Genetic Engineering

Understanding Genetic Engineering

• Genetic Engineering is a set of technologies that are used to change the genetic makeup of cells and move genes across species boundaries to produce novel organisms.
• The techniques involve the direct manipulation of one or more genes. Most often, a gene from another species is added, but genes can also be deleted or disabled.
• The general process involves the extraction of DNA from an organism, then insertion of that genetic material into another organism’s DNA. This gives the recipient organism new capabilities it did not have before, such as resistance to disease or an increased growth rate.

Steps in Genetic Engineering

• The first step of genetic engineering is the extraction of the desired gene. This is often achieved using restriction enzymes.
• Restriction enzymes are proteins that recognise specific sequences of DNA and cut the DNA at those points, resulting in fragments of DNA.
• These fragments are then combined with vectors, typically plasmids, small, circular DNA molecules separate from the chromosomal DNA, found mainly in bacteria.
• Desired genes are inserted into these vectors. This recombinant DNA molecule is then inserted into a host organism, giving it new abilities.

Applications of Genetic Engineering

• Genetic engineering has been used to produce large quantities of insulin for diabetic patients by inserting the insulin gene into bacteria.
• Transgenic plants have been developed with inserted genes for resistance to herbicides or pests, enabling farmers to improve crop yields.
• Gene therapy utilises the techniques of genetic engineering to treat or prevent illnesses by inserting a healthy gene into an individual’s cells to replace a malfunctioning gene.

Ethical and Societal Implications of Genetic Engineering

• Genetic engineering raises a number of ethical and societal issues. Biodiversity can be reduced when genetically modified (GM) crops cross-breed with wild plants.
• There are also concerns about the long-term stability and unintended consequences of GM crops, and whether they might transfer their altered genes to other non-target organisms.
• In medicine, there is debate over the morality of gene editing in humans, particularly in the cases of germline gene editing, which involves changes that would be passed on to future generations.
• The debate around these issues requires a careful balance between the potential benefits of genetic engineering and the possible ecological and health risks. Climate change and food security are examples of larger issues that might be alleviated by genetic engineering technologies, which must be weighed against their potential dangers.