DNA Genetic engineering is a science that directly manipulates the genome of a living being, through a set of techniques that isolate, multiply and modify the individual's genes in order to study and benefit them.
This technology had its beginning specifically from 1973, when two American scientists Cohen and Boyer took a synthesized DNA molecule and introduced it into the respective genetic code of a bacterium. In such a way that their children carried within themselves the molecule introduced into their mother's DNA; thus achieving its transmission to all the descendants of the transformed bacteria.
Genetic engineering consists mainly in the introduction of a gene in the genome of an individual that lacks it or has it defective, to provide it with new faculties; that is, the gene or its region is located, extracted, isolated and modified and then inserted. Other times the DNA is transferred to an organism of the same species or of another, resulting in a transgenic organism . This technique is very common in plants and animals. There is also the technique of cloning, in other words, making a number of identical copies of the gene from the same individual. In nature this process occurs in bacteria, yeasts and other living things.
For the year 1997 a great revolution in biology began, with the cloning of an adult mammal, from cells of its mammary gland and not from an embryo and without the participation of the male; thus being born the "Dolly Sheep" at the Scottish Roslin Institute. This technique has improved over the years despite legal, religious, ethical and moral limitations. Genetic engineering together with biotechnology (the use of microorganisms, cell cultures, tissues and organs for the manufacture of biological products) form a great alliance that serves and will always be of great help to humanity. They are also supported by other sciences such as microbiology, biochemistry and chemical engineering.
In addition to the production of transgenic plants and animals, and the cloning of animals, this technology has other applications such as gene therapy to correct or replace an altered gene with a non-mutated one , determination of the individual's genetic footprint, as well as hereditary diseases or caused by the alteration of a gene, creation of genetically modified microorganisms for the production of drugs or other products, among others.
