B.7D Genetic Engineering Level 9.8 – 02

Have you heard the words genetic engineering or the term GMO? Do you know what they mean and the research that is going on in this field? Why are scientists so interested in these techniques? Are they helpful or harmful?

Genetic engineering is an artificial process in which DNA or other nucleic acid molecules are modified or recombined to alter the DNA makeup of an organism. The techniques used can involve adding or deleting a single base pair or an entire segment of DNA. Genes could be added from one species to another to produce a desired trait.

GMO or genetically modified organisms are plants, animals, or microorganisms that have been changed through gene manipulation.

Conventional methods of gene manipulation such as selective breeding and cross breeding have been used for a long time to produce desirable traits. The process involves the selection of plants and animals with the desired trait and breeding them. Over time, this leads to offspring with those traits.

But this process has the possibility of passing on unwanted traits. It also takes a long time. Genetic engineering introduces or deletes specific genes into an organism and is a relatively faster process.

Genetic engineering, today, refers to recombinant DNA technology. This technology has been used for scientific research. It has also successfully produced medicines, vaccines, and disease-resistant plants.