Genetic Engineering and Developments in Biotechnology
ENGINEERING IN ACTION GENETIC ENGINEERING AND Developments in Biotechnology Crabtree Publishing Company www crabtreebooks com Anne Rooney
WHAT IS GENETIC ENGINEERING Glow in the dark kittens foods with extra nutrients and bananas that contain vaccines are the types of things designed and produced by genetic engineers These engineers work with a wide range of plants animals and microorganisms They add or improve desirable characteristics and remove or reduce unwanted characteristics by changing what goes on inside the organism's cells Genetic engineering has immense potential It holds the promise of feeding the world curing disease and fixing pollution Engineering and science Engineers often work with the information discovered by scientists putting it to practical use to design things that people want Scientists work to find out how genes affect the way organisms including humans grow and work Genetic engineers then use this information to change organisms so they grow and function in ways we want them to For example medical scientists discovered a chemical associated with development of the disease Alzheimer's which leads to damage in the brain Genetic engineers worked out which gene leads to production of the chemical then put it into a transparent worm By studying the way the disease develops in worms medicd scientists hope to understand better how it develops in humans Golden rice is genetically engineered rice that helps to provide vitamin A to people in areas where their diets are poor The rice is yellow while ordinary rice is white
EIGHT STEPS TO SUCCESS Steps in the development process Define the problem Genetic engineers follow an eight step process to develop their projects right It covers designing implementing testing and improving solutions In other types of engineering engineers design a prototype of their solution But in genetic engineering they implement part of the project and test it Identify criteria and constraints Brainstorm ideas Engineers at work Genetic engineers can work in any of these fields Agriculture farming changing the characteristics of crops plants or animals so they produce more food and are easier to keep or grow Select a solution Implement the project Modify the project Test the project Medicine working to fix or prevent diseases that are inherited passed down through families and using microorganisms such as bacteria to produce medicines Environmental management changing crops to reduce the need for pesticides chemicals that kill insect pests Share the solution Research developing new techniques to use in genetic engineering Conservation working to save endangered animals and even bring back extinct organisms Some areas of genetic engineering raise issues people disagree about particularly those that involve working with humans and animals Many people are excited by the prospects offered by genetic engineering But some object to what genetic engineers might do either on purpose or by accident Genetic engineering involves precise work in the laboratory
