What Is Genetic Engineering? — Definition & Examples

What's Genetic Engineering?

It's the process of altering a small piece of the DNA of an organism. This is done with recombinant DNA technology, where a new piece of DNA is inserted into the genome. The organisms produced through this method are known as GMOs. They're also called genetically modified organisms. The diagram below illustrates the role of engineering in plant breeding.

Applications of Genetic Engineering

Plant breeding is the most common form of genetic modification today. Most of our crops have undergone some form of engineering. The modifications that have been made are diverse. Some plants are insect-resistant, some are herbicide-resistant, and others are just altered to grow larger and faster than they would normally. There are benefits to genetically modified food, but many people are still against the idea because the side effects are relatively unknown.

There are many other applications of this technology as well. Animals are commonly modified to further improve our food supply. Many researchers are also looking for ways to use engineering methods in medicine, such as by altering the human genome with gene therapy. The goal would be to treat diseases caused by small mutations in a person's DNA. One of the first applications of genetic engineering in medicine happened when scientists experimented with the gene for human insulin to provide treatments for people with diabetes. The organisms they used in the experiments were actually genetically modified bacteria. Those experiments allowed scientists to create a much larger supply of insulin for people who need it.

Changing the Genetic Code

Genetic engineering is the deliberate changing of an organism's genome. Altering the genetic code of an organism is usually done to change some traits of that organism.

Ever since scientists discovered the genetic code, they have been trying to modify it. Genetic engineering is a huge industry and is constantly expanding as new genes are discovered.

This technology can make better crops and livestock to expand and improve our food supply. These special crops and livestock are called genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. The technology could also cure diseases, although we're not quite there yet.

The picture above can seem a bit scary, but it's only one example of genetic modification. Making animals glow in the dark isn't science's number-one goal.

Why Study Genetic Engineering?

In reality, scientists are trying to find ways to support our growing population. Many hypothesize that there are ways to treat and cure most deadly diseases through gene therapy. They're trying to improve our impact on the environment. They're trying to design more sustainable food sources. Finding ways to edit the genome is one technique that can be used to do all these things.

What Is the Controversy?

There are many arguments surrounding large-scale use of this technology because most people don't understand it very well. And since it's so new, there are a million questions we still can't answer. The hope is that further genome research can clear up all the confusion and show us a way to modify the genetic code safely.

(Video) What Is Genetic Engineering?

by Eco-Wise Videos

Genetic engineering alters the genetic makeup of an organism. Scientists can change the genetics of an organism through selective breeding, the insertion of genetic material from other organisms, and gene therapy. These methods can be used to increase genetic variation in a species. They can also improve how that species is adapted to its environment.

In this video, Eco-Wise Videos explains how all of this works.

$$\color{#8925ae}{\text{Vocabulary Review:}}$$

$\color{#8925ae}{\text{Genetic Engineering}}$ : The process of changing the genetic material of an organism

$\color{#8925ae}{\text{Selective Breeding}}$ : The process of breeding organisms to create offspring with desired traits. This is also known as artificial selection

$\color{#8925ae}{\text{Cloning}}$ : Creating a genetically identical copy of an organism

$\color{#8925ae}{\text{Genetically Modified Organisms}}$ : Organisms that have had their genome altered in some way

$\color{#8925ae}{\text{Gene Therapy}}$ : Inserting normal genes in place of missing or defective ones to fix genetic disorders