What is genetic engineering?

Genetic Engineering

The process by which the acquired knowledge of heredity is used for human welfare is basically called genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is a process in which parts of DNA or RNA that protect the offspring are removed or inserted into cells. Sometimes it is also called genetic modification. It is a branch of biochemistry in which life is defined at the molecular level. The journey of genetic engineering began with the discovery of recombinant DNA technology by Paul Berg in 1972. The term "genetic engineering" was first used in 1951 by Jack Williamson in his science fiction novel Dragon's Island. A year before that, Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase confirmed that DNA is the carrier of heredity. Some other branches of biotechnology like microbiology, biochemistry, biostatistics, tissue culture like genetic engineering is also a branch.

Genetic engineering involves removing DNA carrying a specific gene from an organism and transferring it to a different organism. It mainly works in creating plants and animals with improved characteristics. Although cloning is a technology close to genetic engineering, it does not belong to it. The creation of a new species through genetic engineering is called genetically modified organism (GMO). This work was first done in the case of bacteria in 1973. Rat was created in 1974. Insulin-producing bacteria in 1982. Since 1976, genetically engineered foods have become available on the market. Genetic engineering technology is widely used in agriculture, biotechnology, drug manufacturing, research, etc. Currently, crops produced by genetic engineering are being produced commercially.

Humans have been trying since ancient times to create improved breeds. That is why Sankarayan (hybridized) or artificial reproduction has been resorted to. But that takes a long time; Minimum 10 years. But this time is not needed if genetic engineering is used. The initial stage of this technology is tissue culture.

The current trend in genetic engineering is the discovery of the genome or design of life. The genome contains all the genes that control the behavior of an organism. Current information and communication technology has made us now residents of the global village. Many such essential gene functions have so far been recovered from various genome sequences, and the practical knowledge is being applied very effectively in many fields; It is now very popular to select drugs that match the specific genetic make-up of the patient, especially in the treatment of cancer patients. Making insulin for diabetic patients through genetic engineering. Commercial production of insulin is being done by inserting the human insulin producing gene into bacterial cells.