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Uses and evaluation of genetic engineering

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Explainer Video

Tutor: Holly

Summary

Uses and evaluation of genetic engineering

In a nutshell

Genetic engineering involves taking a gene from one organism's cell and putting it into another organism's cell. It has many applications in agriculture and medicine but it is a very controversial use of technology.

Genetic engineering

Definition

Genetic engineering is the process of transferring genes from one organism to another. The desired gene is cut from one organism's genome and inserted into another organism's genome. Organisms that have had a gene inserted are called genetically modified (GM) organisms.

Uses in agriculture

Crops can be genetically engineered to become resistant to herbicides (chemicals that kill weeds). This means that farmers can spray the herbicides on their crops to kill the weeds and not kill their crops. These crops are called genetically modified (GM) crops.

Crops can also be genetically engineered to be resistant to insects or disease. They can also be engineered to produce bigger or better fruit. These will increase the amount of food produced which is called the crop yield.

Uses in medicine

Bacteria can be genetically modified to produce human insulin. This can be used to treat diabetes. Treatments for other diseases are being researched.

Pros and cons of genetic engineering

Genetic engineering has the potential to treat disease and solve other problems but it is a controversial topic with many people opposing the idea.

Pro	Con
GM crops could be engineered to improve health. Example 'Golden Rice' is a GM crop containing beta-carotene. The lack of this nutrient can lead to blindness. Genetically modifying crops to contain beta-carotene will help people in developing nations to get all the nutrients they need.	Hard to predict how changing the animal's DNA will affect the animal and whether there will be unplanned consequences that get passed down to the organism's offspring.
There is no evidence to show that GM crops would negatively impact human health.	Many genetically engineered embryos don't survive (waste of embryos).
May help treat illnesses like diabetes.	Some genetically modified animals suffer health problems later in life.
Can produce increased crop yields which can help with food security.	Some people say GM crops will impact biodiversity by altering the number of wild flowers and also the insect populations.
	There are also concerns about the impacts of GM crops on human health.
	There are concerns that the herbicide gene may get out of the population and then into weeds to create a 'superweed' variety.

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