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What Is Biogenetic Engineering?

Biogenetic engineering is the science of altering genes so they are more likely to express desirable traits such as disease resistance, particular color or shading or muscle growth. The most commonly known biogenetically engineered products are foods made with GMO seeds or genetically modified organisms. Unfortunately, this science is relatively new and potential dangerous effects of gene splicing has not been fully studied. Some scientists, like Dr. Stanley Ewen, a histopathologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, go so far as to claim that genes used to create these organisms may even cause cancer in humans.

  1. Defining Biogenetic Engineering

    • According to Biology Online, genetic engineering is "The technology entailing all processes of altering the genetic material of a cell to make it capable of performing the desired functions, such as producing novel substances." This means genetic material is removed, added, turned on or turned off according to certain traits the engineer wants the new entity to have. For example, animal genes can be altered so all the animals with that genetic material are born albino. Or a plant can be made in a color never seen in nature -- for example, neon pink corn. If the plant or animal genes do not naturally have genes to express the desired trait, the genes for the trait is found elsewhere and injected into the plant or animal genes. For example, a gene that makes flamingo pink, could be injected into corn genes to changes how those genes express.

    How Biogenetic Engineering Developed

    • Genetic engineering became possible with DNA sequencing. Once the code was broken it became possible for scientists to discover where in the DNA genetic disorders happen and how to fix them. Once that point was surpassed scientist discovered that they could also change other genes, turning on traits like particular eye color or shape. This is similar to what animal breeders do over long periods of time, but in a lab setting the traits can be implemented in a single generation. After that they discovered that viable living organisms could be made that contained genetic material from a variety of species, plants and animals, within a single organism. This could allow scientists to make more attractive tomatoes by combining fish skin color genes with normal tomatoes or it could allow scientists to create a fluorescent rabbit by injecting fluorescence genes found in Dinoflagellates into a rabbit zygote, altering the normal growth of the rabbit.

    Laws About Biogenetic Engineering

    • Genetic engineering can include recombining DNA (when DNA of different species are combined), molecular cloning (the forced replication of certain strands of DNA code) and transformation (genetic change to a bacterial cell caused by importing foreign DNA). Currently these sciences are most commonly used to alter plant and nonhuman animal DNA. Laws regarding biogenetic engineering vary greatly based on the country and even the state and are general influenced by religious interests and the individual morality of politicians. In general it is legal to change animal and plant DNA in just abut any manner. Human DNA on the other hand, typically has a number of restriction and is cause for ethical dilemma. While it is known that human genes can be altered, most countries (including the USA) do not allow the results of these combinations to be carried to term. Human-related experiments are typically destroyed well before they become full fledged fetuses.

    Benefits and Dangers of Biogenetic Engineering

    • Genetic engineering has proven to be an extremely important science, with the potential to cure horrendous disease and repair flawed genes. It may also help to create better plants and animals. However, this alteration of living material may also be one of its major problems. The USDA allows the patenting of genetically modified organisms, which include plants, animals, seeds and genes. In animals, gene propagation is more easily controlled, but in plants, seeds can be spread with as little as a gust of wind. Some GMOs can also alter nearby plants simply by being close to them, which can destroy certain carefully selected traits in heirloom plants. Besides the genetic repercussions this also means that corn blown into your field from your neighbor's farm is patented and since you have acquired the corn without paying for it, you have "stolen" from the corporation and can be prosecuted, whether you wanted the corn in your yard or not. Some gene combinations have also not been tested enough to prove their stability which means over time they can develop resistance to pesticide or medicines, or evolve into new plants or animals with unknown traits that may be dangerous.

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