By ;Juana Butanda, Marco Lopez, Lorenzo Pitones

  The development and application of scientific methods, procedures, and technologies that permi t direct manipulation of genetic material in order to alter the hereditary traits of a cell, organism, or population.  It continues to impact our lives in many ways: the Green Revolution, the quest for perfect animal stock, disease treatment, or human reproduction. But success also has brought concerns. Plants have become insect resistant and also more toxic. Genetically engineered cattle produce more milk but have mutated and overgrown. What Is Genetic Engineering ? How Can It Be Applied To Everyday Life ?

  Genetic engineering is the next step in human evolution.In the process of genetic engineering, select genes are removed or genes from other life forms are inserted into life forms. With genetic engineering, diseases can be cured and human life in general can be improved.  Disease could be prevented by detecting people/plants/animals that are genetically prone to certain diseases, and preparing for the inevitable. Also, infectious diseases can be treated by implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen.  Animals and plants can be 'tailor made' to show desirable characteristics. Genes could also be manipulated in trees for example, to absorb more CO 2 and reduce the threat of global warming.  Genetic Engineering could increase genetic diversity, and produce more variant alleles which could also be crossed over and implanted into other species. How Can Genetic Engineering Benefit The Society Of Today And The Future ? What Are Three Successful Areas ?

  The technology of genetic engineering is currently very crude. It is not possible to insert a new gene with any accuracy, and the gene transfer may disrupt the tightly controlled network of DNA in an organism.  Current understanding of the way in which genes are regulated is extremely limited, and any change to the DNA of an organism at any point can have side effects that are impossible to predict or control. The new gene could, for example, alter chemical reactions within the cell or disturb cell functions. This could lead to instability, the creation of new toxins or allergens, and changes in nutritional value. As Richard Leonine, Professor of Genetics at Harvard University, has said, "we have such a miserably poor understanding of how an organism develops from its DNA that I would be surprised if we don’t get one rude shock after another." Is genetic engineering precise?

 Pros and cons  Modification of Genetic Traits in Humans  Genetic Modification to Produce New Foods  Better Taste, Nutrition and Growth Rate  Genetic engineering in food involves the contamination of genes in crops. Genetically engineered crops may supersede natural weeds. They may prove to be harmful for natural plants. Undesirable genetic mutations can lead to allergies in crops. Some believe that genetic engineering in foodstuffs can hamper their nutritional value while enhancing their taste and appearance.  May Introduce Harmful Pathogens

 Don’t GMOs reduce the use of pesticides?  A 2003 study which analyzed the USDA’s own statistics since 1996 found that pesticide use has actually increased with the planting of genetically engineered crops. This is hardly surprising – the companies selling genetically engineered crops own 60% of the global pesticide market. These are not companies that want to see farmers using fewer chemicals, these are companies that want to profit by selling more of their chemicals.  More than 70% of the genetically engineered crops that are grown are crops engineered to be resistant to these companies’ own-brand chemicals. This means that a farmer can spray the field with the chemicals without harming the genetically engineered crop.  Herbicide-resistant genes are being transferred from genetically engineered crops to weeds via cross-pollination, and higher and higher doses of chemicals are being needed to have the desired effect, leading to a rise in herbicide use.

 What is genetic pollution?  the spread of altered genes from genetically engineered organisms to other, no engineered organisms, esp. by cross- pollination.

 Why are animals being genetically engineered? What animals are being used? Why it is use ?  Genetically engineered cows producing human immunoglobulins (Hematech,Sioux Falls, S.D.) may provide an important source of polyclonal antibodies for the treatment of a variety of medical conditions including organ transplant rejection, cancer, and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Transgenic mice have also become increasingly important for biological and biomedical research and have generated a vast amount of vital information about human diseases. An example of an animal being used for genetic engineering ?

 What are the GMO foods on the market in the US? Don’t GMOs reduce the use of pesticides?  Corn  Oilseed Rape/Canola  Cotton  Tomato  Potato  Soybean  More than 70% of the genetically engineered crops that are grown are crops engineered to be resistant to these companies’ own-brand chemicals. This means that a farmer can spray the field with the chemicals without harming the genetically engineered crop.

 Why are GM foods produce ?.What is the most important application of genetic engineering -- human health or food applications?  Crop losses from insect pests can be staggering, resulting in devastating financial loss for farmers and starvation in developing countries. Farmers typically use many tons of chemical pesticides annually. Consumers do not wish to eat food that has been treated with pesticides because of potential health hazards, and run-off of agricultural wastes from excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers can poison the water supply and cause harm to the environment. Growing GM foods such as B.t. corn can help eliminate the application of chemical pesticides and reduce the cost of bringing a crop to market.  Human health is more because this can help us in medical situation. Also because this can help us in medicine and improve our lives in many ways.

 Does having a “perfect” genetic profile make one person “better” than another or more suited for a job or profession? How much body material is needed to get your genetic code?  I believe that a person with better traits can do better things then someone with less good traits.  A piece of hair a bit of skin or a drop of blood is more than enough to know your genetic code.

 How could genetic contamination happen? Isn’t genetically engineered food thoroughly safety tested?  Genetic contamination happens in one of three ways:  1. Through cross-pollination – wind or insects can carry pollen over large distances. E.g. Genetically engineered corn could contaminate corn being grown on farms or in backyard gardens.  2. Mechanical contamination – through mixing of crops in storage, plant material left on farm equipment etc.  3. Through the passing of DNA from plant material into the soil where it can be picked up by soil bacteria.  There is no long-term safety testing of genetically engineered food. Short-term animal feeding trials are conducted in some cases. The research is mostly done by the biotech companies themselves. No evidence from human trials for either toxicity or allergy testing is required. No independent checks of the company’s claims are required.

 Examples: