Genetic Engineering And The Human Disease Models Essay

Introduction Genetic engineering has developed to target specific modifications in the genome of living organisms for a desired outcome. To assist in the process, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has been developed to create insertions and deletions in chosen genes allowing for the alteration and analysis of phenotypic changes resulting from the targeted mutations (Bassett et al., 2013). This is significant for determining the role of various proteins, examining methods to insert new genes into organisms, and for the potential to examine human disease models in organisms. For the purposes of this review article, the CRISPR/Cas9 system will specifically be talked about with regards to genetic modification of the Drosophila fruit fly due to the flies relative short life span and ability to design experiments over multiple generations in short time periods, as well as a comparison of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to alternate methods of genetic engineering. Genome Editing Systems Genetic engineering is any process by which genetic material is changed in such a way as to make possible the production of new substances or new functions through the insertion or deletion of genes. This is achieved through the cleavage of DNA at a specific gene sequence, followed by the repair of the DNA by non-homologous end joining or homology directed repair (Zhang, Ferreira Schnorrer, 2014). Consequently, if left alone double stranded breaks can lead to cell death, as a result cells have developed manyShow MoreRelatedGenetic Engineering : The Field Of Biomedical Research1710 Words   |  7 PagesGenetic engineering is the latest experimental practice used in the world of biomedical research. This practice refers to humans modifying an animals’ genetic component in order to express a particular trait (Dale et al). The scientific community calls the animals produced by this practice as transgenic animals in order to distinguish between its wild type relative. This innova tive technology paved ways for medical breakthroughs, along with the expansion of human understanding towards the mechanismsRead MoreThe Animals Of The Pigs1653 Words   |  7 Pagesglowing green snouts are genetically engineered animals known as transgenic animals. Canadian council on animal care (CCAC) defines transgenic animal as â€Å"an animal in which there has been a deliberate modification of its genome†1. Method of Genetic Engineering to produce pigs with glowing green snouts: These transgenic pigs were produced using a technique called DNA microinjection2. For the very first time, 10 piglets with glowing green snouts were produced using this technique in year 2013 in ChinaRead MoreThe Potential Benefits Of Genetic Engineering1721 Words   |  7 PagesGenetic engineering is a recent development that has gained tremendous commercial appeal. The potential benefits of genetic engineering have captivated the general public and clouded their moral values. The ultimate goal of genetic engineering is to create a utopian society where problems such as disease and world hunger no longer exist. Genetically engineering humans to be ideal beings may eventually lead to the creation of a â€Å"super race.† A super race is a race of strong, healthy, and highly intelligentRead More The Human Genome Project Essay941 Words   |  4 Pages The Human Genome Project is a worldwide research effort with the goal of analyzing the structure of human DNA and determining th e location of the estimated 100,000 human genes. The DNA of a set of model organisms will be studied to provide the information necessary for understanding the functioning of the human genome. The information gathered by the human genome project is expected to be the source book for biomedical science in the twenty-first century and will be of great value to the field ofRead MoreThe Artificial Model Of Natural Selection1440 Words   |  6 PagesThe Artificial Model of Natural Selection Since Charles Darwin raised the concept of natural selection, all generations have been enlightened with the idea of the â€Å"preservation of favorable variations and the rejection of injurious variations [†¦] useful in some ways to each being in the great and complex battle of life (Darwin, 1). However, only the most recent generations have heard about something called genetic modification that in some cases we don’t understand, but whose effects have been increasedRead MoreThe Engineering of Human Genetics in Dreams and Nightmares Essay1274 Words   |  6 Pagesbreakthroughs and advancements at a rapid pace. The velocity of the incoming discoveries may allow one to overlook the powerful emphasis we as humans hold over human life itself. While human research has been developing an understanding of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) since Friedrich Miescher isolated the double-helix shaped molecule, efforts in recent decades to map the human genome have instigated a great am ount of opportunity to the potential manipulation of the basic elements of life. This potential hadRead MoreThe Golden Age Of Computing1440 Words   |  6 Pagescomputer revolution, the genetic revolution hopes to do for life what computing did for information. We are near being able to manipulate organisms for any number of reasons. Whether it be for medicine or agriculture, the technology we have will change the way we interact with the natural world. Over the years, genetic engineering continued to prove itself beneficial in the fields of medicine, manufacturing, and agriculture. These benefits range from curing genetic diseases to increased farming productivityRead MoreGenetic Engineering : Genetically Modified Organisms Essay1293 Words   |  6 Pagesmeaning that their genetic materials have been modified. This modification is achieved through a technological method, genetic engineering. Genetic engineering also known as recombinant DNA technology/genetic modification is a science that employs molecular biology techniques so as to modify or alter the genome of an organism. It involves manipulation of an organism’s genome directly by use of biotechnology. Typically, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is an exogenous genetic material, is insertedRead MoreGenome Editing Essay1614 Words   |  7 Pagescorrection in sperms and oocytes for the inhibition of onset of inherited disorder. The first time, germ line genome edi ting in human by CRISPR/Cas9 system , was carried out to correct mutation of HBB (Beta globin) gene in zygote of ÃŽ ²-thalassemia patients by homologous DNA recombination (HDR) [80, 81]. Embryonic genome editing utilized in the treatment of such monogenic diseases prior to birth is a rational use of embryonic genome editing in germ line cells. Homologous DNA recombination by traditionalRead MoreGenetic Engineering in Humans Essay873 Words   |  4 Pagespre-birth enhancement. Iniquitous practices such as genetic engineering could lead to a degraded feeling in a child and conceivably end in a dystopian society, almost like the society Adolf Hitler had in mind. In the minds of some scientists genetic engineering for pre-birth enhancement is a potential for disaster. Disputes surrounding the definition of humanity, a threat to freedom of action, and eugenics question the moral ethics of genetic engineering, yet there is still belief that pre-birth enhancement