, the use of living cells and bacteria in industrial and scientific processes. Military, agriculture, medicine and environment are all the fields biotechnology able to be involved. This mysterious technology has the ability to intensify our lives markedly while it brings the society great deal of improvement of finances.

  In military, various useful weapons would be invented based on bio-tech, then produce and sell. I'm sure other countries that have lower tech. would offer an acceptable price.

  In agriculture, biotechnology can increase the efficiency of producing and make up more kind of fruits and vegetables, which couldn't be good ways to make much more benefits?

  Especially in medical realm, bio-tech would bring unprecedented improvement of finances. Lets make a easy example: as you know, clone is one of technology under bio-tech, and we're also able to clone organs! That means once people get serious disease on one of organs or lose one part of their body such as arm or lag, doctor can clone a new one totally same as the old one in order to replace the broken one by bio-tech. I think no matter how overstate the price is people are still willing to pay for it, which we can know how horrible the benefits the hospital will get.

  In conclusion, undoubtedly, biotechnology will bring us countless economic benefits, which can make our lives better. But, however, things will develop in the opposite direction when they become extreme. Flaws of this tech are obvious as well as its advantage. Bio-tech may lead human to destruction if we use this great power in inappropriate way.

  

By Claude

Setting

               In Oryx and Crake, written by Margaret Atwood, there are various settings. However, there are two main settings which are near future society where "Jimmy" lives and post apocalypse wasteland where "Snowman" lives. 
               The book starts off with the main character "Snowman" wakes up at the tree near a beach with no one beside him. The setting of wasteland simply shows the emptiness of the world caused by the genetic technology and the almost "extinction" of real humanity. Although in the book we can see that there are inhabitants live on this wasteland however they all have been genetically modified. "Crakers"-which looks like human but it is genetically enhanced super human. Animals such as "Pigoon"and "Bobkitten" do not behave like what the original "carriers" which are pigs and cats. These once tamed animals are becoming aggressive to inhabitants live on the land and also to "Snowman".
               In the near future society where "Jimmy" lives is a lot different from the wasteland "Snowman"lives. Jimmy lives in a society where Bio genetic technology is rapidly developed, however without consideration of consequences. The best way to look at this is the creation of "Pigoon". The goal of this project is to grow human tissues on a pig host. This is simply not ethic. In addition, entertainments such as pornography is almost available to everyone in the society and it is really simple to skip the age restriction. Suicide and execution are standard viewing materials.
               Setting plays a huge role in this book. Through settings, we are able to picture the characteristics of everyone and how and why they behave like this. Also, settings in this book help to promote the plot and theme of this wonderful story.

By Gary Jiang