Genetic Engineering

Genetic Engineeri

ng &The

Benefits

Genetic engineering………...

Genetic engineering is the process that uses the techniques of molecular cloning and transformation to alter the structure and

Characteristics of genesGenetic engineering is about scientists altering the 'recipes' for making

life

WHAT?!

1960s-1970 Isolation of restriction enzymes and their use to analyse DNA structure1972-1973 DNA cloning techniques involving recombinant DNA developed. First gene

cloned(bacteria)1974 First expression in a bacterium of a gene from a different species.1977 First complete genetic code of an organsism (base sequence of a complete genome).

The organism was the phage ɸX 174 and its genetic code is 5375 bases long.1978 Bacteria produce human somatostatin from a synthetic gene. Later the same year

bacteria also produce human insulin from a synthetic gene.1981-1982 First transgenic animals (mice) produced.1982 Insulin (Eli Lilly’s Humulin) is the first product made by genetically engineered

bacteria to be approved for use in Britain and the USA1983-1985 First transgenic plants produced.1986 First controlled release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment.1989-1990 First patented transgenic animal, the oncomouse & the human genome project started1990-1992 First transgenic cereal plants (maize and wheat)1992-1993 Regulations for deliberate release of genetically engineered organisms established in

the USA and EU. First complete base sequence of a chromosome (yeast chromosome III) & trial of the first human gene therapy in UK

1994 Genetically engineered tomato marketed in the USA.1996 Genetically engineered tomato marketed in Britain.1997 First cloned mammal produced from a single cell. The sheep, Dolly, was developed

from a single udder cell.

A brief summary of the history and development of genetic engineering. (based on table G7,p. 418, The encyclopaedia of molecular biology, ed. Sir John Kendrew (1994) Blackwell Science.)

What is Genetic Engineering used for?

Scientists uses it to knock out certain genes from an organism to observe the

effects caused by those genes.

Manipulate the genes of other organisms in order

to produce beneficial products for

humans.

Is genetic engineering beneficial to

humans?

Improves the lifestyles of humans• Better yield and quality of crops

• Microorganisms as pollution cleaners

Production of super-crops

Bioremediation of the polluted environment

Production of crops of better yield & quality

Genetic engineering has helped to increase crop productivity by introducing qualities such as disease resistance and increased drought

tolerance to the crops

Genes from naturally

drought-resistant plants are used

to increase drought

tolerance in crop varieties

Genetic Engineered papaya, SunUp! That is resistant to the Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV)

Homegrown papaya that is affected by the Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV)

Farmers have been producing foods that have been genetically altered to be more nutritious, delicious, resistant to harmful pesticides and have the ability to repel pests.

Plant life is changed to be more resilient to insect and disease as well as have the help

of the microorganisms helping support it and bringing it protein.

Wieczorek, A. (2003) Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, transgenic

organisms can offer a range of benefits above and beyond those that emerged from

innovations in traditional agricultural biotechnology.


Improved nutritional value

Soybeans with higher

protein content

Fresher produceTransgenic tomatoes with delayed softening can be vine-ripened and still be

shipped without bruising.

At UC Berkeley, Athanasios Theologisand colleagues have identified and blocked a gene responsible for ripening.

Rice with the ability produce vitamin A, that

helps prevent blindness in people

who have nutritionally inadequate

diets


Dale, P.J., Clarke, B. EMG Fontes; Potential for the environmental impact of transgenic crops. Nature Biotechnology, 20. 2002, 567-574

Microorganisms as pollution cleaners

Microorganisms in the environment can be artificially changed to benefit their

surroundings to help maintain the area.

Microorganisms can be used for microbial

bioremediation. Usage of microorganisms to break

down harmful environmental contaminants, to

restore the environment to a healthier state.

Microorganisms that are able to

degrade the pollutant is

added to the contaminated

soil or water so that it could be

treated.

Genetically engineered oil-consuming bacteria have been released into the wild to clean up

disastrous oil spills at sea and on land


• Bioremediation is useful for the complete destruction of a wide variety of contaminant

• Carried out on site, often without causing a major disruption of normal activities

• Less expensive than other technologies that are used for clean-up of hazardous

wasteIncineration -- Crude oil spill cleanup -- Expensive -- Extremely harmful to the environment.


Hmm…..

There are possible risks associated with using transgenic crops in agriculture.

• Inadequate effort has been made to understand the dangers in the use of transgenic crops

• Genetic engineering technology has the risk of introducing allergens and toxins into safe foods.

• Transgenic crops might cross-pollinate with related weeds, possibly resulting in “super

weeds” that become more difficult to control.

• It goes against religious values & ethics

‘Playing God’

Creations to be ‘slaves’

Inadequate effort has been made to understand the dangers in the use of transgenic crops

Transgenic crops and their product in the United States are extensively researched and reviewed

U.S. Department of Agriculture : Has primary responsibility for

determining if a new product is safe to grow.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency : Reviews the product for

potential impact on the environment

U.S. Food and Drug Administration : Is

concerned with protecting the

consumer and has final authority to

declare if a product is safe to eat.

Genetic engineering has the risk of introducing allergens & toxins into safe foods.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) checks to ensure that the levels of

naturally occurring allergens in foods made from

transgenic organisms have not significantly increased above the natural range

found in conventional foods.

Transgenic technology is also being used to remove the allergens from peanuts, one of most serious causes

of food allergy.

Transgenic crops might produce uncontrollable ‘super weeds’

Resistance to a specific herbicide does not mean that the plant is resistant to other herbicides, so affected weeds could still be controlled with other products.

Most crop plants have significant limitations in their

growth and seed dispersal habits that prevent them from

surviving long without constant nurture by

humans, and they are thus unlikely to thrive in the wild

as weeds.

Religious values & ethics

“Nature makes nothing without some end in view,

nothing to no purpose, it must be that nature has made for

the sake of man" Aristotle

Since animals and plants exist for human beings, our behaviour towards

them is not governed by moral considerations.

Gen 1: 26-28."Increase & multiply & dominate the Earth".

At the same time we can say that high tech

medicines involves playing with God and

agriculture was started by disrupting nature.

Manohar (n.d.) Any new technology has its set of advantages and

disadvantages. However you cannot condemn a beneficial technology

because of the possible misuse. Saying no to genetic engineering would be like

refusing to log on to the Internet because you are afraid your email account might

get hacked. The simple solution is to use the technology with great caution.

Conclusion

Education

Genetic Engineering