Legal Definitions - genetic engineering

Genetic engineering refers to the direct manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology. This process involves altering the genetic makeup of an organism to change its characteristics, introduce new traits, or create novel biological functions. It often involves techniques like gene-splicing, where specific genes are isolated, modified, and inserted into the DNA of another organism.

• Example 1: Enhancing Crop Resistance

  Agricultural scientists develop a new strain of wheat that is naturally resistant to a common fungal disease. They achieve this by identifying a gene in a wild, disease-resistant grass species and then inserting that gene into the DNA of a cultivated wheat variety. This modification allows the wheat to defend itself against the fungus without requiring extensive chemical treatments.

  This illustrates genetic engineering because it involves the intentional transfer and integration of a specific gene from one organism (wild grass) into another (wheat) to confer a new, beneficial trait (disease resistance).

• Example 2: Developing Gene Therapy

  A medical research team creates a new treatment for a rare inherited disorder that causes blindness. They design a harmless virus to carry a functional copy of the faulty gene responsible for the condition. This modified virus is then injected into the patient's eye, delivering the correct gene directly into the retinal cells, which then begin to produce the necessary protein, potentially restoring some vision.

  This is an application of genetic engineering because it involves precisely altering the genetic material within human cells by introducing a new, functional gene to correct a genetic defect and restore normal biological function.