As defined by Halford and Shewry (2000), genetic Modification is the manipulation of organism development, structure or composition by the insertion of specific DNA sequences. This may be for the purpose of expressing a gene that is not naturally found in the plant or to modify endogenous genes (Halford et al., 2000). In a way, we have been genetically modifying our food for thousands of years. Since the dawn of agriculture, our ancestors were selecting and breeding plants and livestock with the desired phenotypes, such as bigger cows or plants. One particular difference between conventional methods of obtaining better crop yields and modern genetic engineering is the precision of gene transfer. Getting a child plant with the desired …show more content…
The new DNA found in this genetic plant can be referred to as recombinant DNA. According to Hillis, Sadava, Hill and Price (2013), recombinant DNA is a single DNA molecule containing DNA sequences from 2 or more sources.
History
According to Woosley (2012), genetic engineering as we know it today relied on our knowledge of DNA. DNA was discovered by Russian scientist Andrei Nikolaevitch Belozersky in 1935. In 1973 a student at Stanford came up with revolutionizing idea that DNA could be man-made (rDNA). In the 1970’s-80’s a conference was held to create guidelines for the safe use of genetically modified DNA and a genetics engineer gained a patent on a living organism, a bacterium that eats crude oil (Woosley, 2012). In 1982 the first GMO was approved by the FDA; Humulin, insulin which is produced by genetically engineered E. coli bacteria (Woosley, 2012).
How GMOs Are Created
In order to make a genetically engineered or transgenic organism, scientists must first find the desired trait, be it frost-resistance or salinity tolerance, and identify an organism with this trait. Scientists then take a sample of the plant or organism and use genome mapping technology to find where the trait is located within the DNA. Restriction enzymes are used by scientists to cut the DNA into fragments that can then be manipulated in the
Genetic engineering is a very controversial topic. People either agree with genetic modification, or they don’t. According to dictionary.com, genetic engineering is the development and application of scientific methods, procedures, and technologies that permit direct manipulation of genetic material in order to alter the hereditary traits of a cell, organism, or population. While researching this topic, I learned many interesting facts. I found out that genetic engineering first started in 1973, I did not know it had been around for so long. I learned that two men, Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen, were the first people to genetically modify an organism, which was bacteria. Yourgenome.org states that, “Genetic engineering can be applied to
Genetic modification of organisms is something the human race has been doing for thousands of years, starting with the first domestication of animals around 10,000 years ago. (Root, 2) Many of these genetic alterations were at a basic level, an example of this being the cross breeding of dogs to achieve desirable traits. Additionally, importation of new plants or animals into areas they didn’t historically come form, forced adaptations from these organism to survive. More recently, scientists have begun to understand genetic engineering at the DNA level, and expand its use into the altering of plants genetic code. (Goldbas) Scientists are now gaining insight into
Genetic engineering, also known as genetic modification, is an import, yet sometimes controversial, field of biology. The applications of genetic engineering can be found in use in numerous aspects of society, especially agriculture and medicine. Humans have been genetically modifying plants and animals for thousands of years through selective breeding, however the direct manipulation of DNA has only existed since the 1970s. One such manipulation of DNA is
Transgenic species are produce by genetic engineering. Genetic engineering involves the process of taking samples of one species genes/DNA and transferring it into a new host cell, this cell containing the DNA will then grow into the new cell creating a transgenic species. DNA samples can also be inserted into the new species by acting as a virus or by using a micro-pipette injection. Transgenic species are mainly used in fruit and vegetables to prevent pests eating the food supply. Genetic engineering is also used for commercial purposes. One example of successful transgenic species is a strawberry plant with a salmon gene inserted into it, the salmon gene helps the strawberries grow in a colder environment. These crops are also known as GMO’s (genetically modified organisms).
It is not uncommon for people to resist change, especially those that present new technologies. This is because people feel that the old ways worked fine and the new technologies will cause more harm than good. One of these technologies is Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs. Genetically Modified Organisms are not new since humans have been selectively breeding plants and animals for hundreds of years creating the best product possible, but the GMOs today are newer technologies. The current GMOs involve the transfer of DNA from one plant to another to achieve desired traits. According to Nelson Gerald, a genetically modified crop is made by inserting one or more genes of interest from another species into a plant cell, along with promoter and marker genetic material. The promoter material influences the location in the plant where the desired trait is produced, and the levels they are produced. The genetic marker helps identify successful transformations. After the insertion of the genetic material, the transformed cell is induced to grow into a new plant that expresses the desired traits, (Fig. 1 helps demonstrate this process).The new plant is then crossbred with other plants of the same species to achieve desired traits in existing varieties (Gerald, p.5, 2001). Although it is not perfected, the modification of plants through genetic engineering can provide benefits to society in areas such as
Though the introduction of GMO foods to market is a recent development, the technologies that make GMO production possible emerged in the early 20th century. The field of medical science is the lead contributor to the techniques that are used today to alter the genetic makeup of plants that are used in agricultural production. Frederick Griffith conducted research in 1928 that identified reliable practices for altering the characteristics of plants through genetic modifications (Vasil, 2008). The
Many people today are often amazed by the amount of nutrition and health information required for humans. The constant stream of genetic modification of food can be confusing. Genetically modified (GM) foods are plants and animals that have had their genetic makeup artificially altered by scientists to make them grow faster, taste better, last longer and to provide more nutrients. Scientists make these alternations by transferring genes from one organism into another in order to change the condition or character of the receiving organism. This process is known as biotechnology or genetic engineering (GE), and it has revolutionized the way that agriculture is practiced in many parts of the world. Researchers are now able to use GE
Throughout history, scientists and inventors around the world have worked persistently toward developing new technologies and practices in order to impact and benefit the lives of the people around them. Additionally, things that once seemed impossible, are now possible, thanks to the ingenious ideas of inventors and scientists from the past or present. More recently, scientists have been working on developing new forms of technology regarding genetic modification. This involves the transfer of genes from one plant or animal, to another similar specimen. Furthermore, with the help of genetically modified organisms, scientists are now able to help prevent pollution, increase crop productivity, as well as aid in medicinal purposes.
A Genetically modified organism (GMO) describes an organism thats genetic material has been adjusted in way that would not occur in nature. This technology allows for the transfer of specifically selected genes from one organism into another, regardless of weither these genes originate from related species or non related species [1]. Genetically modified (GM) foods are generally refer to plants in which have been developed using molecular biology techniques for the purpose of human and animal consumption. The modification of these plants is carried out within a laboratory and used to enhance desired traits to improve the value of the plant. Traditionally, the enhancement of desired triats within a plant was done through selective breeding however, this method was time consuming and its accuracy was unreliable. Genetic modification within a laboratory setting allows for a more rapid and accurate development of plants in which contain the specific desired trait [2].
In our modern world, genetic engineering has played a significant role in our lives and has changed the world on agriculture over the years. One of the most important impacts on modern agriculture is Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). Scientists alter the genetic material of a food or organism from the use of recombinant DNA biotechnological procedures. This recombination can be accomplished by moving genes from one organism to another or by changing genes in an organism that are already present (“Genetically modified organism”). One example of GMO is the genetically modified food. Genetically modified food has been popular around the world not only because of its benefits in people’s daily lives, but also the positive impacts on economy, and the environment. Throughout many pieces of research, many facts state that humans cannot live without GMOs.
The concept of intentionally altering a naturally occurring organism’s DNA in order to produce genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has been critically analyzed by both science and the mainstream media in the last decade. However, the genetic modification of organisms is not a recent innovation as humans have been modifying organisms for over 30 000 years (Rangel, 2015). Back then, breeding through artificial selection was the most prominent method of genetic engineering. Organisms with the most desirable traits would be bred together in order to create a new generation of superior organisms. Throughout the centuries, the developments in science and technology have resulted in new methods of genetic engineering. Now, genomes can be spliced in order to insert or remove genes. It has essentially come down to a copy and paste process with genes from animals being inserted into plants as the common practice. GM foods are developed by scientists because there is some perceived advantage either to the producer or consumer. For a GM food to be of theoretical benefit to the consumer and society as a whole, it should: increase crop yields due to the introduced resistance to pests and disease, enhance the nutritional profile of an organism or increase the shelf life (Phillips, 2008).
In today’s society biotechnology and food science is constantly evolving and changing. A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism that has been modified through genetic engineering techniques. The process of genetic engineering involves taking desirable traits of plants and crops, and combining and crossing the crop to develop new verities. The process of genetic engineering is typically very long, and can take years to achieve (Key et al., 2008).
Genetic engineering is a feat that humans have been attempting to perfect for a very long time. Genetic engineering is trying to change or modify an animal or organism’s genetic makeup or genome using biotechnology. There are a lot of technologies that have been invented throughout the years that attempt to do this. One of the newest biomedical engineering advancements is the CRISPR Cas9, it is a microbial nuclease system which can seriously benefit science if it truly works properly. There has been countless amounts of genetic engineering technologies invented, but a majority of them have some sort of defect or harmful side effect. Though, there are genetic
Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen first established the Genetic Modification of Organisms in 1973. The successful accomplishment arrived after thousands of years of selective breeding in which farmers used unreliable methods that took many years to achieve the desired characteristic within an organism. However genetic modification allows specific individual genes to be transferred from one organism to another instantly and occurring in the same generation of the organism. The insertion, deletion and mutation of genes allow desirable characteristics to be developed that would be impossible to obtain from selective breeding. Genes carry the information for the necessary characteristics that determines what the organism inherits and through changing or inserting genes; genetic modification allows specific qualities to be produced more accurately. First the chosen DNA must be isolated and copied by either synthesising DNA to insert or by generating a DNA sequence through molecular cloning methods. Genes can be ‘switched’ on or off and can be removed or ‘knocked out’ using nuclease to change the way an organism develops. This allows genes to be transferred from non-related species and by isolating individual genes, scientists could gain high-value medical products form animals in the future. GMO’s are involved throughout society in research, medicine, agriculture and environmental management. This report will investigate the involvement of mammals, microbes, crops and the
Modern recombinant DNA technology enables the stitching together of the pieces of DNA, despite the origin of the pieces. In other words, genetical engineering is like taking some beneficial pieces from different books and stitching them together to make the finest book. Scientists have used the modern recombinant DNA technology since the 1980’s to make copies of genes, determining the gene function, studying gene expression, and creating models for human disease. In the process, this technology has been used to generate food crops that are genetically modified.