What is Genetic Engineering? The term 'genetic engineering' describes modern methods of using natural biological processes for the benefit of mankind. It actually involves taking genes from their normal location in one organism and either transferring them elsewhere or putting them back in the same organism in different locations. How Does Genetic Engineering Work? When a plant wants to make a new protein, it makes a copy of a small part of the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) strand and sends this copy to the cell's factory. In this factory, this copy is used as a template for protein manufacture. Now that scientists can identify the parts of DNA used in making different proteins, they can extract or copy these parts and insert them in other cells. The result? Genetically engineered DNA!

Steps taken in : A cell is taken from the udder of an adult ewe, and grown in a cultured environment (in the laboratory) for six days. An unfertillised egg is taken from another sheep. Its nucleus, containing DNA, is removed from the egg. The cell from the doner sheep is fused together with the empty egg in the laboratory by a spark of electricity. The embryo resulting from the fusion is transferred to the uterus of yet another sheep which acts as a surrogate mother. The surrogate mother gives birth to the cloned lamb. It is genetically identical to the ewe udder from which the cell came.

Applications of :

People with serious illnesses could produce a 'twin' for spare-part transplant or transfusion purposes.

Could help in the production of transgenic animals with organs suitable for transplants. This could possibly ensure the end of the chronic shortage of organs.

Infertile couples who want children could resort to cloning.

Could allow genetic duplicates of the dead. (This to date is not possible, as only two living cells (the egg and the cell containing the cell you want to duplicate) can be fused together.)

Indeed, genetic engineering has come a long long way, from the wild and abstract dreams of the fantastic, to the very down-to-earth talk of the entire planet. Ask anyone and they will probably be able to give you a pretty good idea of what's going on.

But the question will always remain -- is genetic engineering right? Is tempering with God's creations the moralistically correct thing to do? We take a look at the views of four separate groups of people in Views on Genetic Engineering.

Here are some links to pages that bring across the subject very well. We invite you to take a look at them!

Access Excellence About Biotech provides a whole lot of information about Biotechnology, coming in a comprehensive and attractive package!

The Society, Religion and Technology Project covers a vast amount of Genetic-Engineering topics, including ethical issues, xenotransplantation, patenting and cloning.

If you are more interested in Genetic Algorithms, The Genetic Algorithms Archive is an informative site!

If you would like to know (a lot ) more about agricultural biotechnology, The Biological Information Center is a source for loads and loads of information.

Information for Genetic Engineering Reports is a site that provides some good jump points!

Wanna prepare Human Chromosomes? This site provides the full lab procedure!

Our purpose in this project is of course to inform, not to overwhelm people into hating the subject. Truly, it is a marvel that such a feat has been accomplished in human history. But if you really want to boggle your mind with all the facts and figures involved in genetic engineering, the above sites will help you!