Genetic Engineering Is: Its Definition and Benefits in Various Fields

Illustration - genetically modified agricultural products (photo: Pixabay/Caniceus)

YOGYAKARTA - Genetic engineering is one of the scientific innovations that provide many benefits in various sectors of life. This technology has experienced very rapid development in the last 60 years.

Genetic engineering allows scientists to change, add, or delete certain genes to obtain desired traits. With the development of science and technology, genetic engineering is now increasingly used in various fields, ranging from health to agriculture.

Various innovations such as artificial insulin, pest-resistant plants, and gene therapy for genetic diseases are the tangible results of the application of genetic engineering.

So, what is meant by genetic engineering? To find out the answer, see the explanation below.

Genetic Engineering Is

Quoted from the National Human Genome Research Institute website, genetic engineering, also known as genetic modification, is a process that uses laboratory-based technology to change the DNA sequence of an organism. These changes can be in the form of a single base pair modification (A-T or C-G), deletion of a specific part of the DNA, or addition of a new DNA segment.

For example, genetic engineering can be done by adding genes from one species into an organism from another species to produce a certain desired trait. In the world of research and industry, genetic engineering has been widely applied, including in the development of cancer therapies, production of yeast for the fermentation industry, as well as the creation of genetically engineered plants and livestock, and various other applications.

The term genetic engineering was first introduced in the 1970s to describe the field of recombinant DNA technology.

There are several terms that are often used to describe genetic engineering technology, including genetic modification, gene cloning, recombinant DNA technology, and gene modification.

Menyadur buku Pengantar Rekayasa Genetika karya Aji Sutrisno dan Agustin Krisna, Kehadiran rekayasa genetika dipicu oleh kebutuhan akan metode yang lebih modern dan akurat untuk meningkatkan kualitas serta efektivitas eksperimen dalam bidang biologi molekuler dan bioteknologi.

Benefits of Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering has been applied in various fields, ranging from health, agriculture, to industry. Here are the various benefits of genetic engineering in these fields:

Benefits of Genetic Engineering in the Field of Health Drug Development Gene Therapy Follicle Stimulating Hormone Human Albumin Monoclonal Antibodies Blood clotting factor for hemophiliacs Benefits of Genetic Engineering in the Field of Research/Research

In the field of research or research, genes or genetic information from various organisms can be inserted into bacteria to be stored, studied, and modified. This process produces genetically engineered bacteria that are used as research objects.

Benefits of Genetic Engineering in Agriculture

In the agricultural sector, genetic engineering is used to create plants that are more resistant to pests and diseases, have higher nutritional value, and are able to produce more abundant harvests.

Benefits of Genetic Engineering in the Industrial Field

In the industrial world, genetic engineering is used for:

Changing cells to be able to produce certain proteins that are beneficial Producing products such as insulin, human growth hormone, vaccines, as well as supplements such as tryptophan

That's the explanation of genetic engineering. From the above description we can conclude that genetic engineering is a technology of modifying genetic material in organisms to manipulate the inheritance properties. Hopefully this information can add to the reader's insight. For other news updates, read VOI.id.