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Dictionary » G » Genetic engineering

Genetic engineering

Definition

noun

The technology entailing all processes of altering the genetic material of a cell to make it capable of performing the desired functions, such as producing novel substances.


Supplement

Genetic engineering covers all various experimental techniques that manipulate the genes of the organism. It uses recombinant DNA, molecular cloning and transformation. At present, it is applied in improving crop technology, manufacturing synthetic human insulin (using modified bacteria), production of erythropoietin (using Chinese hamster ovary cells), and production of new types of experimental mice for research (such as cancer mouse). It also has the potential of being used in humans by changing their appearance, intelligence, character and adaptability; however, there are ethical concerns and controversies it has to resolve before it can be widely accepted.


Related forms: genetic engineer (noun).
Synonym: recombinant DNA technology, genetic modification, genetic manipulation (GM), gene splicing.
See also: bioethics, biotechnology, cloning, genetic pollution.


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Can a turtle and a frog breed?

... differences to more complex elements such as chromosome numbers and genetics. One could perhaps get something done by genetic engineering, but even making a true hybrid (half the genome from frog and half from turtle) ...

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by biohazard
Thu Aug 27, 2009 6:10 am
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Can a turtle and a frog breed?
Replies: 1
Views: 86

Re: Urgent question

... from her but couldnot give rise to a cactus.even if it is possible by genetic engineering then also the cactus can never ever fly because its a cactus(a plant) not a bird.The ...

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by ankitamrinal
Sun Aug 23, 2009 8:23 am
 
Forum: Molecular Biology
Topic: Urgent question
Replies: 4
Views: 74

Pitfalls of Evolutionary Psychology: Exaptation

... with technology is inevitable. We will experiment with nanotechnology, genetic engineering, and computer simulation in order to determine the best state of existence as an ...

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by jeremyo
Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:12 am
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Pitfalls of Evolutionary Psychology: Exaptation
Replies: 3
Views: 133

Speciation among primates and hominids

... to make new species would be selective breeding until we get better in genetic engineering and simply start producing new species.

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by biohazard
Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:08 am
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Speciation among primates and hominids
Replies: 12
Views: 373

Speciation among primates and hominids

... out of primates would probably be selective breeding (at the moment, genetic engineering is likely to speeden up that hugely in the future, if we so choose).

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by biohazard
Mon Jul 06, 2009 8:02 am
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Speciation among primates and hominids
Replies: 12
Views: 373
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