Every living organism on the planet carries DNA in its cells. Contained within DNA are sets of instructions, or genes, to build the proteins that a cell needs to function. We inherit these genes from our parents and small differences between them contribute to unique physical features such as eye color and height. It is now possible to read the code, or sequence, in a strand of DNA to identify the genes we carry and understand what they do. Scientists can also create new pieces of genetic material and even add, remove or replace sections of DNA to edit genes. Taken together, these are known as genetic technologies. They offer enormous power to learn more about diseases, develop new varieties of plants to improve food crops, or even fix genetic faults that cause inherited conditions. But the potential benefits of genetic technologies must also be weighed against ethical and societal concerns about how they might be used. Effective regulation and ethical boundaries are essential. Gene targeting is a different technique that uses homologous recombination to change an endogenous gene, and can be used to delete a gene, remove exons, add a gene, or introduce point mutations. Genetic technology has applications in medicine, research, industry and agriculture and can be used on a wide range of plants, animals and microorganisms. Genetic technology has produced a variety of drugs and hormones for medical use. For example, one of its earliest uses in pharmaceuticals was gene splicing to manufacture large amounts of insulin, made using cells of E. coli bacteria. Interferon, which is used to eliminate certain viruses and kill cancer cells, also is a product of genetic engineering, as are tissue plasminogen activator and urokinase, which are used to dissolve blood clots. Another byproduct is a type of human growth hormone; it’s used to treat dwarfism and is produced through genetically-engineered bacteria and yeasts. The evolving field of gene therapy involves manipulating human genes to treat or cure genetic diseases and disorders. Modified plasmids or viruses often are the messengers to deliver genetic material to the body’s cells, resulting in the production of substances that should correct the illness. Sometimes cells are genetically altered inside the body; other times scientists modify them in the laboratory and return them to the patient’s body.
Genetic technology provide a better understanding of how biological systems work and respond, but it can also be a tool when the knowledge is used to create new technologies. When exposed to the lights of a suitable wavelength, RFP and GFP are chromophores that emit fluorescence without any additional enzyme or cofactor. Cloning and sequencing of the genes encoding GFP and RFP provide information on the three-dimensional structure of the proteins, unveiling the formation of chromophores and the emission of fluorescence. He findings permit scientists to use genetic technology to manipulate the genes, hence creating the enhanced version of the proteins and changing the color of the chromophores. To date, the color palette of existing fluorescent proteins ranges in the blue-cyan, cyan-green, green, yellow, orange, red, and far-red spectra. Genetic technology uses recombinant DNA technology to create genetically modified organisms or GMOs. It is one of the most powerful technologies available in molecular biology. On the other hand, it’s also one of the most controversial. Nevertheless, the benefits of genetic engineering are so much more than creating new GMOs.Its application also improves existing techniques, unravels complex biological processes and brings about new technologies and novel approaches. When used within the bounds of ethical and safety concerns, it brings about the technological advancement that can improve the quality of life.
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