Category Archives: Genetic Engineering

DNA Genetic Engineering

By: Josh Mercado

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DNA Genetic Engineering - Video

Genetic engineering with cabbages
Ellie, Ari, and cabbages.

By: ELLIEISDEADLY

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Genetic engineering with cabbages - Video

April 8, 2013

Rayshell Clapper for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

Despite the frequently encountered argument that scientists are playing God with nature, the pros of genetic engineering are numerous and significant.

When discussing genetically modified organisms (GMO), it is important to note that the FDA and the World Health Organization have both deemed that the food products created with the technology are considered safe.

GMO produce has several genetically altered advantages over non-GMO fruits and vegetables, including increased resistance to pests, disease and drought.

These benefits of genetic engineering translate directly into cheaper prices. A recent Iowa State University study found that prices would be at least 10 percent higher for soybeans and 6 percent higher for corn worldwide without biotechnical modifications.

Some GMOs have even been found to taste better than their conventional counterparts. In a study published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, researchers found that as many as 60 percent of the people they surveyed actually preferred the taste of a genetically modified tomato.

The study focused on a particular modified tomato that had the genetically engineered advantage of a rose-scented compound that was coded into the tomato genome. The researchers said their study proves that food products can not only be made more resilient through biotechnology, but that they can also be made more flavorful.

The pros of genetic engineering can also be seen in fields besides agriculture. Scientists at the Department of Energy revealed that they have created a modified virus capable of generating electrochemical energy. Using the genetically modified viruses, they were able to create a device that is powered simply by applying pressure.

Cancer researchers and patients are also constantly reaping the benefits of genetic engineering. Many experimental treatments use genetically modified viruses to target and destroy cancer cells. A recent study showed that oncologists from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York were able to effectively treat a specific form of acute leukemia using genetically engineered viruses.

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The Pros of Genetic Engineering: Why ‘Playing God’ Could Help The Human Race

Genetic engineering THE SEQUEL
cabbages comes back for discussion.

By: ELLIEISDEADLY

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Genetic engineering THE SEQUEL - Video

April 9, 2013

Rayshell Clapper for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

What, Why and How?

What exactly is human genetic engineering (HGE or HGM)? Its a simple question with a complex answer. According to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), HGM is a process by which scientists and medical professionals alter the genetic makeup, or DNA, in a living human cell. Ideally, HGM would be used to fix defective genes that cause diseases and other genetic complications.

In one method of altering the genes of living cells, scientists insert a new gene into a virus-like organism. This organism is then allowed to enter the cells and insert the new gene into the genome. Human genetic engineering uses two applications to do this: somatic and germline. It is important to note the distinction between these two applications.

Somatic engineering (from the Greek word soma, which means body) targets specific genes in specific organs and tissues without affecting the genes in the eggs or sperm (depending upon the gender of the person). The aim of this type of human genetic engineering is to treat or cure an existing condition. It does not alter the individuals entire genetic makeup as a report for the Genetics and Public Policy Center explains.

The other type of human genetic engineering is germline, which targets the genes in eggs, sperm, or embryos in very early stages of development. This means that the genetic modifications that take place affect every cell created afterwards in the developing embryos body. Germline HGM also means that the modifications are passed on to all future generations if the individual goes on to have offspring. Obviously, germline HGM tends to be more controversial because the introduction of the gene alters future reproduction, whereas somatic HGM only affects the individual on which it is performed.

Finally, cloning can be considered as a third method of HGM. The US Department of Energys genomics website explains that there are three main types of cloning: recombinant DNA technology or DNA cloning, reproductive cloning, and therapeutic cloning. DNA cloning is the transfer of a DNA fragment from one organism to a self-replicating genetic element in order for the DNA to replicate itself in a foreign host cell. Reproductive cloning, on the other hand, is used to generate an organism that has the same nuclear DNA as another currently or previously existing organism (think of Dolly the sheep). Finally, therapeutic cloning also known as embryo cloning involves the production of human embryos for use in research.

The Controversy

On February 13, 2013, experts debated whether the US should ban specifically prenatal engineering. Livescience.com reported about this debate over HGM as the concern turned from empowering parents to give their children the best start possible to creating designer babies who may encounter genetic problems as a result of the genetic engineering of humans.

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Human Genetic Engineering: A Very Brief Introduction

Genetic Engineering Overview

By: Danielle Garza

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Genetic Engineering Overview - Video

Mixing Human DNA Genetic engineering

By: SearchTheLord

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Mixing Human DNA Genetic engineering - Video

9A - Inheritance and selection - Genetic engineering
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By: IBPhysics4Us

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9A - Inheritance and selection - Genetic engineering - Video

When scientists Phillipe Horvath and Rodolphe Barrangou set out to find a better way to make yogurt, they didn't expect to stumble across one of the future's most promising discoveries: a super protein that can accurately cut DNAand could perhaps revolutionize genetic engineering.

The protein, called Cas9, can be exploited to snip strands of DNA in exactly the place researchers want. It doesn't make genetic engineering easy, but does make it much, much easieras it allows researchers to splice sequences of DNA together affordably, with unprecedented accuracy.

So how does it work? Well, Cas9 was found last year to join forces with bacteria in such a way that, combined, they home into viruses and kill them by cutting their DNA at specific, targeted points. That's interestingin fact, it made it a prime candidate for making yogurt production more efficient.

But what's more interesting is that Cas9 can be paired with any string of RNAstrings of molecules not unlike DNA which code and regulate gene expressionto target a matching piece of DNA and snip it with incredible accuracy. Kind of like a pair of tiny, custom DNA scissors. That's not interestingthat's amazing.

Now, though, reports Forbes, the world of biology is swarming over Cas9 and the possibilities it affords. George Church of Harvard University explains:

"It is spreading like wildfire from everyone who knows about it and it certainly is very tantalizing. It's easy to get in and start doing lots of experiments."

The embrace of Cas9 could bring with it massive advances, then. Not least the ability to study genetics in ways never before possible. Forbes explains:

[S]ay there are three changes in the DNA in or around a gene that might cause a disease. Right now, it's hard to study them directly. But now, Church says, you could take a cell from a person who has already had their DNA sequenced, as he is doing with his Personal Genome Project. Then you'd create what's known as an induced pluripotent stem cell, a cell that behaves much like one in an embryo. After that, you could use Cas9 to change each of those DNA spelling changes.

There is, of course, still a long way to gothis research is being conducted in Petri dishes right now, not living creaturesbut it's a long time since a single protein had the entire world of biology so excited. It's only a matter of time before something major comes of it; not bad, for a protein which was originally discovered to make better yogurt. [Forbes, Science]

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The Super Protein That Can Cut DNA and Revolutionize Genetic Engineering

Genetic Engineering Stop Animation
Genetic Engineering Stop Animation. Uploaded by Lucy Skilling on Mar 12 2013. Skills 2708.

By: Lucy Skilling

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Genetic Engineering Stop Animation - Video