Engineering Innovation

Engineering Innovation

Introduction

Genetic engineering is the term usually reserved for these molecular modifications that use recombinant techniques. With genetic engineering, scientists argue they can more precisely manipulate the units of heredity at the molecular level (Rabinow, 2006). Novel assemblages of genes can be made by moving genes across the species barrier, bypassing the condition of sexual compatibility previously required for genetic recombination.

Genetic engineering introduces foreign DNA into the host organism in several different ways. The most popular way is to introduce the DNA into host with a viral or bacterium invasion into the host's nucleus (Krimsky, 2006). This virus or bacteria is known as the promoter. Transferring genes using a bacterium involves combining the desired gene with a plasmid, which is then carried by an agrobacterium.

The agrobacterium inserts itself through the cell wall depositing the desired gene in the host organism. After gene transfer both the promoter and the desired gene remain in the plasmid. These plasmids are then cultured, and in the case of plants, moved to a greenhouse where it is determined whether or not the desired gene is expressed in the plant's phenotype (Kahl, 2008).

Discussion

Often this is done with a marker gene, which when expressed makes it easy to identify which plants contain the desired gene. The most common marker genes are those for antibiotic resistance so that the determination can be done early. Antibiotics kill cells without the new genes (Bowler, 2008). This has raised many food safety concerns about genetically engineered foods because it is unclear whether or not the antibiotic resistance affects human health or promotes resistance. Newer marker genes include traits of phosphorescence from jellyfish, where the desired trait can be ascertained from the organism's exposure to a black light. Other genetic engineering techniques use non-viral promoters (Rabinow, 2006). The particle gun technique uses gold or tungsten covered pellets coated with bits of DNA that penetrate the cell wall and randomly insert themselves into the hosts DNA.

Across the globe, genetic engineering has been suggested as a plant breeding strategy to end one of the most severe forms of childhood malnutrition in Southeast Asia. A Swedish scientist, Ingo Potrykus, has developed a strain of rice that can produce provitamin A (from daffodils!) in the endosperm. The vitamin in the rice grain turns it yellow, so Potrykus dubbed it golden rice. It promises to end the eyesight failures and other effects of vitamin A deficiency among people who subsist mainly on rice (Krimsky, 2006).

In the developing world, genetic engineering may be able to help small farmers cultivate marginal lands, where water and nutrients are in short supply or conventional plant breeding techniques have proven ineffective. Perhaps scientists could engineer sweet potatoes for Africa that would resist the plague of witchweed that ruins harvest after harvest. In an era of global warming and climatic variability, conventional breeding may proceed too slowly to give us crops better adapted to heat and drought. Could we genetically engineer crops to grow in hotter and drier weather? (Kahl, 2008)

Meanwhile, a ...