Question

Describe how humans have manipulated DNA through biotechnology and apply these research findings to agriculture, medicine, cloning and ethics.

Answer 1

DNA represents the biological form of genetic information in most of the organisms on the planet. However, humans have manipulated the basic properties of DNA along with their structure and function in order to obtain the desired products/results. In this regard, the evolution of recombinant DNA technology or RDT has played a very crucial role.

The manipulation of DNA for human use in the vast fields of agriculture, medicine, cloning, ethics etc rely upon the fact that DNA from one organism can be extracted and transferred into another host organism in which the degree and extent of replication, hence transcription and translation of the gene of interest can be controlled. Using appropriate vectors for transfer of the gene of interest from one organism to another along with highly expressing promoters, the desired results can be easily obtained in the host organism.

By using this basic theme of RDT, humans have manipulated and cloned many genes such as insuling producing gene, rennet producing gene, antibiotic resistance, telomere activity, various enzymes and hormones etc into suitable host systems. Similarly, development in agriculture have been made with respect to manipulation of genes/DNA by producing crops with high shelf life, high fruit content, enhanced nutritional value, salt/urea tolerance etc. Further, use of RDT has also been utilized into cloning as well in order to understand the natural mechanism of fertilization and development of foetus in variuos organisms.

Thus, this explains that humans have nicely manipulated the DNA via biotechnology and these manipulations have been applied to various fields as well.