What is genetic engineering?

 Genetic engineering is the process used by scientists to alter the DNA in an organism’s genome. Scientists do so with the purpose of either mimicking biological systems to create products, or modifying and controlling biological systems so that they can replace, augment, sustain, or predict chemical and mechanical processes. They do so by employing knowledge and expertise from biology and secondarily of physics, chemistry, electrical and mechanical engineering and computer science. Using the gathered knowledge, scientists are able to design medical devices, diagnostic equipment, ecological engineering, agricultural engineering, and other areas that improve the living standards of societies.

 

Genetic engineering can be applied to any organism, such as bacteria, plants and animals. Organisms that have been genetically engineered are called transgenic organisms. Examples of transgenic organisms are Golden rice, which  can biosynthesize beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A; Bt corn, which expresses Bt protein to kill the larvae of European corn borers; AquAdvantage salmon, with faster growing rates and Flavr Savr tomatoes, with slower ripening time.

History of Genetic engineering 

The first genetically modified animal was a mouse created in 1974 by Rudolf Jaenisch. In 1983, an antibiotic resistant gene was inserted into tobacco, leading to the first genetically engineered plant. Advances followed that allowed scientists to manipulate and add genes to a variety of different organisms and to induce a range of different effects.

In 1976, the technology was commercialized, with the advent of genetically modified bacteria that produced somatostatin, followed by insulin in 1978. Plants were first commercialized with virus resistant tobacco released in China in 1992. The first genetically modified food was the Flavr Savr tomato marketed in 1994. By 2010, 29 countries had planted commercialized biotech crops.

In 2015 CRISPR and TALENs was used to modify plant genomes. CRISPR and TALENs are bioengineering mechanisms that can be used to manipulate the DNA of organisms. Chinese labs used it to create a fungus-resistant wheat and boost rice yields, while a U.K. group used it to tweak a barley gene that could help produce drought-resistant varieties.

Why is it important?

 

Genetic engineering is important because it provides benefits in the areas of agriculture, production of valuable proteins, production of vaccines and disease-resistant plants. These benefits are often realized with a lower cost, quicker production time, and/or higher production volume than alternative solutions.

Genetic engineering in agriculture offers crops that have improved nutritional quality, resistance to diseases and fewer post-harvest losses. Using less pesticides, this reduces the negative impacts on the environment as well, such as water pollution in nearby water bodies.

Genetic engineering also enables more efficient sourcing of valuable treatment products. Before the production of human insulin, diabetics relied on insulin taken from the pancreas of a pig. Due to the difference in the gene sequencing, some patients had trouble tolerating it, leading to death in some. But as of 2014, human insulin in the market is available at a cheaper rate than pig insulin as a result of genetic engineering using microorganisms as hosts.

 

Scientists are also able to use genetic engineering to construct limbs  of other organisms. They are looking towards genetic engineering or the regeneration of limbs in the future as well.

In general, genetic engineering also facilitates the manipulation and duplication of DNA pieces for industrial, medical and research purposes. It has produced a revolution in molecular biology, with its benefits experienced in a whole array of fields, especially in agriculture, in production of valuable proteins and vaccine production.

Resources:

https://www.reference.com/science/genetic-engineering-important-2a34c79354637e18#

http://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-genetic-engineering

http://www.chemistrylearning.com/benefits-of-genetic-engineering/

http://bioeng.berkeley.edu/about-us/what-is-bioengineering

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_engineering

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_gateway_pre_2011/living/genesrev3.shtml