3 answers
Sairam
Student
Providence, Rhode Island
9
Questions
Updated
1171 views
what is genetic engineering?
I want to know more about genetic engineering. #engineer #teaching #teacher #professor #science #career #career-counseling
Login to comment
3 answers
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
3705
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Sairam,
Genetic engineering, also known as gene editing or genetic modification, is a scientific discipline that focuses on modifying the genetic material of organisms to change their characteristics or develop new traits. This technique enables scientists to add specific genes into an organism's DNA, adjust or remove existing genes, or even shift genes between various species.
The primary objective of genetic engineering is to enhance the features of organisms for different uses, such as in agriculture, medicine, and research. By modifying an organism's genetic structure, scientists can boost its disease resistance, augment its productivity, enhance its nutritional content, or even generate completely new organisms with the desired traits.
Understanding Genetic Engineering:
The process of genetic engineering includes several vital steps:
1. Target gene identification: Scientists pinpoint the specific genes that are responsible for the trait they wish to introduce or alter.
2. Gene isolation: The target genes are separated from the DNA of another organism that has the desired trait, using methods like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or gene synthesis.
3. Gene insertion: The isolated genes are added to the DNA of the target organism using carriers like plasmids or viruses, which deliver the foreign genes into the cells of the host organism.
4. Integration and expression: After the foreign genes are added to the host organism's DNA, they become integrated and expressed, meaning they are utilized by the host organism to produce proteins or carry out specific functions.
5. Selection and breeding: Organisms that have successfully incorporated the desired genes are chosen and bred to ensure the modified traits are inherited by future generations.
Uses of Genetic Engineering:
Genetic engineering is used in a variety of fields:
1. Agriculture: Genetically modified crops (GMOs) are created to boost crop yield, enhance resistance to pests and diseases, and increase tolerance to environmental conditions like drought or salinity. Crops such as corn, soybeans, and cotton have been genetically modified to enhance their traits and are widely used in agriculture.
2. Medicine: Genetic engineering is crucial in developing pharmaceuticals and medical treatments. It is used to produce recombinant proteins, like insulin and growth hormones, which are used to treat various diseases. Gene therapy, a method that involves adding genes into a patient's cells to treat genetic disorders, is another significant use of genetic engineering in medicine.
3. Research: Genetic engineering is vital for scientific research and understanding gene functions. By modifying genes in model organisms like mice or fruit flies, scientists can study the impact of specific genes on development, behavior, and disease progression, contributing to advancements in fields like genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology.
Ethical Issues:
Genetic engineering brings up ethical issues due to its potential risks and implications:
1. Environmental impact: Releasing genetically modified organisms into the environment could have unintended consequences, like the transfer of modified genes to wild populations or ecosystem disruption.
2. Health risks: There are concerns about the long-term effects of consuming genetically modified foods on human health. Despite extensive studies showing no evidence of harm, some individuals remain wary.
3. Social and economic implications: The widespread use of genetically modified crops has raised issues about corporate control over agriculture and the potential marginalization of small-scale farmers who can't afford genetically modified seeds.
Top 3 Reliable Reference Publications/Domain Names:
1. National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) - www.genome.gov
2. World Health Organization (WHO) - www.who.int
3. Nature - www.nature.com
Genetic engineering, also known as gene editing or genetic modification, is a scientific discipline that focuses on modifying the genetic material of organisms to change their characteristics or develop new traits. This technique enables scientists to add specific genes into an organism's DNA, adjust or remove existing genes, or even shift genes between various species.
The primary objective of genetic engineering is to enhance the features of organisms for different uses, such as in agriculture, medicine, and research. By modifying an organism's genetic structure, scientists can boost its disease resistance, augment its productivity, enhance its nutritional content, or even generate completely new organisms with the desired traits.
Understanding Genetic Engineering:
The process of genetic engineering includes several vital steps:
1. Target gene identification: Scientists pinpoint the specific genes that are responsible for the trait they wish to introduce or alter.
2. Gene isolation: The target genes are separated from the DNA of another organism that has the desired trait, using methods like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or gene synthesis.
3. Gene insertion: The isolated genes are added to the DNA of the target organism using carriers like plasmids or viruses, which deliver the foreign genes into the cells of the host organism.
4. Integration and expression: After the foreign genes are added to the host organism's DNA, they become integrated and expressed, meaning they are utilized by the host organism to produce proteins or carry out specific functions.
5. Selection and breeding: Organisms that have successfully incorporated the desired genes are chosen and bred to ensure the modified traits are inherited by future generations.
Uses of Genetic Engineering:
Genetic engineering is used in a variety of fields:
1. Agriculture: Genetically modified crops (GMOs) are created to boost crop yield, enhance resistance to pests and diseases, and increase tolerance to environmental conditions like drought or salinity. Crops such as corn, soybeans, and cotton have been genetically modified to enhance their traits and are widely used in agriculture.
2. Medicine: Genetic engineering is crucial in developing pharmaceuticals and medical treatments. It is used to produce recombinant proteins, like insulin and growth hormones, which are used to treat various diseases. Gene therapy, a method that involves adding genes into a patient's cells to treat genetic disorders, is another significant use of genetic engineering in medicine.
3. Research: Genetic engineering is vital for scientific research and understanding gene functions. By modifying genes in model organisms like mice or fruit flies, scientists can study the impact of specific genes on development, behavior, and disease progression, contributing to advancements in fields like genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology.
Ethical Issues:
Genetic engineering brings up ethical issues due to its potential risks and implications:
1. Environmental impact: Releasing genetically modified organisms into the environment could have unintended consequences, like the transfer of modified genes to wild populations or ecosystem disruption.
2. Health risks: There are concerns about the long-term effects of consuming genetically modified foods on human health. Despite extensive studies showing no evidence of harm, some individuals remain wary.
3. Social and economic implications: The widespread use of genetically modified crops has raised issues about corporate control over agriculture and the potential marginalization of small-scale farmers who can't afford genetically modified seeds.
Top 3 Reliable Reference Publications/Domain Names:
1. National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) - www.genome.gov
2. World Health Organization (WHO) - www.who.int
3. Nature - www.nature.com
Shannon Kung
Performance Engineer at Barclays
39
Answers
Tallahassee, Florida
Updated
Shannon’s Answer
Hi Sairam,
Read through the below resources to get a start on learning more about genetic engineering.
https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-genetic-engineering
http://agbiosafety.unl.edu/basic_genetics.shtml
http://study.com/articles/Become_a_Genetic_Engineer_Education_and_Career_Roadmap.html
Read through the below resources to get a start on learning more about genetic engineering.
https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-genetic-engineering
http://agbiosafety.unl.edu/basic_genetics.shtml
http://study.com/articles/Become_a_Genetic_Engineer_Education_and_Career_Roadmap.html
Padmapriya Vijayabhaskaran
Team Lead
24
Answers
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Updated
Padmapriya’s Answer
Hi Sairam,
Genetic engineering refers to the direct manipulation of DNA to alter an organism’s characteristics (phenotype) in a particular way. Please refer the below videos,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IsQ92KiBwM
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-genetic-engineering-definition-benefits-issues.html
A genetic engineer can work in both private and public sectors. Genetic engineering graduates are required in government as well as private organizations. ... With the increasing number of biotech firms in India, the future scope in genetic engineering is good.
Genetic engineering refers to the direct manipulation of DNA to alter an organism’s characteristics (phenotype) in a particular way. Please refer the below videos,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IsQ92KiBwM
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-genetic-engineering-definition-benefits-issues.html
A genetic engineer can work in both private and public sectors. Genetic engineering graduates are required in government as well as private organizations. ... With the increasing number of biotech firms in India, the future scope in genetic engineering is good.