Genetic Engineering.
Genetic engineering, recombinant DNA technology, genetic modification/manipulation (GM) and gene splicing are terms that are applied to the direct manipulation of an organism''s genes.
It is a deliberate mechanism of genetic material by biotechnological techniques. It is often achieved by the introduction of new DNA, usuallyby means of a virus or plasmid. This can be for pure research or to breed functionally specific plants, animals or bacteria. These organisms with a foreign gene added are said to be transgenic. In genetic engineering, the splicing and reconciliation of genes is used to increase the knowledge of cell function and reproduction, but could be given the ability to fix nitrogen found in some bacteria and hence reduce the need for expensive fertilizers, or sometimes simple bacteria may be modified to produce rare drugs. A foreign gene can be inserted in to laboratory cultures of bacteria to generate commercial biological product such as synthetic insulin, hepatitis –B vaccine and interferons. Developments in genetic engineering have led to the production of growth hormone and a number of other bone- marrow stimulating hormones. New strains of animals have also been produced; a new strain of mouse was patented in the USA in 1989and the application was rejected in the European patent office. A vaccine against a sheep parasite (a larval tape worm) has been developed by genetic engineering; most existing vaccines protect against bacteria and viruses. There is a risk that when transplanting genes between different types of bacteria (Escherichia coli, which lives in the human intestine is) often used) new and harmful strains might be produced .For this reason strict safety precautions are observed, and the modified bacteria thus proved are disabled in some way so that they are unable to exist outside the laboratory.
Because living organisms are highly complex, genetic engineers cannot possibly predict all of the effects of introducing new genes into them. This is the case for even the simplest bacterium, not to mention more complex plants and animals. Some times new toxins and allergens in foods and other damaging effects on health caused by unnatural foods are possible and hence GM foods are permitted in US and other countries only after making sure that they are safe.
In India GM technology is utilized in cotton. However, the major concern is for much publicized Golden Rice which is rich in vitamin‘A’. Golden Rice is yet to be tested for its toxic effects. It is safe to avoid regular consumption of GM foods.