Genetic Engineering the Process of Altering Genes,

Genetic Engineering

The process of altering genes, or genetic engineering, has become a more heated subject as science and technology continue to evolve. In fact, with DNA technology, genetic modifications within plants and other organisms has become a major development, especially in the world of agriculture and medicine. However, there is still the possibility of the inability to contain the spreading and somewhat "tainting" of non-genetically modified organisms, which seem to be the major concerns of scientists, environmentalists, and organic farmers throughout the nation.

The four articles discuss the possible uses of altering an organism's genetic code in order to further production and efficiency. Three of the articles discuss the prospect of genetically altered genes, as well as the arguments for and against such approval of biotech creations. In February, the United States Department of Agriculture approved an otherwise disallowed manufacturing of genetically engineered sugar beets (Pollack, 2011). In the same month, the U.S.D.A. also approved the manufacturing of Enogen, a corn created solely for the industrial production of ethanol (Pollack, 2011). There are also genetically engineered organisms including alfalfa and fast-growing salmon, as well as other resources that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as well as the U.S.D.A (Bittman, 2011). Furthermore, in a study on mice, it has become possible to suppress or express certain genes in order to increase a certain positive trait quality (Bhanoo, 2011).

All four articles focus on the importance of genetic engineering as a major component of study. Using DNA technology to allow the production of positive traits within organisms can speed up production and essentially provide for additional resources. By turning a certain gene "on" in the mice, scientists are able to distinguish, discern, and isolate a trait in order to guarantee the passing on of the gene to the offspring. It is the same premise studied and practiced within the genetically modified plants. The genetically engineered alfalfa, salmon, and beets would enable an increase in resources and would have less need for the use of pesticides (Bittman, 2011). The Enogen would produce ethanol at a rapid and efficient rate, the product being an important industrial commodity (Pollack, 2011).

Of course, with such a fledgling science -- that is, genetic engineering -- the wariness and the concerns are rather high. Some argue about the side effects after a genetic alteration: the mice's aberrant increase in violence might also be similar should geneticists alter the same gene in the human DNA (Bhanoo, 2011). Others are concerned about the spreading of the genetically modified plants into normally or organically grown organisms; there is concern that as much as one altered corn kernel can destroy the consistency of starch from thousands of regular corn kernels (Pollack, 2011).