Wat is Genetic Engineering

One of the most fascinating chapters of modern genetics is related to all the new possibilities that the man has to achieve genetic modification on targeted genome of living beings. The Human Genome Project played a very important part in human genetics but, for now, all scientists and researchers are mostly focused on cloning and genetic modification of plant cells or animal cells. In the course of history, since the Neolithic when man began domesticating animals and plants, man acted on the genetic material, but only indirectly by selective hybridization.

All races and variations of animals and plants made by farmers and shepherds are only the result of genetic manipulation carried out by mating designed for a purpose. What we call now genetic engineering strictly refers to the direct intervention of DNA sequencing. It is a huge success of modern man but also opens up unexpected perspectives now in agronomy, animal husbandry, medicine, and in certain branches of production.

However, the actions in these areas had sparked many protests and generated a very distinct chapter of bioethics. In very few words and in a wide vision of the concept, genetic engineering aims to perform some kind of surgical micro interventions on DNA molecules and sequencing, removing a fragment from a spiral for its simply removal or for introducing it to another living structure. Researchers have found that for this kind of interventions they will need some form of 'scalpels' which will cut DNA strands on precise locations and also that will have to be able to weld together other parts of DNA. These scalpels are known as restriction enzymes discovered by Werner Abers in 1960 for which he with D. Nathans and H Smith received the Nobel Prize in 1979. These enzymes cut in a certain place that they recognize both DNA chains without harming nitrogenous bases.