Definition of Terms

Eugenics
• It is the movement that is aimed at improving
the genetic composition of the human race.
• Historically eugenicist advocated selective
breeding to achieve these goals. Today we
have technologies that make it possible to
more directly alter the genetic composition of
an individual.
• However, people differ in their view on how to
best (and ethically) use this technology.
 Genetic Engineering
• It refers to the direct manipulation of DNA alter an
organism’s characteristics (phenotype) in a particular
way.
• Process of inserting new genetic information into
existing cells in order to modify a specific organism
for the purpose of changing its characteristics
• It is also known as Recombination DNA technology,
gene modification, gene therapy.
• The term genetic engineering was coined by Jack
Willimanson in 1951.
 Idea of Biotechnology
• Biotechnology is a broad discipline in which biological
processes, organism, cells or cellular components are
exploited to develop new technologies.
• New tools and products developed by biotechnologists
are useful in research, agriculture, industry and the
clinic.
• The broad area of biology involving living systems and
organisms to develop or make products or and
technological application that uses biological systems,
living organism or derivatives thereof, to make or
modify products or processes for specific use.
Genetic Modified Organism (GMO)
• GMO is the term used for an organism created
through genetic engineering.
• According the WHO, GMO is an organism, either plant,
animal or micro organism, in which the genetic
materials has been altered in a way that does not occur
naturally by mating or natural recombination.
• Genetically modified organism are being created and
grown across the globe. Genetic modification occurs
when the DNA of one living thing is added new
modified organism. These modifications can alter or
introduce particular traits in the organism.
• DNA- Deoxyribonucleic acid
-it is a substance that carries genetic
information in the cells of plants animals.
Example: A corn plant can be bred to resists
herbicides that will kill the weeds growing
around it that would compete for nutrients
and light.
 Transgenic
• It is a term that describe an organism
containing genes from another organism out
into its genome through recombinant DNA
techniques. And example of its usage is the
term transgenic organism. A transgenic
organism is one that contains a gene or genes
which have been artificially inserted instead of
the organism acquiring them through
reproduction.
 Knock Out Organism
• A knockout mouse is genetically modified mouse ( mus
muculus ) in which researchers have in activated or
knockout an existing gene by replacing it or disrupting
it with an artificial piece of DNA.
• Example: Each human cell contains some 20,500
different genes. This are small bits of DNA that instruct
a cell on what it should do. How do scientist uncover a
particular genes instructions? One way is to observe
how a cell ( or a whole organism) behaves when that
single gene is absent, or at least not working. Scientist
can do that by disabling or “knocking out” a desired
gene.
GMO in Food and Agriculture Industry
• GMO’s can address two important ones; the
weed and the insects.
• The genetic modification of plants to be
tolerant to chemicals has improved weed
control by the farmers that adopt GM crops.
• The genetic modification of plants to be
resistant to insects, results in less insect
damage to plants and therefore higher yields.