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| Introduction to Genetic Engineering |
- Genetic engineering is a gene manipulation technique to genetically modify an organism to form new gene combinations.
- Organisms whether animals, plants or microorganisms produced through recombinant DNA technology are known as genetically modified organisms or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
- Genetic engineering involves the transfer of DNA segments from one organism to another through recombinant DNA technology.
- By using techniques and procedures in recombinant DNA technology, biologists can reconstruct the DNA or genome (a complete set of DNA) of an organism.
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| Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) |
- Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that contain recombinant DNA.
- Through recombinant DNA technology, new combinations of genes are produced in an organism.
- Organisms that contain recombinant DNA are known as transgenic organisms.
- Example of enetically modified organisms (GMOs):
- Genetically modified cow produces milk which does not contain β-lactoglobulin, a type of protein that causes allergy among some children.
- Genetically modified goat possesses the human gene which codes for a blood clotting factor. This blood coagulation factor is found in the goat’s milk and can be purified and used to treat haemophilic patients.
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| Genetically Modified Food (GMF) |
- Recombinant DNA technology has successfully produced many crops (rice, oil palm, pineapple, corn and soybeans) as well as livestock (salmon, cattle and goats) that have the desired characteristics.
- Genetically modified foods (GMF) have DNA from other plant or animal species.
- Intake of GMF by humans is likely to have a variety of still unknown health implications.
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| Advantages and Disadvantages of GMF |
- Overcome worldwide food shortage by producing high quality transgenic crops amd livestock.
- Reduce cost of food production.
- Increase nutritional value of crops.
- Reduce problems of crops related to pests.
- Reduce usage of pesticides.
- Increase in production reduces price of food,thus increase food availabilty.
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- Endangered natural species.
- There is a slight possibility that the foreign gene in GMF may be transferred to humans,for example, antibiotic-resistance gene.
- May have adverse effects on human health and genetic material.
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| Examples of GMF |
- A Bacillus thuringiensis gene is inserted into corn to increase its resistance against insect pest.
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- 'Super Salmon' is a genetically modified fish which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe food for consumption in United States of America and Canada.
- It is modified by inserting a growth hormone gene from a Chinook salmon into the genome of an Atlantic salmon.
- Hence, a Super Salmon is created which grows at a faster rate and can be produced throughout the year.
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| Insulin |
- The hormone insulin plays an important role in controlling blood sugar levels.
- In the past, insulin was extracted from the pancreas of cattle or pigs to treat patients with diabetes mellitus.
- Now, insulin can be obtained from genetic engineering techniques and can be produced commercially for the use of diabetics
- In addition to insulin, hepatitis B vaccine, blood clotting factors and growth hormone have been successfully genetically engineered.
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