Genetic Engineering

In genetic engineering, genes from the chromosomes of humans and other organisms can be ‘cut out’ using enzymes and transferred to cells of other organisms.
Genes can also be transferred to the cells of animals or plants at an early stage in their development so that they develop with desired characteristics.

 Can we take genes from one species and insert them into the DNA of another species? The answer is yes. Enzymes can be used to "cut" certain genes from the DNA of one species and insert them into gaps in the DNA of another species.

Why might we want to do this?

Some people cannot produce enough of the hormone insulin. We can put the genes with the instruction to make insulin into bacteria. The bacteria reproduce rapidly and produce lots of useful insulin.

A number of other drugs and vaccines (including one for Hepatitis B) have been produced this way.

Foods have been modified so that they have better resistance to pests, have better yield, stay fresher longer and are more nutritious. GM foods could stop a lot of people starving.
 

This girl has cystic fibrosis. It is an inherited disease which affects the internal organs, particularly the lungs by lining them with thick sticky mucus.. She has it because she inherited faulty genes from both her parents. There is, at the moment, no cure for cystic fibrosis and every week 3 young lives are lost due to this disease. Is it possible to change someone's genes?

There is a significant amount of opposition to genetic modification. Why?

Should we be tampering with nature to this degree? Is it dangerous if we eat food which has been genetically modified? Ecosystems are very delicate. Should we tamper with them? Is it right to change a persons DNA? Aren't we all supposed to be equal? Some companies produce seeds for plants that cannot reproduce naturally. This locks the farmer into a situation where they have to buy seeds from the company year after year.