Advantages And Disadvantages Of Genetic Engineering

Introduction

Genetic engineering involves manual modification of genetic material in most cases DNA, which is modified within a plant or animal. Biotechnology has developed due to further understanding of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which is a double helix structure from which genomes are coded. In the last few years, genetic engineering, which involves altering DNA, has become a controversial discussion topic due to its benefits, such as improving nutritional quality and growth of crops, and disadvantages, e.g. potential toxicity and creation of new pathogens (Uzogara, 2000). This is a major concern to society due to the inconclusive studies related to the health and environmental impact of genetically modified crops are good or bad. This

A gene is a segment of DNA that codes for a specific protein which will determine a specific characteristic or trait. An example of this is golden rice, which has been developed to produce provitamin-A or beta-carotene (Transgenic-Crops, 2015). There are number of methods used towards transferring genes including through plasmids, viruses, Gene gun, Agrobacteria (for plant cells) and microinjection (Edmodo, 2015). The most commonly known gene transfer method used for crops is using the plasmid from soil bacterium (Agrobacterium tumefaciens). Firstly, the gene of interest is isolated through prior knowledge

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