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The secret weapon of genetic modification: How to use genetic engineering to create revolutionary new organisms?
Genetic engineering, also known as genetic modification or genetic manipulation, is the process of modifying the genes of an organism through technological means. This combination of technologies aims to change the genetic structure of cells by transferring genes between species to produce improved or completely new organisms. With the advancement of technology, genetic engineering has been increasingly used in medicine, agriculture, industrial biotechnology and research, becoming the key to promoting the biotechnology revolution.
The core of genetic engineering is to create organisms with specific characteristics by changing their DNA composition.
Historical changes of genetic engineering
Since the 1970s, the concept of genetic engineering has gradually deepened. Among them, Paul Berg created the first recombinant DNA molecule in 1972, laying the foundation for subsequent technologies. Over time, many major scientific breakthroughs occurred, such as the creation of the first genetically modified organism by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen in 1973 and the first genetically modified organism by Rudolf Yenici in 1974. The first experiment with genetically modified mice.
Genetic Engineering Workflow
Creating a genetically modified organism involves multiple steps. First, genetic engineers need to choose the gene to insert, which needs to be determined based on previous research. The next step is to extract the candidate gene, usually by cutting the DNA with restriction enzymes or amplifying gene fragments using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Once the gene of choice has been isolated, it must be combined with other genetic elements, including promoters and terminators, to ensure proper expression of the gene.
Application areas of genetic engineering
Genetic engineering has significant applications in medicine, research, industry and agriculture. The earliest experiments focused on bacteria, but as the technology matured, it has now been applied to plants and animals. Genetically modified plants are mostly used to enhance their ability to resist insect pests and herbicides, while in the medical field, genetic engineering is mainly used to produce drugs, vaccines and gene therapy.
The potential of genetic engineering lies not only in changing life forms, but also in treating major issues such as genetic diseases.
Controversy and future prospects of genetic modification
Although genetic engineering technology has brought many benefits to agriculture and medicine, it has also caused a series of controversies. Safety, gene loss, impacts on non-target organisms, and intellectual property issues have become challenges that scientists and policymakers must face. Since the first Asilomar Conference in 1975, countries have developed regulatory frameworks for genetic modification. However, there are significant differences in regulatory standards between the United States and Europe.
Conclusion
As a cutting-edge technology, genetic engineering is constantly pushing the limits of the scientific community and changing our lifestyle and social structure. However, how will this technology affect future ecosystems and the evolution of human beings themselves?
