Genetic Engineering
Genetic Engineering is a process whereby DNA can
purposefully be altered. Biotechnology has greatly increased our
ability to manipulate the fundamental units of heredity -- changing
and rearranging the nucleotides in genes and transferring them
between organisms. In other words genetic engineers can introduce
specific pieces of DNA into cells so that the "foreign" DNA is
functional and replicates in the host cell along with its own genes.
This process is called gene
cloning.
An historical perspective is important but a
working knowledge of just how the genetic material can be isolated,
manipulated, stored, cataloged, reinserted, etc. is essential if one
is to fully appreciate the power and consequences of this emerging
technology.
Click on the subjects below to gain a better
understanding of each.
Links to Online Lectures about Genetic
Engineering
Links to Research about Genetic Engineering and Gene
Therapy
Investigate
how to search for specific DNA sequences.
