Question

Using the knowledge you gathered throughout this module and any web resources, describe the process of genetic engineering. What are some advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering? Why is there so much controversy surrounding this field? What are some ethical issues associated with the production of genetically engineered organisms? Please provide a scientific rationale for your response. (400 - 500 words; 4 points)

Answer 1

Genetic Engineering - It is the manipulation of genes by man. Genetic engineering refers to artificial synthesis, isolation, modification, combination, addition and repair of genetic material (DNA) to alter the phenotype of host organism to suit human needs. Also called Recombinant DNA technology.

Process of genetic engineering-

1. Selection and isolation of desirable DNA fragments of DNA which contains gene of interest that needs to be cloned known as insert.

2. Cutting both desired DNA and vector with same Restriction endonuclease.

3.Generation of Recombinant DNA (rDNA) molecule by combining insert and vector using ligases .

4.now recombinant DNA is transferred into host cell for transformation.

5. Now selection is done to isolate transformed and non-transformed cells.

6. Now to find out Recombinant cells screening is done.

7. Now amplification of rDNA is done to using PCR(Polymerase Chain Reaction).

Advantages of genetic engineering -

• Production of Antibiotics:

Penicillium and streptomyces fungi are used for mass production of antibiotics penicillin and streptomycin. Genetically efficient strains of these fungi have been developed to greatly increase the yield of above antibiotics.

• Production of Hormone:

  Insulin, a hormone, is usually extracted from the pancreas of cows and pigs. This insulin is slightly different in structure from human insulin. As a result, it leads to allergic reactions in about 5% of the patients.

  Human gene for insulin production has been incorporated into bacterial DNA and such genetically engineered bacteria are used for large scale production of this hormone.

• Production of Vaccines:

  Vaccines are produced by multiplication of disease producing organisms on large scale, which is a dangerous process. Recombinant DNA technique permits production of vaccines by incorporation of specific gene into bacteria.

• Diagnosis of disease- Genetic as well as infectious disease can be diagnosed by using DNA technology like HIV of AIDS, virus of hepatitis B etc.

Disadvantage of genetic engineering -

• if a crop plant carrying gene for resistance to herbicides, natural diseases, or insect pests exchange genes with wild relatives via pollen, the offspring could become superweed.

• Nature has provided several barriers for exchange of DNA between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Recombinant DNA technology permits exchange of DNA between these two classes of organisms and thus interferes with the natural process of evolution.

• There is a fear that genetic engineering techniques will be used for biological warfare. In such warfare, disease carrying microorganisms can be used against the enemy. This will lead to disaster. Thus, genetic engineering has several demerits.

Ethical issues -

Meaning of ethical is doing right things for the society and unethical means doing harm to society. Objections are being raised to genetic modifications as the people, all over the world, feels Genetically modified food have acted in unethical ways.In many cases, protestors destroyed what they thought were fields of GM plants. The problem was further enhanced when some agricultural companies started marketing GM crops that did not produce Viable seeds.This forced the farmers to purchase new seeds in each season.