GENE TECHNOLOGY IN HUMANS

GROUP MEMBERS
1. SOLIANA GETACHEW

2. SITRA DAWIT

3. EDEN GEZAHEGN

4. SAMUEL MIFTA

5. YAKIN GETAHUN

6. HANAN BEKELE

7. BRUKTAWIT TAMRAT

8. Leul Endriyas

9. Jhon W/selassie

10.

SUBMITTED TO: SIR. ALELEGN

SUBMISSION DATE: 15/02/202

Introduction

What is gene technology?

Gene technology is one aspect of biotechnology. It involves the introduction of new or
altered genes into plants in the laboratory. The outcome is commonly called a genetically
modified organism (GMO).

DNA is DNA and makes protein. Genes are made of DNA, a large molecule found in every
cell of every living organism. Every gene is made of the same four units, the only difference
between genes being the order of the four units of the genetic code.

DNA is a part of food, and the average person consumes 2 x 1016sup> genes, that's 20
million billion genes eaten every day. As a food, these genes are the same regardless of
whether they come from a plant, animal, or microbe. The genetic information is not taken
up by the consumer. You may eat pork, but you won't grow a tail.

And when an animal eats a GM pasture plant, all the genes in the plant are broken down to
their basic chemical parts in the digestive process.

When a gene is activated, or 'turned on, it directs the synthesis of a specific protein
according to its code, the order of the four units. The protein products of genes have
different functions and may have different food properties. A few may even be difficult to
digest or cause allergic-type reactions.

The cells of a human being or other organism have parts called “genes” that control the
chemical reactions in the cell that make it grow and function and ultimately determine the
growth and function of the organism. An organism inherits some genes from each parent
and thus the parents pass on certain traits to their offspring.

Gene technology and genetic engineering are two closely related technologies that involve
altering the genetic material of organisms. The distinction between the two is based on
purpose. Gene technology seeks to alter genes to correct genetic defects and thus prevent
or cure genetic diseases. Genetic engineering aims to modify the genes to enhance the
capabilities of the organism beyond what is normal.

Ethical controversy surrounds the possible use of both technologies in plants, nonhuman
animals, and humans. Particularly with genetic engineering, for instance, one wonders
whether it would be proper to tinker with human genes to make people able to outperform
the greatest Olympic athletes or much smarter than Einstein.

Gene technology is the term given to a range of activities concerned with understanding
gene expression, taking advantage of natural genetic variation, modifying genes, and
transferring genes to new hosts.
Genes are found in all living organisms and are passed on from one generation to the next.
They are the coded instructions an organism uses to make proteins, and it is these proteins
that make up the structures and perform the functions of living things.

Identifying genes and their function is an important application of gene technology and can
lead to more efficient conventional breeding processes. Marker-assisted breeding is one
example. Genetic markers for desirable traits such as color or disease resistance are used to
identify plants or animals for inclusion in a breeding program early in their development.
This speeds up the selection process.

The primary contribution of gene technology to date has been in scientific investigations in
which a great deal of new knowledge has been gained about how plants grow and develop.
In the course of these studies, genes with potential for application inbreeding have been
isolated and their beneficial properties have been demonstrated in the lab and glasshouse.

We use gene technology in crop and animal research to improve the sustainability and
productivity of agriculture and to protect plants, animals, and humans from disease. For
example, we used genetic testing to speed up conventional breeding of our black tiger
prawn and introduced a gene into cotton to help it resist the Helicoverpa larvae.

Gene technology is also used to introduce a gene from an unrelated species or to introduce
a gene constructed in the laboratory. Genetically modified cotton is a working example.

Insect damage is the major problem facing cotton growers and large amounts of insecticides
are applied during the growing season to control pests. The insecticides are an imprecise
solution, lacking specificity and killing both pests and beneficial insects. Insecticides have a
host of other detrimental environmental effects which attract community opposition, the
dispute over endosulfan with neighboring cattle growers being a prime example.

In this example, gene technology results in the production of a protein inside the cells of the
cotton leaf that would not otherwise be found there.

Gene technology today is an important part of modern biotechnology and is used, among
other things, to give bacteria, plants, and animals new properties. This is possible by
inserting a gene from, for example, a bacterium, into a plant or animal (transgenes). In some
cases, genes from closely related or the same species are also transferred (cisgender). The
producers develop GMOs to give us vaccines and medicines, more effective aquaculture and
agriculture, and cheaper food.

Gene technology is a tool in the study of diseases, where transgenic experimental animals
are developed for use as models to understand the development of a disease and to
improve treatment. Transgenic mice, in particular, have been used to study the
development of cancer (oncomice).To enable the human body to accept these transplanted
organs, the genetic composition of the animal organ is altered by the insertion of human
genes.
WHAT IS HUMAN GENE TECHNOLOGY?
Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. In
the future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a
patient’s cells instead of using drugs or surgery. Researchers are testing several approaches
to gene therapy, including:

• Replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene.

• Inactivating, or “knocking out,” a mutated gene that is functioning improperly.

• Introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease.

Although gene therapy is a promising treatment option for several diseases (including
inherited disorders, some types of cancer, and certain viral infections), the technique
remains risky and is still under study to make sure that it will be safe and effective. Gene
therapy is currently being tested diseases only for that have no other cures. Human gene
therapy seeks to modify or manipulate the expression of a gene or to alter the biological
properties of living cells for therapeutic use

Gene therapy products are being studied to treat diseases including cancer, genetic
diseases, and infectious diseases.

There are a variety of types of gene therapy products, including:

• Plasmid DNA: Circular DNA molecules can be genetically engineered to carry

therapeutic genes into human cells.

• Viral vectors: Viruses have a natural ability to deliver genetic material into cells, and
therefore some gene therapy products are derived from viruses. Once viruses have
been modified to remove their ability to cause infectious disease, these modified
viruses can be used as vectors (vehicles) to carry therapeutic genes into human cells.

• Bacterial vectors: Bacteria can be modified to prevent them from causing infectious
disease and then used as vectors (vehicles) to carry therapeutic genes into human
tissues.

• Human gene-editing technology: The goals of gene editing are to disrupt harmful
genes or to repair mutated genes.

• Patient-derived cellular gene therapy products: Cells are removed from the patient,
genetically modified (often using a viral vector), and then returned to the patient.
Why it's done
Replacing mutated genes. Some cells become diseased because certain genes work
incorrectly or no longer work at all. Replacing the defective genes may help treat certain
diseases. For instance, a gene called p53 normally prevents tumor growth. Several types of
cancer have been linked to problems with the p53 gene. If doctors could replace the
defective p53 gene, that might trigger the cancer cells to die.

Fixing mutated genes. Mutated genes that cause disease could be turned off so that they no
longer promote disease or healthy genes that help prevent disease could be turned on so
that they could inhibit the disease.

Making diseased cells more evident to the immune system. In some cases, your immune
system doesn't attack diseased cells because it doesn't recognize them as intruders. Doctors
could use gene therapy to train your immune system to recognize the cells that are a threat.

What are the benefits of Gene Technology?

1. Tackling and Defeating Diseases: There are several genetic mutations that humans can
suffer from that will probably never be ended unless we actively intervene and genetically
engineer the next generation to withstand these problems.

2. Getting Rid of All Illnesses in Young and Unborn Children: There are many problems that
we can detect even before children are born. In the womb, doctors can tell whether your
baby is going to suffer from sickle cell anemia, for instance, or from Down’s syndrome.

3. Potential to Live Longer: we could reverse some of the most basic reasons for the body’s
natural decline on a cellular level, drastically improving both the span of our lives and the
quality of life later on. It could also help humans adapt to growing problems, for instance,
Global warming in the world.

Is it ‘Right’?
When genetic technology first became possible, peoples’ first reactions were to
immediately question whether it was ‘right.’ Many religions believe that genetic
engineering, after all, is tantamount to playing with God, and expressly forbid that it is
performed on their children, for instance.

Besides the religious arguments, however, there are several ethical objections. These
diseases, after all, exist for a reason and have persisted throughout history for a reason.
While we should be fighting against them, we do need at least a few illnesses; otherwise, we
would soon become overpopulated.
Techniques of Genetic Alteration
Two problems must be confronted when changing genes. The first is what kind of
change to make to the gene. The second is how to incorporate that change in all the
other cells that are must be changed to achieve the desired effect.

There are several options for what kind of change to make to the gene. DNA in the
gene could be replaced by other DNA from outside (called “homologous
replacement). Or the gene could be forced to mutate (change the structure –
“selective reverse mutation.”) Or a gene could just be added. Or one could use a
chemical to simply turn off a gene and prevent it from acting.

There are also several options for how to spread the genetic change to all the cells
that need to be changed. If the altered cell is a reproductive cell, then a few such
cells could be changed, and the change would reach the other somatic cells as those
somatic cells were created as the organism develops. But if the change were made
to a somatic cell, changing all the other relevant somatic cells individually like the
first would be impractical due to the sheer number of such cells. The cells of a major
organ such as the heart or liver are too numerous to change one by one. Instead, to
reach such somatic cells a common approach is to use a carrier, or vector, which is
a molecule or organism. A virus, for example, could be used as a vector. The virus
would be an innocuous one or changed so as not to cause disease. It would be
injected with the genetic material and then as it reproduces and “infects” the target
cells it would introduce the new genetic material. It would need to be a very specific
virus that would infect heart cells, for instance, without infecting and changing all the
other cells of the body. Fat particles and chemicals have also been used as vectors
because they can penetrate the cell membrane and move into the cell nucleus with
the new genetic material.
 Advantage and Disadvantages of human gene
technology
Disadvantages of Human Genetic Engineering
1. It would change how we would need to approach population control.

2. There will always be ethical questions to consider. Anyone who believes in the concept of
God, or a supernatural creator will have some level of ethical concern about the idea of
humans genetically editing future generations.

3. It would create different societal classes around the world. New technologies are always
expensive. Only the households that could afford to take advantage of this service would
perform gene editing on their children. That means the initial population surge from human
gene editing would involve the wealthiest people.

4. It would reduce the amount of genetic diversity in the world. If we start eliminating the
potential diseases and illnesses that are currently part of our genome, then the amount of
genetic diversity in the human race would slowly fade.

5. It could increase the risk of allergies.

Advantages of Human Genetic Engineering

1. Fighting diseases
2. Increase in life expectancy
3. Increased variety of foods and drinks
4. Nutritious food
5. Decrease in the use of pesticides
6. Medical foods
7. Decrease in the use of resources
8. Increase in growth rates of animals and plants
9. Development of specific characteristics
References
1. https://medicine.missouri.edu/centers-institutes-labs/health-ethics/faq/gene-
therapy
2. https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/genetic-
technologies/infographic/#:~:text=Genetic%20technology%20is%20already%20here,
medical%20information%20or%20family%20history.
3. https://www.future-science.com/doi/10.2144/btn-2019-0056