TED ALİAĞA COLLEGE / 9-A
An Interview
Nisa AY - Irmak ÜNSAL
We are conducting an interview with
our biology teacher Ms. Işık Turcan,
who has been teaching biology
for over 19 years. She has a degree
in Biotechnology Applications
and teaching formation from Ege
University. She is also an active
scientist involved in countless
projects and experiments related
to healthcare, like studying the
effects of the extract of Momordica
Charantia (bitter melon) on breast
cancer cells, and also some
environmentally-related projects
like cleaning oil spills in the sea by
the use of human hair mats. During
this interview, we will be asking
Ms. Turcan three main questions
affiliated to Genetics and also a
major Environmental matter.
Interviewers: Hello Ms. Turcan.
First of all, we would like to express
our gratitude for taking the time to
answer our questions and support
our project. Let’s begin with our first
question which is about Genetics.
Should we edit our children’s
genomes?
Işık Turcan: Actually, it is the first
step to prevent crucial diseases
nowadays. For example, the parents
who suffer from hereditary diseases
could protect their offspring and
prevent them from carrying illnesses
through gene therapy. On the
other hand, editing the children’s
genomes could be misused and
lose its health-related purpose from
therapy to enhancement. Which
might create social and ethical
concerns and inequalities with
dangerous consequences.
Interviewers: Oh, that sounds like
a science fiction alternate reality!
Remaining with the topic of genetic
modification, in relation to farming
which is crucial for our survival as
a species; GMO-based crops have
proven to be a great solution to
many environmental and nutrition
challenges. Should all of our crops
be GMO-based?
Işık Turcan: Firstly, GMOs are
intended to fight hunger worldwide.