What is Genetic Engineering?
source: www.freespeech.org “Genetic engineering is a laboratory technique used by scientists to change the DNA of living organisms.
DNA is the blueprint for the individuality of an organism. The organism relies upon the information stored in its DNA for the management of every biochemical process. The life, growth and unique features of the organism depend on its DNA. The segments of DNA which have been associated with specific features or functions of an organism are called genes.”source: http://www.safe-food.org/-issue/ge.html
“Genetic engineering refers to a set of technologies that are being used to change the genetic makeup of cells and move genes across species boundaries to produce novel organisms. The techniques involve highly sophisticated manipulations of genetic material and other biologically important chemicals.
Genes are the chemical blueprints that determine an organism’s traits. Moving genes from one organism to another transfers those traits. Through genetic engineering, organisms are given new combinations of genes—and therefore new combinations of traits—that do not occur in nature and, indeed, cannot be developed by natural means. Such an artificial technology is radically different from traditional plant and animal breeding.”“Genetic engineering, recombinant DNA technology, genetic modification/manipulation (GM) and gene splicing are terms that apply to the direct manipulation of an organism’s genes. Genetic engineering is different from traditional breeding, where the organism’s genes are manipulated indirectly. Genetic engineering uses the techniques of molecular cloning and transformation to alter the structure and characteristics of genes directly. Genetic engineering techniques have found some successes in numerous applications. Some examples are in improving crop technology, the manufacture of synthetic human insulin through the use of modified bacteria, the manufacture of erythropoietin in hamster ovary cells, and the production of new types of experimental mice such as the oncomouse (cancer mouse) for research.
The term “genetic engineering” was coined in Jack Williamson’s science fiction novel Dragon’s Island, published in 1951,[2] one year before DNA’s role in heredity was confirmed in 1952 by Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase[3] and two years before James Watson and Francis Crick showed that DNA has a double-helix structure.”
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering
source: http://www.scumdoctor.com
Those who are interested in the more scientific understanding of GE should have a closer look at:
http://www.psrast.org/whatisge.htm
I think it’s worth reading because “This text is written so that even you who have forgotten much of what you may have learned about genetics will understand it. Therefore, the description is as simple as possible (some details of minor importance have been omitted or simplified.
Genetic Engineering: A Historical Flashback
“The first genetic engineering company, Genentech, was founded in 1976.
Herbert Boyer, one of the creators of recombinant DNA technology in the early 1970s, founded Genentech with venture capitalist Robert Swanson. In 1977, the company produced the first human protein in a bacterium. The San Francisco Bay area company isolated the genes for human insulin and growth hormone and, by 1982, marketed the first recombinant DNA drug, human insulin. The company proceeded to either market or license the marketing of Factor VIII, a blood clotting factor; growth hormone; interferon molecules to treat certain kinds of leukemia and immune deficiencies; tissue-plasminogen activator (TPA) to dissolve blood clots in patients with heart attack or stroke; and hepatitis B vaccine, among other products.
In the 24 years after Genentech’s founding, the biotechnology industry grew to include nearly 9000 companies. (2000).”
source: http://www.genome.gov/25520305
