Genetic Modification Is The Transfer Of An Organism 's Genes? Essay

Genetic engineering is the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material, otherwise known as DNA. Since biochemists Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer pioneered genetic engineering in 1973, the process has grown to have numerous applications such as medicine production, for example insulin (Mckinley). However, a main topic of concern is the application of genetic engineering on foods that we eat everyday. By modifying the genetic "blueprint" of crops, it is possible to improve many aspects of agriculture. But with any sort of scientific discovery that allows humans to act as Mother Nature, genetically modifying organisms has been a very controversial topic. Yet our society continues to grow, and the need for the benefits of genetically modified foods continues to grow. Genetically modifying foods should be permitted in our society because it allows larger yields of crops to be produced, produces foods with higher nutritional values, and reduces our global ecological footprint.

The concept of intentionally altering an 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.

Genetic modification is currently at the forefront of modern science and is being utilised in various fields such as medicine, agriculture and industry. Genetically Modified or transgenic organisms are organisms that have been genetically altered in a specific way for a particular purpose. It is now possible for scientists to exchange genes from one species of organism to another. This process is performed when certain characteristics of one organism are desired in another organism of a different species. For example a pig could be genetically engineered so that it will produce human insulin for those suffering from diabetes. Also, it is seen that it could be possible to cure certain allergies or diseases by replacing

It could be used to treat defects, but in doing that it could cause another. Genetically modifying a food source would introduce new allergens and toxin. The addition of new genetic material could change which genes in plants would be in ways “turned off or on”. If these were given to humans it could turn on previously inactive genes in the genome could have serious

Abstract – Human Genetic Engineering has always been an idea to enhance humans, whether that is to remove life-threatening diseases or give humans different abilities. To accomplish these tasks at hand, one needs to know the science behind what it takes to modify a human and both the positive and negative effects

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

Society has been experimenting with genes for thousands of years. To better understand the methods behind modern genetic modification of organisms, methods from the past will need to be explored in order to have complete understanding on the topic. Throughout history, there have been many reports on the experimentation of plant and animal genes.

If the world had the possibility to be a healthier one, one can rest assure that it would make that possibility a reality. However, the world already has been having that possibility through genetic engineering, but at the same time, it has remained a possibility and not a reality. With this in mind, one must wonder why; why has it remained a possibility? In order to successfully answer this, it is important to understand what genetic engineering is, and how it could allow the world, specifically the human race, to become healthier. In his article, “What’s Genetic Engineering,” Remy Melina, a staff writer for Live Science, defines genetic engineering as the use of technology to manipulate the genetic composition of an organism (Melina). Basically genetic engineering consists of a process in which genes of an organism are changed to get a desired result. As of now, genetic engineering has been used on animals and plants, but the possibility of a healthier world relies on human genetic engineering. According to The Center for Genetics and Society, a nonprofit information and public affairs organization, human genetic engineering is the potential of changing inherited genes of future children (“About Human Germline Gene Editing”). Considering the possibility of a healthier world, human genetic engineering could be used to modify, clone, and transform genes.

Genetic engineering, and genetics in general, is a subject unfamiliar to the general public because not only has it not had much exposure to people outside of the scientific world, but it is also extremely complex and still has several applications yet to be found. In short, genetic engineering is the modification of an organism 's characteristics or traits through manipulation, or replacement, of their genetic material for practical purposes. “Recombinant DNA results when scientists combine nucleotide sequences (pieces of DNA) from two

“With genetic engineering, we will be able to increase the complexity of DNA, and improve the human race.” - Stephen Hawking. Genetic engineering is the genetic modification of an organism’s phenotype, also known as an organism’s genetic makeup. Genetic engineering can have its advantages and disadvantages, but I believe there are more advantages than disadvantages. There are a number of benefits that we can only discover if scientists consider to study and advance this particular branch of study. Genetic engineering can be great in many ways, but it should not be overused and should be used in moderation. Gene therapy should be used only for the treatment of serious disease. It cannot and never

Genetically modified organisms are made moving the DNA from one species to another. DNA contains genes which code for proteins. For plants and bacteria; restriction enzymes are used to cut a DNA segment from a desired gene source and a bacterium plasmid. They are joined using ligase enzymes and inserted into the plant chromosome or host bacterium. For animals the recombinant DNA is injected into an embryo and transferred to a recipient mother. The organisms will now express a new protein. Proteins determine form and metabolism. Genetic engineering changes the natural DNA of living things, cutting across species boundaries.

Genetic engineering is a controversial, powerful and the uprising topic in the field of biology. Genetic engineering is also refereed as recombinant DNA technology as it includes the alteration of genes in living organisms to get the results that favour human kind (NewScientist, 2006). The technology is used in agriculture, medicine and food sciences. Various kinds of genetic alterations are possible which include the inserting of genes of one specie to another to get the required traits and the unwanted traits can be removed by excluding the gene of that specific trait (Efsa, 2015). Transgenic organism produced in the

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

For almost 10 milleniums, with “treatises as much as 2000 years old” giving advice on selective breeding, humans have carried out genetic manipulation on other organisms for their own benefit. Humans manipulate the genetics and genetic frequencies of both individual organisms and entire populations in order to raise the frequency of existing or transgenic traits we find useful or desirable. Human manipulation occurs for a large number of reasons, including; increasing profit/productivity in agriculture and farming, creating medical aids for human diseases, increasing survival chances of the given species and opening pathways for scientific discovery. Two major methods humans manipulation can be noted; selective breeding, which is the breeding of organisms within the same species to increase the frequency of existing genes, and transgenesis, the transfer of genes into the genome of one organism to create new traits, are used.

The impact of genetic modification can be seen everywhere – the clothing we wear, the medicines we take, the food we eat. Much of agriculture today has undergone modification, and the advancement of technology allows for more complicated changes can be made. However, genetic modification has been met with criticism and disbelief. There is a stigma surrounding things that are man-made and unnatural, claiming that there are irreversible, devastating effects on the planet. But what some see as a detriment to the health of humans can benefit those without access to the nutrients they need to survive. Genetically modified organisms have the potential to improve the health of people in developing countries.