Introduction to Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering
What is Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering?
Biotechnology is a newly developed concept which uses living organisms to create products, while genetic engineering is a subsection of biotechnology and is a technique which is used to modify an organism's DNA, RNA, or proteins. Biotechnology is an umbrella term for a multitude of different techniques, however it mainly encompasses traditional breeding techniques and modern lab - based methods as well as applying to medicine, agriculture, and environmental science. Additionally, genetic engineering results in GMOs and involves introducing one gene from an organism into another. GMOs are plants, animals or microorganisms which are genetically altered to perform tasks which would normally not be possible for the specific organisms. This is beneficial because it increases nutritional value and provides resistance for the crops to pests and bacteria. Scientists have added a gene to wild rice that makes it produce beta carotene. This changes the colour of the wild rice to a golden colour. Beta carotene is needed by humans in order to make vitamin A - which is essential for good vision. The advantage of golden rice is that it can be used in areas where vitamin A deficiency is common, so it can help prevent blindness. In many countries golden rice is not being grown commercially over fears associated with genetically modified crops. There are ethical issues involved in genetic modification, as well as concerns about the possible health risks of genetically modified food. For example, a GM food might contain a substance that causes an allergic reaction in some people, or higher levels of a toxin naturally found in the food.
Key Terms which will be highlighted throughout the website:
- Gene therapy offers potential treatments for various genetic disorders. This approach involves introducing functional genes into cells to replace or supplement defective ones. While promising, gene therapy carries risks such as unwanted immune responses, targeting of incorrect cells, and potential viral infections from the delivery vectors. Despite these challenges, clinical trials have shown success in treating conditions like HIV resistance.
- Vaccines have also benefited from gene editing technologies. Researchers are working on producing hypoallergenic chicken eggs using CRISPR, which could make vaccines accessible to the approximately 2% of children worldwide who are allergic to eggs. This application demonstrates the potential of gene editing to address public health challenges beyond direct genetic interventions.
- Germ-line editing, which involves modifying genes that can be passed onto future generations, remains highly controversial. While it offers the potential to eliminate inherited diseases, it also raises significant ethical and safety concerns. The long-term effects of such modifications on individuals and populations are unknown, and there are fears about the potential for creating "designer babies".
- Human enhancement through genetic modification is another area of intense debate. While some argue for its potential to improve human capabilities and reduce suffering, others worry about the societal implications, including increased inequality and changes to human nature. The ethical considerations surrounding enhancement are complex, involving questions of autonomy, identity, and the definition of human nature itself.
- Embryo usage for research is a scientific practice that involves using human embryos, typically created through in vitro fertilisation (IVF), for various studies and experiments. The primary goals of this research are to study early human development, investigate genetic disorders, develop new treatments for diseases, and advance stem cell research
Pros of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering:
Genetic engineering has revolutionised the field of medicine by enabling the production of essential proteins and hormones. For instance, genes have been inserted into bacteria to produce human insulin and interferon, which are crucial for treating diabetes and certain types of cancer. Additionally, genetic engineering holds the promise of correcting genetic defects, such as those causing hemoglobinopathies and inherited collagen defects, potentially leading to groundbreaking treatments for these conditions. The advent of CRISPR technology (used for gene editing) has further enhanced the precision and feasibility of genome editing, making it a powerful tool for therapeutic applications. In agriculture, genetic engineering has significantly improved crop yield and quality. By introducing foreign genes into plant cells, scientists have developed crops with superior traits, such as increased nutritional value and resistance to pests and diseases. This technology has the potential to reduce the need for pesticides and fertilisers, thereby minimising environmental impact and promoting sustainable farming practices. Moreover, CRISPR-derived biotechnologies have enabled DNA free editing, which reduces off-target effects and enhances the safety of genetically modified crops.
Cons of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology
However, like anything, there are also many cons that come along with this concept such as, potential harms for human health due to factors such as antibiotic respiration, this is because genetic engineering often uses genes for antibiotic resistance as "selectable markers." Early in the engineering process, these markers help select cells that have taken up foreign genes. Although they have no further use, the genes continue to be expressed in plant tissues. Most genetically engineered plant foods carry fully functioning antibiotic-resistance genes. The presence of antibiotic-resistance genes in foods could have two harmful effects. First, eating these foods could reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics to fight disease when these antibiotics are taken with meals. Antibiotic-resistance genes produce enzymes that can degrade antibiotics. Second, the resistance genes could be transferred to human or animal pathogens, making them impervious to antibiotics. If transfer were to occur, it could aggravate the already serious health problem of antibiotic-resistant disease organisms. There are also potential harms to the environment, such as weeds. Here, weeds means all plants in places where humans do not want them. The term covers everything from Johnson grass choking crops in fields to kudzu blanketing trees to melaleuca trees invading the Everglades. In each case, the plants are growing unaided by humans in places where they are having unwanted effects. In agriculture, weeds can severely inhibit crop yield. In unmanaged environments, like the Everglades, invading trees can displace natural flora and upset whole ecosystems. Some weeds result from the accidental introduction of alien plants, but many were the result of purposeful introductions for agricultural and horticultural purposes. Some of the plants intentionally introduced into the United States that have become serious weeds are Johnson grass, multiflora rose, and kudzu. A new combination of traits produced as a result of genetic engineering might enable crops to thrive unaided in the environment in circumstances where they would then be considered new or worse weeds. One example would be a rice plant engineered to be salt-tolerant that escaped cultivation and invaded nearby marine estuaries.
My opinion on this topic before any research:
Before researching and fully understanding the proper concepts of biotechnology and genetic engineering, I believe that this groundbreaking discovery holds immense potential to revolutionise the field of medicine and healthcare. It is not only poised to provide effective treatments for short-term health issues, such as infections, genetic disorders, and immune deficiencies, but it also offers promising solutions for combating long-term and chronic diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, and inherited genetic abnormalities, which will be covered in more detail throughout this website. Additionally, I believe that it could also cause problems in the long term since it is still a quite new concept, which means that there are definitely some defaults which could be fatal and lead to loss of many lives as well.