BY: Katherine Anaya

Genetic engineering is a process in which recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology is used to introduce desirable traits into organisms. A genetically engineered (GE) animal is one that contains a recombinant DNA (rDNA) construct producing a new trait.

Plant Genetic Engineering!

Traditionally, crop improvement was accomplished by selecting the best looking plants/seeds and saving them to plant for the next years crop. Once the science of genetics became better understood, plant breeders used what they knew about the genes of a plant to select for specific desirable traits. This type of genetic modification, called traditional plant breeding, modifies the genetic composition of plants by making crosses and selecting new superior genotype combinations. Traditional plant breeding has been going on for hundreds of years and is still commonly used today.

A number of genetically engineered plant types have been developed. Traits that have been introduced by transformation include herbicide resistance, increased virus tolerance, or decreased sensitivity to insect or pathogen attack. Transgenic plants have genes inserted into them that are derived from another species. The inserted genes can come from species within the same kingdom (plant to plant) or between kingdoms (for example, bacteria to plant).

ANIMAL & VETERINARY GENETIC ENGINEERING!

Genetic engineering has been used in plants as well as in animals. In the

livestock industry, for example, large amounts of a growth hormone found in

cows have been obtained from genetically engineered bacteria. When treated with this hormone, dairy cows produce more milk, and beef cattle have leaner meat. Similarly, a genetically engineered pig hormone causes hogs to grow faster and decreases fat content in pork.

WHO IS INVOLVED IN GENETIC ENGINEERING!

Companies that are involved with genetic engineering are: *Food Production and Agriculture, Disease and Medicine and other companies are involved. *The government is also involved in this topic.

*David's legal expertise is concentrated in the areas of chemical, pharmaceutical and genetic engineering.

 The farmer can grow a larger crop because it is easier to fight pests. The farmer can also protect the environment by using less crop spray.

PROS!

The farmer no longer has to use insecticide to kill insects, so the surrounding environment is no longer exposed to large amounts of harmful insecticide. The farmer no longer needs to walk around with a drum of toxic spray wearing a mask and protective clothing. Foods can last longer. Meats can be fresh more longer.

CONS!
Scientists today can genetically modify vegetables without inserting genes for antibiotic resistance. However the first genetically modified vegetables contained genes that made them resistant to antibiotics. Doctors and vets use antibiotics to fight infections. These genes spread to animals and people, doctors would have difficulties fighting infectious diseases.

CONS!
*When a new gene is inserted into a cell, it may produce different proteins than the ones intended. This has already happened in a form of genetically modified corn that produced a pesticidal protein called Bt toxin. While companies claim that the Bt toxin is harmless, mice that consumed it showed excessive and abnormal cell growth resulting in tumors. Today, Bt toxin insecticides have already been detected in up to 93 % of the umbilical cord blood tested from pregnant women. Nearly 100 people living next to a

Bt corn field became ill after inhaling the pollen which produced an
antibody response.

CONS!
*Other independent studies done on animals have shown altered gene expression and cell metabolism, inflamed livers, reduced digestive enzymes, impaired blood cell growth and inflamed lung tissue.

PICTURE TIME!!!!!!

I believe that genetic engineering is bad because we should not be changing the normal DNA of things because we dont know the terrible effects it would have on our health.

My opinion!