CURRENT USE OF GENETIC ENGINERING

People have been altering the genomes of plants and animals for many years using traditional breeding techniques.
Artificial selection for specific, desired traits has resulted in a variety of different organisms, ranging from sweet corn to
hairless cats. But this artificial selection, in which organisms that exhibit specific traits are chosen to breed subsequent
generations, has been limited to naturally occurring variations. In recent decades, however, advances in the field of genetic
engineering have allowed for precise control over the genetic changes introduced into an organism. Today, we can
incorporate new genes from one species into a completely unrelated species through genetic engineering, optimizing
agricultural performance or facilitating the production of valuable pharmaceutical substances. Crop plants, farm animals, and
soil bacteria are some of the more prominent examples of organisms that have been subject to genetic engineering.

Agricultural plants are one of the most frequently cited examples of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Some benefits
of genetic engineering in agriculture are increased crop yields, reduced costs for food or drug production, reduced need for
pesticides, enhanced nutrient composition and food quality, resistance to pests and disease, greater food security, and
medical benefits to the world's growing population. Advances have also been made in developing crops that mature faster
and tolerate aluminum, boron, salt, drought, frost, and other environmental stressors, allowing plants to grow in conditions
where they might not otherwise flourish.

Risks and Controversies Surrounding the Use of GMOs

Despite the fact that the genes being transferred occur naturally in other species, there are unknown consequences to
altering the natural state of an organism through foreign gene expression. After all, such alterations can change the
organism's metabolism, growth rate, and/or response to external environmental factors. These consequences influence not
only the GMO itself, but also the natural environment in which that organism is allowed to proliferate. Potential health risks to
humans include the possibility of exposure to new allergens in genetically modified foods, as well as the transfer of
antibiotic-resistant genes to gut flora.

Horizontal gene transfer of pesticide, herbicide, or antibiotic resistance to other organisms would not only put humans
at risk, but it would also cause ecological imbalances, allowing previously innocuous plants to grow uncontrolled, thus
promoting the spread of disease among both plants and animals. Although the possibility of horizontal gene
transfer between GMOs and other organisms cannot be denied, in reality, this risk is considered to be quite low. Horizontal
gene transfer occurs naturally at a very low rate and, in most cases, cannot be simulated in an optimized
laboratory environment without active modification of the target genome to increase susceptibility (Ma et al., 2003).

In contrast, the alarming consequences of vertical gene transfer between GMOs and their wild-type counterparts have been
highlighted by studying transgenic fish released into wild populations of the same species (Muir & Howard, 1999). The
enhanced mating advantages of the genetically modified fish led to a reduction in the viability of their offspring. Thus, when a
new transgene is introduced into a wild fish population, it propagates and may eventually threaten the viability of both the
wild-type and the genetically modified organisms.

When a gene from one organism is purposely moved to improve or change another organism in a laboratory, the result is a
genetically modified organism (GMO). It is also sometimes called "transgenic" for transfer of genes.

Other GM products
Genetically engineered products are not new. Insulin used in medicine is an example of genetic engineering; the insulin gene
from the intestines of pigs is inserted into bacteria. The bacterium grows and produces insulin; this insulin is then purified and
used for medical purposes. Thyroid hormones, until recently was derived only from animals, now the hormone can be cultured
from bacteria. Other genetically engineered products include the chemical Aspartame used in sugar free foods, and the drug
hepatitis B vaccine.

Engineering vs breeding
So why use molecular biology over traditional breeding? With traditional breeding, plants often exchange large, unregulated
chunks of their genomes. This can lead to both useful and unwanted traits in the offspring. Sometimes these unwanted traits can
be unsafe. One example would be potato varieties made using conventional plant breeding that inadvertently produced excessive
levels of naturally occuring glycoalkoloids. These glycoalkoloids cause cause gastrointestinal, circulatory, neurological and
dermatological problems associated with alkaloid poisoning.
Breeders sometimes have to cross many plants over multiple generations to produce the desired trait. GM techniques allow new
traits to be introduced one at a time without complications from extra genes and extensive crossbreeding. GM techniques also
allow traits from different organisms to be applied, such as pest resistance.

Types of GM plants
Most GM crops grown today have been developed to resist certain insect pests. There are GM plants being developed today to
produce specific vitamins, resist plant viruses and even produce products for medical uses. Countries that grow GM crops
include; Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, United States,
Ukraine, and many more.

 Plants that fight pollution - Poplar trees developed by scientists at the University of Washington can absorb polluted water
through their roots and clean it before the water is released back into the air. The plants were many times more efficient at
cleaning certain pollutants than regular poplars.

 Golden rice - Genetic modification is often used to make "healthier" foods, such as golden rice, which contains beta-carotene
– the very same vitamin that makes carrots orange. The result is that people without access to many vitamins will get a healthy
dose of vitamin A when the rice is consumed.

 Environmentally friendly pigs - Genetic modification has helped to create pigs that can digest phosphorous better, which
decreases the pig’s phosphorous output. The result is that manure, which is often made from pig waste, is less destructive to
the environment due to its lower phosphorous content.

 Faster-growing trees - Demand for wood can be met by trees that grow faster than average. Genetic engineering has
produced trees that can ward off biological attacks, grow more quickly and strongly, and create better wood than trees that are
not genetically modified.
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Application in Agriculture:
An important application of recombinant DNA technology is to alter the genotype of crop plants to make them more
productive, nutritious, rich in proteins, disease resistant, and less fertilizer consuming. Recombinant DNA technology
and tissue culture techniques can produce high yielding cereals, pulses and vegetable crops.

Some plants have been genetically programmed to yield high protein grains that could show resistance to heat,
moisture and diseases.

Energy Production:
Recombinant DNA technology has tremendous scope in energy production. Through this technology Ii is now

possible to bioengineer energy crops or biofuels that grow rapidly to yield huge biomass that used as fuel or can be
processed into oils, alcohols, diesel, or other energy products.

The waste from these can be converted into methane. Genetic engineers are trying to transfer gene for cellulase to
proper organisms which can be used to convert wastes like sawdust and cornstalks first to sugar and then to alcohol.

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