Dna Technology History
History of DNA Technology
During the early1960s, there was great progress being made in beginning to understand the structure of genes and the mechanisms of their replication, expression, and regulation in prokaryotes and the viruses that began to infect them (Berg 2010). However at the time it was still unknown as to whether or not these findings applied to eukaryotes. This is because the tools used at the time for exploring genetic properties were not fit for the task.
By the spring of 1972, the first chimeric recombinant DNA had been produced by successively using six enzymes with previously known properties. Around the same time, it became known that recombinant DNAs created in vitro, including interspecies ones, that could be cloned, …show more content…
It is a method of breeding products. Genetic alteration allows scientists to change food crops by switching a copy of a gene for a specific trait, for example, a gene that protects potatoes against insects and viruses. A gene can be copied from any organism-another plant, an animal, or even a microbe providing plant breeders with a wider source of potential genes (Bailey 2001). Genes function by creating specific proteins, and certain proteins can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Therefore there is always the possibility that the new gene inserted into non-allergenic food could cause that food to suddenly become allergenic (Bailey2001). This becomes a problem if the new gene is derived from foods that commonly cause allergic reactions, such as milk, eggs, fish, tree nuts, wheat and legumes especially peanuts and soybeans. These foods take responsibility for almost 90 percent of food-based allergic reactions (Bailey …show more content…
Genetic modification may be beneficial, both to individual consumers and to the general population. Its technology can increase the nutritional value of different foods. For example, a rice containing vitamin A in order to help prevent blindness has been developed (Goodyear 2001). Pest and disease-resistant crops can lead to the possible reduction in the use of pesticides, with fewer residues in the food and a reduction of chemical pollution in the environment. Trans genetic crops can also help provide a stable and prolonged production of high-quality food by increasing the yield, decreasing the need for pesticides, and improving the overall nutritional quality (Goodyear
During the early1960s, there was great progress being made in beginning to understand the structure of genes and the mechanisms of their replication, expression, and regulation in prokaryotes and the viruses that began to infect them (Berg 2010). However at the time it was still unknown as to whether or not these findings applied to eukaryotes. This is because the tools used at the time for exploring genetic properties were not fit for the task.
By the spring of 1972, the first chimeric recombinant DNA had been produced by successively using six enzymes with previously known properties. Around the same time, it became known that recombinant DNAs created in vitro, including interspecies ones, that could be cloned, …show more content…
It is a method of breeding products. Genetic alteration allows scientists to change food crops by switching a copy of a gene for a specific trait, for example, a gene that protects potatoes against insects and viruses. A gene can be copied from any organism-another plant, an animal, or even a microbe providing plant breeders with a wider source of potential genes (Bailey 2001). Genes function by creating specific proteins, and certain proteins can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Therefore there is always the possibility that the new gene inserted into non-allergenic food could cause that food to suddenly become allergenic (Bailey2001). This becomes a problem if the new gene is derived from foods that commonly cause allergic reactions, such as milk, eggs, fish, tree nuts, wheat and legumes especially peanuts and soybeans. These foods take responsibility for almost 90 percent of food-based allergic reactions (Bailey …show more content…
Genetic modification may be beneficial, both to individual consumers and to the general population. Its technology can increase the nutritional value of different foods. For example, a rice containing vitamin A in order to help prevent blindness has been developed (Goodyear 2001). Pest and disease-resistant crops can lead to the possible reduction in the use of pesticides, with fewer residues in the food and a reduction of chemical pollution in the environment. Trans genetic crops can also help provide a stable and prolonged production of high-quality food by increasing the yield, decreasing the need for pesticides, and improving the overall nutritional quality (Goodyear