Most recombinant DNA technology involves the insertion of foreign genes into the plasmids of common laboratory strains of bacteria. Plasmids are small rings of DNA; they are not part of the bacteriums chromosome (the main repository of the organisms genetic information). Nonetheless, they are capable of directing protein synthesis, and, like chromosomal DNA, they are reproduced and passed on to the bacteriums progeny. Thus, by incorporating foreign DNA (for example, a mammalian gene) into a bacterium, researchers can obtain an almost limitless number of copies of the inserted gene. Furthermore, if the inserted gene is operative (i.e., if it directs protein synthesis), the modified bacterium will produce the protein specified by the foreign DNA.
A subsequent generation of genetic engineering techniques that emerged in the early 21st century centred on gene editing. Gene editing, based on a technology known as CRISPR-Cas9, allows researchers to customize a living organisms genetic sequence by making very specific changes to its DNA. Gene editing has a wide array of applications, being used for the genetic modification of crop plants and livestock and of laboratory model organisms (e.g., mice).
The correction of genetic errors associated with disease in animals suggests that gene editing has potential applications in gene therapy for humans. Gene therapy is the introduction of a normal gene into an individuals genome in order to repair a mutation that causes a genetic disease. When a normal gene is inserted into a mutant nucleus, it most likely will integrate into a chromosomal site different from the defective allele; although this may repair the mutation, a new mutation may result if the normal gene integrates into another functional gene. If the normal gene replaces the mutant allele, there is a chance that the transformed cells will proliferate and produce enough normal gene product for the entire body to be restored to the undiseased phenotype.
Genetic engineering has advanced the understanding of many theoretical and practical aspects of gene function and organization. Through recombinant DNA techniques, bacteria have been created that are capable of synthesizing human insulin, human growth hormone, alpha interferon, a hepatitis B vaccine, and other medically useful substances. Plants may be genetically adjusted to enable them to fix nitrogen, and genetic diseases can possibly be corrected by replacing dysfunctional genes with normally functioning genes.
Genes for toxins that kill insects have been introduced in several species of plants, including corn and cotton. Bacterial genes that confer resistance to herbicides also have been introduced into crop plants. Other attempts at the genetic engineering of plants have aimed at improving the nutritional value of the plant.
In 1980 the new microorganisms created by recombinant DNA research were deemed patentable, and in 1986 the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the sale of the first living genetically altered organisma virus, used as a pseudorabies vaccine, from which a single gene had been cut. Since then several hundred patents have been awarded for genetically altered bacteria and plants. Patents on genetically engineered and genetically modified organisms, particularly crops and other foods, however, were a contentious issue, and they remained so into the first part of the 21st century.
Grains of golden rice, a genetically modified rice (Oryza sativa) that contains beta-carotene.(more)
Special concern has been focused on genetic engineering for fear that it might result in the introduction of unfavourable and possibly dangerous traits into microorganisms that were previously free of theme.g., resistance to antibiotics, production of toxins, or a tendency to cause disease. Indeed, possibilities for misuse of genetic engineering were vast. In particular, there was significant concern about genetically modified organisms, especially modified crops, and their impacts on human and environmental health. For example, genetic manipulation may potentially alter the allergenic properties of crops. In addition, whether some genetically modified crops, such as golden rice, deliver on the promise of improved health benefits was also unclear. The release of genetically modified mosquitoes and other modified organisms into the environment also raised concerns.
In the 21st century, significant progress in the development of gene-editing tools brought new urgency to long-standing discussions about the ethical and social implications surrounding the genetic engineering of humans. The application of gene editing in humans raised significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding its potential use to alter traits such as intelligence and beauty. More practically, some researchers attempted to use gene editing to alter genes in human sperm, which would enable the edited genes to be passed on to subsequent generations, while others sought to alter genes that increase the risk of certain types of cancer, with the aim of reducing cancer risk in offspring. The impacts of gene editing on human genetics, however, were unknown, and regulations to guide its use were largely lacking.
Read more:
Genetic engineering - DNA Modification, Cloning, Gene Splicing
- Principles of Genetic Engineering - PMC - National Center for ... - March 28th, 2024
- Historic Overview of Genetic Engineering Technologies for Human Gene ... - March 28th, 2024
- 20.3: Genetic Engineering - Biology LibreTexts - December 10th, 2023
- Genetically modified organism - Wikipedia - November 16th, 2023
- 18 Human Genetic Engineering - Clemson University - April 7th, 2023
- Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering - Benefits and Risks - April 7th, 2023
- Genetic Engineering - Meaning, Applications, Advantages and Challenges ... - March 12th, 2023
- Genetic Engineering Principles of Biology - December 27th, 2022
- Engineering the Perfect Baby | MIT Technology Review - December 27th, 2022
- What is CRISPR? | Live Science - November 24th, 2022
- To modify or not to modify? Genetic Modification and Gene Editing - A divergence by the UK - Lexology - October 13th, 2022
- DNA and the impossibility of research in isolation - Morning Star Online - October 13th, 2022
- Genome editing technologies: final conclusions of the re-examination of Article 13 of the Oviedo Convention - Council of Europe - October 13th, 2022
- Approval, Commercialization Highlighted at Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News - October 13th, 2022
- Dissatisfaction and New Articulations - Discovery Institute - October 13th, 2022
- In 'The Cultivar Series,' Uli Westphal Gets to the Root of Crop Diversity and Agricultural Modification - Colossal - October 13th, 2022
- Genomic Research Aids in the Effort to Understand How Best to Treat Deadly Infections Caused by a Fungus - UMass News and Media Relations - October 13th, 2022
- Synthetic Biology Market is Expected to Report a CAGR of ~21% from 2021 to 2029: Industry Size, Growth & Forecast at Douglas Insights - Yahoo... - October 13th, 2022
- Farmers, consumers will embrace GMOs if they understand them - The Standard - October 13th, 2022
- Emily Whitten: The limits of science and human intelligence - WORLD News Group - October 13th, 2022
- Behind this Nobel prize is a very human story: theres a bit of Neanderthal in all of us - The Guardian - October 13th, 2022
- Earth materials in technology The National - The National - October 13th, 2022
- Gene therapy brings hope to people with sickle cell, HIV - Monitor - October 13th, 2022
- Eligo Bioscience Receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and Rare Pediatric Disease (RPD) Designation for EB003 for the Prevention of Hemolytic... - October 13th, 2022
- Skin Grafting, Cryopreservation, and Diseases: A Review Article - Cureus - October 13th, 2022
- Cultured meat could help solve the climate crisis. Heres what it will take to move it from the lab to the dinner table - Fortune - October 13th, 2022
- Ignore scary messages: We've never had it so good & that's not manure - West Side Index & Gustine Press-Standard - October 13th, 2022
- Global Phosphoramidite Market Report 2022: Increasing Synthetic Nucleotide Applications in Therapeutics Drives Growth - ResearchAndMarkets.com -... - October 13th, 2022
- Enzymes Market worth $16.9 billion by 2027 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets - Yahoo Finance - October 4th, 2022
- Experts Sound Alarm Over 'Growing Threat' of Genetically Engineered Trees - Common Dreams - October 4th, 2022
- Scientists are manipulating the DNA of mosquitoes to fight the spread of malaria - Euronews - October 4th, 2022
- Smile Coffee Werks upgraded its coffee beans to Fair Trade and USDA Organic - Vending Market Watch - October 4th, 2022
- COVID mRNA Jabs and Testing Kicked Off This Industry of Drug Development: Here's What You Need to Know - The Epoch Times - October 4th, 2022
- 22nd Century Group (Nasdaq: XXII) Expands VLN Distributor Network with the Addition of Specialty Distrib - Benzinga - October 4th, 2022
- Researchers are seeking to develop spuds that resist harmful nematodes - FreshPlaza.com - October 4th, 2022
- Synthetic biology has the power to cure and kill. How will we use it? - Big Think - September 25th, 2022
- SPECIAL REPORT: Bioengineered food labeling: 'They kind of shot in the middle and missed every constituency' - FoodNavigator-USA.com - September 25th, 2022
- Yeast-Fermented Chemo: Now We Can Brew Anything - Medscape - September 25th, 2022
- September 23, 2022: The Integrity of Marius Mason WFHB - WFHB News - September 25th, 2022
- 2 Risky Cathie Wood Growth Stocks to Buy and Hold for 5 Years - The Motley Fool - September 25th, 2022
- Bananas threatened by devastating fungus given temporary resistance - New Scientist - September 25th, 2022
- 'What Hath God Wrought' - Today, Luddites Are Concerned About Weedkillers Like They Once Were The Telegraph - Science 2.0 - September 25th, 2022
- Children should be educated about oral health and hygiene - Star of Mysore - September 25th, 2022
- Id rather eat an actual burger: why plant-based meats sizzle fizzled in the US - The Guardian - September 25th, 2022
- Health Tech startups are booming. These 11 VC investors are behind some of the hottest deals - Fortune - September 25th, 2022
- Last Chance This Fall to Tell the NOSB To Uphold Organic Integrity - Beyond Pesticides - September 25th, 2022
- Cambodian PM begins official visit to Cuba - Khmer Times - September 25th, 2022
- Researchers develop method to prevent spread of melanoma to brain - Xinhua - September 25th, 2022
- I'm allergic to the cat, what can I do? - Surinenglish.com - September 25th, 2022
- Researchers Propose a New Way of Regulating Engineered Crops - Modern Farmer - September 16th, 2022
- Purple Tomato is first genetically engineered plant to be deregulated through USDA's new regulatory status review process - Lexology - September 16th, 2022
- Genetically Modified Feed Market to Hit $135 billion by 2030, says Global Market Insights Inc. - Yahoo Finance - September 16th, 2022
- Africa, GMOs and Western Interests - DW (English) - September 16th, 2022
- The science behind the oil supply breakdown in 'Last Light' - Syfy - September 16th, 2022
- Inside the controversial plan to bring extinct animals back from the dead - The Independent - September 16th, 2022
- Star Trek Actor Says Their Trek Hero Is Just Like Their Marvel Character - Giant Freakin Robot - September 16th, 2022
- Scientists closer to making blood stem cells in the lab - Cosmos - September 16th, 2022
- Oncolytic Cancer Therapies Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 33% by 2032 | DelveInsight - Digital Journal - September 16th, 2022
- Don't call it waste - it can be turned into hydrogen if you handle it right - Innovation Origins - September 16th, 2022
- Can gene editing ease the cost of living crisis? - The Grocer - September 8th, 2022
- Gene editing could revive the American chestnut tree and help fight climate change but familiar anti-biotechonology activist critics will have none... - September 8th, 2022
- Colossal to de-extinct the Tasmanian tiger. Is it a safe thing to do? - Cape Cod Times - September 8th, 2022
- The Future of Nanotech, the World's Tiniest Industry - Entrepreneur - September 8th, 2022
- Viewpoint: The 'natural food' sham 'Effective communication on the ethics of science may be hindered by appeals to naturalness' - Genetic Literacy... - September 8th, 2022
- Toray says it has developed the worlds first 100% bio-based adipic acid - Biofuels Digest - September 8th, 2022
- Chinese scientists claim to have engineered the world's first mouse with fully reprogrammed genes - Interesting Engineering - August 30th, 2022
- Century Therapeutics Receives Study May Proceed Notification from FDA for CNTY-101, the First Allogeneic Cell Therapy Product Candidate Engineered to... - August 30th, 2022
- Living Carbon: The startup setting down roots from 9 to 5 | Greenbiz - GreenBiz - August 30th, 2022
- Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 Vaccine Granted Expanded Conditional Marketing Authorization in the United Kingdom for Use in Adolescents Aged 12 Through... - August 30th, 2022
- Genetics in fiction - Wikipedia - August 14th, 2022
- Weeds superpower could help feed the planet - Freethink - August 14th, 2022
- POSEIDA THERAPEUTICS, INC. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. (form 10-Q) - Marketscreener.com - August 14th, 2022
- Novartis Confirms Deaths of Two Patients Treated with Gene Therapy Zolgensma - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News - August 14th, 2022
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Lessons from 1984 | Letters To Editor | carolinacoastonline.com - Carolinacoastonline - August 14th, 2022
- How Arkeon Biotechnologies is turning CO2 into food: 'Excuse my language, but this is next-level cool' - FoodNavigator.com - August 14th, 2022
- Synlogic Announces Synthetic Biotic for Gout Developed in Partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks - PR Newswire - August 14th, 2022
- THE SAD STORY OF THE REJECTION OF SCIENCE - Sp Supplements - DAWN.COM - DAWN.com - August 14th, 2022
- Global Genome Editing Technologies market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.96% by 2032: Visiongain Reports Ltd - Yahoo Finance - August 5th, 2022
- I Got Critiqued by YouTuber Gutsick Gibbon - Discovery Institute - August 5th, 2022
- CRISPR Technology in the Agricultural Industry: Patent and Regulatory Updates - JD Supra - August 5th, 2022