Genetic engineering is changing genetic material to produce a new trait. It is also known as genetic modification and genetic manipulation. This form of technology has several benefits and some drawbacks. This article will discuss how this technology affects public health, costs, and applications. If you’d like to learn more about genetic engineering, read on!
Changing DNA to produce a new trait
Genetic engineering is manipulating genes to produce an organism’s specific trait or behaviour. Often, this involves adding or deleting specific genes or regions of the genome or inserting a new gene. The process may also involve extracting DNA from another organism or combining parts of two different genomes. This technique can potentially create novel life forms that are not present in nature.
Genetic engineering can also improve crops or animals by changing their genes. This method involves introducing a new gene into an animal or plant, using processes that would be impossible to achieve in nature. Studies in the early 1980s showed that transgenic mice were capable of doubling in size, proving that the technique could be applied to modifying the traits of vertebrates.
However, this technology raises a wide range of ethical issues. One primary concern is whether genetic engineering is ethical, especially when it involves manipulating or screening embryos to add a new trait. Another concern is whether it will be possible to use this technology to improve human intelligence or beauty.
Cost of genetic engineering
Genetic engineering costs are expected to be lower than conventional breeding methods. The process is faster, which reduces the cost and time involved. This technology may also produce higher yields and less post-harvest loss. The process could save millions of dollars. There are many benefits of genetic engineering. These benefits include:
The cost of new GM traits has decreased over the past ten years, but the time it takes to bring an innovation to market has increased. Researchers estimate that the regulatory process could account for nearly 40 per cent of total costs or more than half of the total time. While the research and development process is improving, this process still takes nearly four years and results in an additional 40 months of lost revenue for product developers. This time could be cut by creating a more harmonized regulatory framework for GM products.
In addition to government funding, the private sector also plays a significant role in genetic research. The industry spent $9 billion on biotech in the United States alone in 1997. For example, Monsanto spent around US$100 million on R&D for its Bt cotton product. Similarly, Novartis invested $600 million in its new Agricultural Discovery Institute in California. Without industry funding, CGIAR could barely afford biotech projects.
Impact of genetic engineering on public health
Public health agencies should work to promote genetic testing and services for human populations. Such services can help prevent disease, death, and disability. However, they need to be integrated with other sectors of society. This article explores the role of public health agencies in this new field. Here are some examples of how they can contribute.
Public health practitioners and researchers should work together to improve public health genetics. A European network on public health genomics has been launched. Its purpose is to foster links between community programmes and national and regional initiatives and to share best practices. It should also develop a policy framework for public health genomics that is flexible and open to innovations.
Public health leaders must be vigilant in assessing and translating advances in human genetics into clinical applications. While identifying those genetically susceptible to certain diseases can help in prevention and control measures, there are risks involved in the clinical use of genetic information. For example, social scientists have suggested that genetic testing may result in discrimination and loss of health insurance.
Applications of genetic engineering
Applications of genetic engineering are a growing field used to develop and produce new varieties of food and medicines. The most notable examples are hybrid crops and drought-tolerant plants. It has been a boon to the agricultural industry to develop new varieties of plants and create new crops that are more drought-resistant or resistant to heat and cold.
Genetic engineering has many other applications, including modifying plant genes to increase their resistance to environmental stresses or pathogens. It can also be used to enhance the yield of crops and make them more resistant to pesticides and herbicides. Using the Bt gene to make plants resistant to pathogens or pesticides is a great example of how this technology can improve crop production.
Another example of an application is the use of yeast to produce proteins. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a popular choice for this purpose and is used to produce insulin and other therapeutic agents. It is also being used in the production of growth factors and blood coagulation factors.
