The world is continually progressing, and biotechnology has found a way to create a variety of products in larger quantities, at unprecedented rates. However, the repercussions of such technology have sparked controversy: one specific area of ​​debate has been the use of bovine somatotropin (BST), a growth hormone that increases lactation levels in cattle. Prior to 1994, BST was only available by post-mortem extraction from the pituitary gland of cows, making it impractical for general use; however, recombinant DNA technology has enabled the development of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST). Recombinant DNA can be mass-produced, meaning growth hormones could be used in unprecedented quantities. While rBSTs may be superficially beneficial, some evidence suggests that their use produces more harm than good. Due to its negative ecological effect, minimal economic benefit, and inherent ethical issues (potentially harmful to both cows and humans), the use of rBST should be limited, if not banned outright. Although cows given rBST can theoretically produce more milk, they tend to have more health problems than untreated cows. One way this manifests itself is by reducing pregnancy rates in cattle. Some studies have shown that cows treated with rBST are 40% less fertile than their untreated counterparts (Organic Valley, 2012). Inherently, low fertility negatively affects the herd, because maximum reproduction allows for genetic diversity. A limited gene pool in any species increases the risk of mutations in offspring. Fortunately, not enough cows are currently being treated with growth hormone for this to become a big problem; however, awareness of the possible risks of hormone treatment is critical to keeping livestock healthy. C...... half of the article ...... h potential danger as recombinant bovine somatotropin is an unforgivably reckless act. Works Cited American Cancer Society. Find out more about cancer. (February 2, 2011) http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/recombinant-bovine-growth-hormoneBurnside, EB; Leitch, H. W. Bovine somatotropin: a boon for the 1990s?. (July 1986) http://cgil.uoguelph.ca/pub/articles/bovine.htmlButler, L.J. The Profitability of rBST on U.S. Dairy Farms. (1999) http://www.agbioforum.org/v2n2/v2n2a08-butler.htmDepartment of Animal Science. Mastitis in dairy cows. http://animsci.agrenv.mcgill.ca/courses/450/topics/13.pdfDrugs.com. Posilac.(April 29, 2012) http://www.drugs.com/vet/posilac.htmlOrganic Valley Family Farms. Frequently Asked Questions about rBGH.(2012) http://www.organicvalley.coop/why-organic/synthetic-hormones/about-rbgh/