DAVE C.

BOC G11-EIM 1B

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

What do you think the objective of scientists in genetic engineering?

I think the objective of scientist in genetic engineering is to enhance or modify the characteristics of
an individual organism. Understanding our genetics in greater depth is an intriguing concept for many
reasons with many practical applications.
First and foremost are from a medical perspective the goal would be to mitigate or correct genetic
errors and damage caused by those errors. Many of the most debilitating conditions know to afflict
humans are a result of inheriting multiple faulty genes from our parents. Imagine being able to not just
treat but cure genetic defects like multiple sclerosis, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, or sequences that
will eventually lead to cancer all of which are deadly. You could save hundreds perhaps thousands of
lives and more immediately alleviate the suffering of millions of people. More over think of being able to
help someone with Downs Syndrome or another form of mental retardation caused by genetics beyond
just helping them cope. It would be a game changer to be able to manipulate genetics in such a way for so
many people improving the lives of millions.
On the other hand, it would be life extension. A lot of how aging eventually kills people is related to
genetics. Specifically, by the process of being alive most mammals suffer genetic damage that makes our
bodies ever more inefficient until either we get cancer which kills us or can no longer supply our needs
sufficiently to remain living. If you could use genetic engineering to repair that sort of damage and
replenish the ‘junk data’ DNA meant to take those sorts of hits for the rest of your body then you could
effectively raise the upper limit of the human life span significantly. We're talking potentially living in
close to peak condition for over a century if it works out the way we think it would. Lastly, would be
eventually redrafting the human blueprint. Humans are a product of evolution over time which has served
us very well allowing us to become highly intelligent and effectively conquer the entire world.

Can you cite the techniques in genetic engineering scientists utilize in creating outcomes?

Genetic engineering can be accomplished using multiple techniques. There are a number of steps
that are followed before a genetically modified organism (GMO) is created. Genetic engineers must first
choose what gene they wish to insert, modify, or delete. The gene must then be isolated and incorporated,
along with other genetic elements, into a suitable vector. This vector is then used to insert the gene into
the host genome, creating a transgenic or edited organism. The ability to genetically engineer organisms
is built on years of research and discovery on how genes function and how we can manipulate them.
Important advances included the discovery of restriction enzymes and DNA ligases and the development
of polymerase chain reaction and sequencing.