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Although many people say they would like to use something like this type of technology for their own children, there still is certain concern about gene-editing, especially among parents with minor children. Also, it is proved that religious people are more likely to not want to use genetic engineering in their families than non or less religious people. Conclusively, public opinion in gene-editing technology is not fully trusted or accepted by most citizens.

APA:
2. U.S. public opinion on the future use of gene editing. (2020, August 20). Pew Research Center Science & Society. https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2016/07/26/u-s-public-opinion-on-the-future-use-of-gene-editing/

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Plant-based Genetic Engineering Examples

Pesticide-Resistant Rapeseed Plants.

Plants That Fight Pollution.

Golden Rice.

Faster-Growing Trees.

Bigger, Longer-Lasting Tomatoes.

Insecticide Corn.

Non-Crying Onions.

APA: Betts, J. (UNKNOWN DATE) Examples of Genetic Engineering: Success Stories and Origins. Retrieved February 1, 2022, from https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-genetic-engineering.html

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Examples of Genetic Engineering: Success Stories and Origins

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Genetic engineering examples give insight into the possibilities of this process. Explore successful examples of genetic engineering and their origins.

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CRISPR is a technology used to edit genes.
firstly, they. find a specific bit of DNA in a cell. then they alter that cell. CISPR can also turn genes on and off without modifying the DNA. CRISPR technology also has the ability to potentially transform medicine, enabling us to treat  and prevent many diseases. They may even decide to use it to change the genes of future children. Many people are against this and say its very unethical, however some people say that it could benefit children in the future. CRISPR has been used to experiment with gene-edited mosquitos to reduce the spread of malaria

APA: unknown author (unknown date), retrieved on february 1 2022 from https://www.newscientist.com/definition/what-is-crispr/#:~:text=CRISPR%20is%20a%20technology%20that,alter%20that%20piece%20of%20DNA.

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CRISPR is a technology that can be used to edit genes and, as such, will likely change the world.

The essence of CRISPR is simple: it's a way of finding a specific bit of DNA inside a cell. After that, the next step in CRISPR gene editing is usually to alter that piece of DNA. However, CRISPR has also been adapted to do other things too, such as turning genes on or off without altering their sequence.

There were ways to edit the genomes of some plants and animals before the CRISPR method was unveiled in 2012 but it took years and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. CRISPR has made it cheap and easy.

CRISPR is already widely used for scientific research, and in the not too distant future many of the plants and animals in our farms, gardens or homes may have been altered with CRISPR. In fact, some people already are eating CRISPRed food.

CRISPR technology also has the potential to transform medicine, enabling us to not only treat but also prevent many diseases. We may even decide to use it to change the genomes of our children. An attempt to do this in China has been condemned as premature and unethical, but some think it could benefit children in the future.

CRISPR is being used for all kinds of other purposes too, from fingerprinting cells and logging what happens inside them to directing evolution and creating gene drives.

The key to CRISPR is the many flavours of "Cas" proteins found in bacteria, where they help defend against viruses . The Cas9 protein is the most widely used by scientists. This protein can easily be programmed to find and bind to almost any desired target sequence, simply by giving it a piece of RNA to guide it in its search.

When the CRISPR Cas9 protein is added to a cell along with a piece of guide RNA, the Cas9 protein hooks up with the guide RNA and then moves along the strands of DNA until it finds and binds to a 20-DNA-letter long sequence that matches part of the guide RNA sequence. That's impressive, given that the DNA packed into each of our cells has six billion letters and is two metres long.

What happens next can vary. The standard Cas9 protein cuts the DNA at the target. When the cut is repaired, mutations are introduced that usually disable a gene. This is by far the most common use of CRISPR. It's called genome editing - or gene editing - but usually the results are not as precise as that term implies.

CRISPR can also be used to make precise changes such as replacing faulty genes - true genome editing - but this is far more difficult.

Customised Cas proteins have been created that do not cut DNA or alter it in any way, but merely turn genes on or off : CRISPRa and CRISPRi respectively. Yet others, called base editors, change one letter of the DNA code to another .

So why do we call it CRISPR? Cas proteins are used by bacteria to destroy viral DNA. They add bits of viral DNA to their own genome to guide the Cas proteins, and the odd patterns of these bits of DNA are what gave CRISPR its name: clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. Michael Le Page

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CRISPR is a technology that can be used to edit genes and, as such, will likely change the world. The essence of CRISPR is simple: it's a way of finding a specific bit of DNA inside a cell. After that, the next step in CRISPR gene editing is usually to alter that piece of DNA.

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Opinions in favour about Genetic Engineering

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Opinions in favour about Genetic Engineering

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Main idea:
Even though the pros of Genetic Engineering may not be as understood as the cons, there are lots of advantages that science can only get by studying and working in this particular area of study.

Arguments/Facts:
-Defeating diseases
-Elimination of all illnesses in young and unborn children
-Increase life expectancy
-Produce new foods
-Faster growth in animals and plants
-Pest and disease resistance

Dialogue:
In my opinion, I do not agree that genetic engineering is good and ethical, but it is true that I have seen several positive points. One of those was that thanks to genetic engineering there is much more life expectancy compared with many years ago.

Summary:
Even though the pros of Genetic Engineering may not be as understood as the cons, there are lots of advantages that science can only get by studying and working in this particular area of study. Some of the advantages are the increase of life expectancy in human being, defeating disseases in children before they have even borned and the production of new foods, which you can eat them in extremely weather conditions. Without forgetting the faster growth in plants and animals, and also the pest and disease resistance, which thanks to genetic engineering the plant's genes can be altered to make them more resistent to diseases and pets. In my opinion, I do not agree that genetic engineering is good and ethical, but it is true that I have seen several positive points. One of those was that thanks to genetic engineering there is much more life expectancy compared with many years ago.

Reference APA style:
(2020, June 29) Various Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering For Cloning and Transformation. Conserve Energy Future. https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-genetic-engineering.php

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Various Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering For Cloning and Transformation - Conserve Energy Future

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‘Genetic engineering’ is the process to alter the structure and nature of genes in human beings, animals or foods using techniques like molecular cloning and transformation. In other words, it is the process of adding or modifying DNA in an organism to bring about a great deal of transformation.

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Main idea:
The cons of genetic material perhaps might be more obvious than the pros as there are a great number of disadvatages such as human suffering or ecological disasters that are scientifically proven.

Arguments/Facts:

It is considered "not right" or "unethical".

It can lead to genetic defects.

It can have negative and irreversible side effects that can lead to conequences    not yet known.

It can reduce nutritional value.

Pathogens can adapt to the new genetic profiles and be risky.

Unfavorable diversity.

Dialogue:

In my opinion, this text has really good arguments and I agree with most of them. I think that in order to make genetic engineering work, it should be further investigated by professionals, as there are too many factors that could negatively affect the process.

Summary
The cons of genetic material perhaps might be more obvious than the pros as there are a great number of disadvatages such as human suffering or ecological disasters that are scientifically proven. Other disadvantages include factors like a debate whether it is an ethical process or not and that it could lead to certain genetic defects. This happens because even though scientists have a very good idea and knowledge of the human body, they dont 100% know it works. They could eliminate a disease and accidentally create a new and more dangerous one or genetically engineer babies still in the womb and cause miscarriages or premature birth. Even through all of this is unlikely, it is still possible and not fully safe.

APA
R. (2020, June 29). Various Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering For Cloning and Transformation. Conserve Energy Future. https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-genetic-engineering.php

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Various Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering For Cloning and Transformation - Conserve Energy Future

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‘Genetic engineering’ is the process to alter the structure and nature of genes in human beings, animals or foods using techniques like molecular cloning and transformation. In other words, it is the process of adding or modifying DNA in an organism to bring about a great deal of transformation.

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1. DNA extraction-
taking a sample of bacteria containing the gene of interest and taking it through a series of steps that separate the DNA from the other parts of a cell.
2. Gene Cloning-
Scientists use gene cloning to separate the single gene of interest from the rest of the DNA extracted
3. Gene Design
This process is designing the gene to work once inside a different organism. This is done in a test tube by cutting the gene apart with restriction enzymes and replacing certain regions

APA:
Walter Suza, Donald Lee, Marjorie Hanneman, and Patricia Hain. (unknown date)Genetic Engineering.Retrieved from https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/genagbiotech/chapter/genetic-engineering/

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Walter Suza; Donald Lee; Marjorie Hanneman; and Patricia Hain

Introduction

The production of genetically engineered plants became possible after Bob Fraley and others succeeded to use Agrobacterium tumefaciens to transform plant cells with recombinant DNA in the early 1980s (Vasil, 2008a). Since this breakthrough in plant biotechnology, GM crops are now routinely developed and grown in many parts of the globe. Current statistics on adoption of genetically engineered crops in the U.S. can be found on the USDA Economic Research Service's website.

Genetic engineering has been used successfully to develop novel genes of economic importance that can be used to improve the genetics of crop plants. Genetic engineering is the targeted addition of a foreign gene or genes into the genome of an organism. The genes may be isolated from one organism and transferred to another or may be genes of one species that are modified and reinserted into the same species. The new genes, commonly referred to as transgenes, are inserted into a plant by a process called transformation. The inserted gene holds information that will give the organism a trait (Figure 1).

Crop genetic improvement (plant breeding) is an important tool but has limitations. First, in conventional terms, genetic improvement can only be done between two plants that can sexually mate with each other. This limits the new traits that can be added to those that already exist in that species. Second, when plants are mated, (crossed), many traits are transferred along with the trait of interest including traits with undesirable effects on yield potential.

Genetic engineering, on the other hand, is not bound by these limitations. It physically removes the DNA from one organism and transfers the gene(s) for one or a few traits into another. Since crossing is not necessary, the 'sexual' barrier between species is overcome. Therefore, traits from any living organism can be transferred into a plant. This method is more specific in that a single trait can be added to a plant.

The overall process of genetic engineering. A basic explanation of the five steps for genetically engineering a crop is provided. The five steps are:

1. Locating an organism with a specific trait and extracting its DNA.

2. Cloning a gene that controls the trait.

3. Designing a gene to express in a specific way.

4. Transformation, inserting the gene into the cells of a crop plant.

5. Cross the transgene into an elite background.

Step 1: DNA Extraction

The process of genetic engineering requires the successful completion of a series of five steps and discoveries. To better understand each of these, the development of Bt maize will be used as an example.

Before the genetic engineering process can begin, a living organism that exhibits the desired trait must be discovered. The trait for Bt maize (resistance to European corn borer) was discovered around 100 years ago. Silkworm farmers in the Orient had noticed that populations of silkworms were dying. Scientists discovered that a naturally occurring soil bacteria was causing the silkworm deaths. These soil bacteria, called Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt for short, produced a protein that was toxic to silkworms, the Bt protein.

Although the scientists did not know it, they had made one of the first discoveries necessary in the process of making Bt corn. The same Bt protein found to be toxic to silkworms is also toxic to European corn borer because both insects belong to the Lepidoptera order. The production of the Bt protein in the bacteria is controlled by the bacteria's genes.

To be able to work with the gene responsible for making the Bt toxin, scientists must extract DNA from the Bt bacteria (Figure 2). This is accomplished by taking a sample of bacteria containing the gene of interest and taking it through a series of steps that separate the DNA from the other parts of a cell.

Step 2: Gene Cloning

The second step of the genetic engineering process is gene cloning. During DNA extraction, all the DNA from the organism is extracted at once. This means the sample of DNA extracted from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria will contain the gene for the Bt protein, but also all the other bacterium's genes. Scientists use gene cloning to separate the single gene of interest from the rest of the DNA extracted (Figure 2).

The next stages of genetic engineering will involve further study and experimentation with this gene. To do that, a scientist needs to have thousands of exact copies of it. This copying is also done during the gene cloning step.

Step 3: Gene Design

Gene design relies upon another major discovery. This was the 'One gene One enzyme' Theory first proposed by George W. Beadle and Edward L. Tatum in the 1940's. Discoveries made during their research laid the groundwork for the theory that a single gene stores the information that directs the cell in how to produce a single enzyme (protein). Therefore, there is a single gene that controls the production of the Bt protein. It is called the Bt gene.

Once a gene has been cloned (Figure 2), genetic engineers begin the third step, designing the gene to work once inside a different organism. This is done in a test tube by cutting the gene apart with restriction enzymes and replacing certain regions (Figure 3).

Scientists replaced the bacterial gene promoter with promoters turn on the Bt gene in selected parts of the plant or promoters that can always turn on the Bt gene in all tissues. As a result, the first Bt gene released was designed to produce a level of Bt protein lethal to European corn borer and to only produce the Bt protein in green tissues of the corn plant, (stems, leaves, etc.). Later, Bt genes were designed to produce the lethal level of protein in all tissues of a corn plant, (leaves, stems, tassel, ear, roots, etc.).

Plant transformation and tissue culture

The process of transformation involves the insertion of the desired transgene construct (Figure 5) into cells of the recipient plant species. In this process, scientists isolate tissue or cells from the cultivar they wish to transform and use one of several methods to insert the transgene into the tissue or cells. The transgene construct contains the following key features.

1. A promoter that acts to turn the gene on and off in the cell. The CaMV 35s promoter from the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) is commonly used in genetic engineering. Other types of promoters, such as, the nopaline synthase promoter (NOS-Pro) also may be used to express transgenes in plant tissues.

2. A selectable marker that is used to select cells that successfully obtained the construct during the transformation process. In figure 4, the selectable marker in the construct is NPT II (Kanr) that controls resistance to the antibiotic kanamycin. The cells of the plant used for transformation will be grown on a media containing the antibiotic. Other selectable markers that have been used successfully in plants include genes controlling herbicide resistance.

3. A terminator sequence, such as the nopaline synthase (NOS) is included to mark the end of the transgene sequence for proper expression in plant cells.

Two commonly used transformation methods include Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation and biolistics transformation (aka gene gun), commonly referred to as particle bombardment (Figure 5). The biolistics method involves the use of high pressure to propel tungsten or gold beads coated with DNA of the gene construct into plant cells.

Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation

Crown galls are tumors of plants that arise at the site of infection by some species of the Agrobacterium. Agrobacteria do not enter the plant cells but transfer a DNA segment called T-DNA from their circular extra chromosomal tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid into the genome of the host cells. Ti plasmids are maintained in Agrobacteria because a part of their T-DNA contains genes that encode unusual amino acids used by Agrobacterium. The T-DNA also encodes genes that affect host plant hormone physiology resulting in induced growth of the infected cells and tumor formation. Scientists took advantage of Agrobacterium's ability to stably integrate its T-DNA into the plant genome for introducing rDNA into plant cells. They first removed the genes that cause tumor or crown gall disease in plants from the T-DNA and engineered the plasmid for replication in both Escherichia coli and Agrobacterium cells. The initial replication of the construct in E. coli is useful for verifying the presence of the cloned gene and increasing the quantity of construct DNA for subsequent uses, including sequencing and transformation into Agrobacterium.

The steps in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of plants are described in Figure 6.

At present, very few host cells receive the construct during the transformation process. Each random insertion of the construct into the genome of plant cells is referred as an event. Useful events are rare because of the random nature of the transformation process. Selectable markers are very important because they allow the identification of the rare events (Figure 7). Scientists must screen many potential transformants to identify events that are useful for breeding.

From there, the new DNA may or may not be successfully inserted into a chromosome. The cells that do receive the new gene are called transgenic and are selected from those that are not transgenic (Figure 7). Many types of plant cells are totipotent meaning a single plant cell can develop into an entire plant. Therefore, each transgenic cell can then develop into an entire plant which has the transgene in every cell. The transgenic plants are grown to maturity in greenhouses and the seed they produce, which has inherited the transgene, is collected. The genetic engineer's job is now complete. He/she will hand the transgenic seeds over to a plant breeder who is responsible for the final step.

Inheritance of a transgene in plants

Transformation is successful when a transgene is incorporated into one of the chromosomes. The cells that have only one copy of the transgene in their genomes are said to be hemizygous (hemi = half, zygous = zygote). Because the segregation in the progeny of a hemizygous plant is the same as for a heterozygous plant, the term heterozygous will be used in this course when referring to a plant that is not homozygous for the transgene. The trait will segregate in the progeny in the same manner as any other gene in the plant as illustrated below (Figure 8).

Step 5: Backcross Breeding

The fifth and final part of producing a genetically engineered crop is backcross breeding (Figure 9). Transgenic plants are crossed with elite breeding lines using traditional plant breeding methods to combine the desired traits of elite parents and the transgene into a single line. The offspring are repeatedly crossed back to the elite line to obtain a high-yielding transgenic line. The result will be a plant with a yield potential close to current hybrids that expresses the trait encoded by the new transgene.

The Process of Plant Genetic Engineering

The entire genetic engineering process is basically the same for any plant. The length of time required to complete all five steps from start to finish varies depending upon the gene, crop species, and available resources. It can take anywhere from 6-15+ years before a new transgenic hybrid is ready for release to be grown in production fields.

The tissue culture process of regenerating transgenic plants from callus may result in genetic variation that is not associated with the transgene. Also, the parent line used for transformation commonly is selected for the frequency with which useful events can be obtained and not its agronomic performance. Therefore, transgenes are incorporated into commercial cultivars by conventional breeding procedures, such as backcrossing.

References

Vasil, I. K. (2008) A short history of plant biotechnology. Phytochem 7: 387-394.

Vasil, I. K. (2008) A history of plant biotechnology: from the Cell Theory of Shleiden and Schwann to biotech crops. Plant Cell Rep 27: 1423-1440.

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Walter Suza; Donald Lee; Marjorie Hanneman; and Patricia Hain The production of genetically engineered plants became possible after Bob Fraley and others succeeded to use Agrobacterium tumefaciens to transform plant cells with recombinant DNA in the early 1980s (Vasil, 2008a). Since this breakthrough in plant biotechnology, GM crops are now routinely developed and grown in many parts of the globe.

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Fascinating Facts about Genetic Engineering

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Fun Facts about Genetic Engineering:

- The first genetically modified organism to be created was a bacterium, in 1973.
- In the year 1974, the same methods were applied to mice.
- In the year 1994, the first genetically modified foods were       made.
- Genetic engineering has a number of useful applications,  including scientific research, agriculture and technology.
- Thanks to genetic enginnering, plants had improved in resilience, growth rate and nutritional value.
- Genetically modified animals are helping to allow scientists to learn more about diseases such as Alzeimer.
- The most common genetic engineering test subjects are  mice and zebrafish.
- Genetic engineering can be used in any organism.

APA:
McFadden, C. (2021, February 18). 11 Facts about Genetic Engineering and Why It’s Important. Interesting Engineering. https://interestingengineering.com/happy-dna-day-11-facts-about-genetic-engineering-and-why-its-important

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Genetic engineering is one of the most important developments in human history. Controversy and ethical concerns aside, the ability to manipulate the very genetic code of organisms is a very powerful tool.

With modern techniques like CRISPR, genetic engineering could, very well, allow us to cure any diseases in the future, or produce crops with yields hitherto only ever dreamed of. We may even be able to bring back long-extinct animals.

Let's just make sure we take note of the warnings of Michael Crichton from his "Jurassic Park" novels.
RELATED: GENETIC ENGINEERING TOOLS ALLOW FOR MORE EASILY MODIFIED PLANTS
What are some interesting facts about genetic engineering, and why it is important?

So, without further ado, here are some interesting facts about genetic engineering and why it is important. This list is far from exhaustive and is in no particular order.

1. The first genetically modified animal was created in 1973

GMO HISTORY:
"An enormous breakthrough in GMO technology came in 1973, when Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen worked together to engineer the first successful genetically engineered (GE) organism." It was a mouse! pic.twitter.com/ANdFbzm6RH
- Yes to GMOs (@GmosYes) February 12, 2020

The very first genetically modified organism, GMO for short, was actually a bacteria back in 1973. This new strain of E. coli bacteria was altered to become resistant to the antibiotic .

Mice became the first animal to be genetically modified around the same time.

Insulin-producing GMO bacteria became a thing in 1982 and were quickly commercialized. GMO plants for food have actually been around since 1994, including many varieties of edible crops.

2. Genetically engineered things are actually all around us

So, do GM enzymes improve your laundry detergent's ability to break apart those tough stains?? #science #BETigers #behsscience #biotech #gmo pic.twitter.com/W7psp1ROZP
- Gretchen Kraig-Turner (@MsKT_Science) March 3, 2018

Genetic engineering techniques are used widely today for research, agriculture, industrial biotechnology, and medicine. For example, genetically modified enzymes used in laundry detergent or medicine like insulin and human growth hormone can now be readily created in GMO cells.

Genetic engineering is, in effect, all around us today.

3. Some of the most common genetic engineering test subjects are mice and zebrafish

Quizalofop-P-ethyl, a #pesticide that will be sprayed on some new GM crops, is an endocrine disruptor in zebrafish https://t.co/DzUzLUjdSG pic.twitter.com/sJ9Ddz5ieY
- Robin Mesnage (@Robin_Mesnage) February 28, 2017

Some of the most common animal test subjects for genetic engineering are mice and zebrafish. Both have relatively short lifespans, and so any modifications to their DNA can be assessed very quickly in the growing animal.

Zebrafish are particularly useful as their larval phase is, more or less, completely translucent. This allows researchers to easily see what's going on inside the infant fish as a result of genetic modifications made.

4. Genetic modification is something of an ethical dilemma

Very interesting @pewresearch survey on the ethics of genetic engineering - generally if there is human benefit people support it but also broad opposition for religious and other reasons https://t.co/uXnTL69JRf pic.twitter.com/DU1ST8hWdM
- Ross Dawson (@rossdawson) August 19, 2018

While the practical benefits of genetic engineering are readily demonstratable, there are some ethical and ecological concerns around them. For example, genetic modification of human embryos is, rightfully, considered unethical.

With regards to ecology, it has been argued that GM organisms, if ever released into nature, could readily outcompete wild organisms. This could be devastating for natural habitats and species.

Others disagree.

5. GM researchers can build completely synthetic genomes

"They have taken the field of synthetic genomics to a new level, not only successfully building the largest ever synthetic genome to date, but also making the most coding changes to a genome so far." https://t.co/RFTeIte8F2
- The Scientist (@TheScientistLLC) May 20, 2019

Genetic engineering has come a long way since the 1970s. Today, researchers can actually build a long base cheaply, and accurately on a large scale.

This allows GM researchers to be able to conduct experiments on genomes that don't actually exist in nature. Called synthetic genomics, this field of study is really finding its stride.

Some companies, like Synthetic Genomics, have even been founded to study potential commercialization opportunities from custom designed genomes.

6. GM scientists can even build complete chromosomes in the lab

First synthetic yeast chromosome revealed - by a team composed mostly of US undergrads http://t.co/aqOHwcXbc4 pic.twitter.com/WLkNMrUjVt
- Nature News & Comment (@NatureNews) March 27, 2014

Further to the above, genetic engineers can, today, create entirely synthetic chromosomes in the lab. For example, the first synthetic chromosome for yeast was created only a few years ago.

This is considered a very big deal in the field of synthetic biology.

7. Genetic engineering can be used on any kind of organism

Historically, short remissions were seen in cancer patients with viral infections. Now, genetic engineering is making oncolytic virus treatments a reality. https://t.co/jHignTRWNx pic.twitter.com/WIb34dXnBd
- Kathleen D. Hoffman (@drkdhoffman) April 12, 2020

As we have seen, a wide swathe of organisms can be altered using genetic engineering. This can range from anything from a lowly virus to an entire sheep.

8. Genetically modified animals are helping with some very serious human diseases and disorders

Genetic engineering could turn Huntington's Disease, cystic fibrosis, and thousands of other diseases into memories.

It also evokes fears of eugenics and inequality.

Molecular biologist @daisyrobinton on how we should proceed: https://t.co/XxMeZKqPwN

(Photo by Heather McGrath)
- Freethink (@freethinkmedia) December 6, 2019

As we have already touched on, genetic engineering is being used to treat some very serious human diseases and disorders like diabetes with insulin. But it is also being put to work providing therapeutic solutions for other serious health issues like Alzheimer's and cystic fibrosis.

9. Genetic engineering is a very sophisticated form of cut and paste

Interesting YouTube video on genetic engineering and CRISPR - https://t.co/y45jaB3NBA pic.twitter.com/mKk8KsiqWp
- Chapin Industries (@ChapinIndustry) April 22, 2020

While the technical aspects of genetic engineering are pretty sophisticated, the principle behind it is relatively easy to understand. Whenever genetic engineers manipulate an organism's genome as they are effectively doing is either deleting base pairs, deleting entire DNA regions, or introducing new genes.

Any added genetic material can either be entirely synthetic, taken from another organism, or copied from the same organism. But, of course, actually doing that is far from simple.

10. Genetic engineering, as a term, used to be broader in its definition

Fancy pigeon is from 'Darwin's Pigeons' by Richard Bailey https://t.co/rV0YpuRtzE pic.twitter.com/1SUxTwf0ER
- potluck miscreant 🍲🍀👺 (@BinAnimals) May 28, 2018

While today, genetic engineering really only applies to recombinant DNA techniques, it used to mean something a little different. Prior to the advent of these techniques, this term used to encompass less sophisticated things like artificial selection, artificial insemination, in-vitro fertilization, and cloning.

11. Recombinant DNA techniques were first developed in the late 1960s

The Biozentrum just celebrated the 90th birthday of Werner Arber, an alumnus of Geneva University, who discovered in the 1960s the molecular scissors named restriction enzymes, a discovery that launched molecular biology era. Arber Nathans & Smith received the Nobel Prize in 1978 pic.twitter.com/GS5H9RLBuh
- GALLIOT (@BrigitteGalliot) August 30, 2019

Modern genetic engineering all kicked off back in the late 1960s. This was largely thanks to the discovery of restriction enzymes in 1968 by Swiss microbiologist Werner Arber.

So-called type II restriction enzymes were discovered shortly after by the American microbiologist Hamilton O. Smith.

The former was found to be able to clear DNA at random locations, while the latter could be used to target a specific site.

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11 Fascinating Facts about Genetic Engineering

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Genetic engineering is one of the most important developments in human history. Controversy and ethical concerns aside, the ability to manipulate the very genetic code of organisms is a very powerful tool. With modern techniques like CRISPR, genetic engineering could, very well, allow us to cure any diseases in the future, or produce crops with yields hitherto only ever dreamed of.

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Genetic engineering | Genetics | Biology | FuseSchool

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main idea:
the artificial manipulation, modification, and recombination of DNA and different nucleic acid molecules to modify certain organisms.

arguments/facts
- Plants may be genetically adjusted to enable them to fix nitrogen
- can prevent diseases
- can produce human insulin
- Genes for toxins that kill insects have been introduced in several species of plants
dialogue:
- can you change the physical qualities of a person using genetic engineering?
- its quite dangerous because modifying anything can go completely wrong and ruin the whole system
- has genetic engineering been used on humans?
-
summary:
genetic engineering is the process of modifying DNA and molecules to change something in an organism. it can be used for good causes like producing insulin and hepatitis B vaccine into the body. It would seem like a good idea because it can prevent serious illnesses and complications. However, it comes with a lot of controversy from people. Genetic engineering is similar to genetic modification in plants which has a lot of critics because of how "unnatural and dangerous" it could be for our health.

APA: EB Editors (2021, December 20) Genetic Engineering. Retrieved from https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/genetic-engineering/36395

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