what is genetic engineering?
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Genetic engineering, genetic modification (GM), and the now-deprecated gene splicing are terms for the process of manipulating genes, usually outside the organism's normal reproductive process.\n\nIt often involves the isolation, manipulation and reintroduction of DNA into cells or model organisms, usually to express a protein. The aim is to introduce new characteristics such as making a crop resistant to a herbicide, introducing a novel trait, or producing a new protein or enzyme. Examples include the production of human insulin through the use of modified bacteria, the production of erythropoietin in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells, and the production of new types of experimental mice such as the OncoMouse (cancer mouse) for research, through genetic redesign.\n\nSince a protein is specified by a segment of DNA called a gene, future versions of that protein can be modified by changing the gene's underlying DNA. One way to do this is to isolate the piece of DNA containing the gene, precisely cut the gene out, and then reintroduce (splice) the gene into a different DNA segment. Daniel Nathans and Hamilton Smith received the 1978 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for their isolation of restriction endonucleases, which are able to cut DNA at specific sites. Together with ligase, which can join fragments of DNA together, restriction enzymes formed the initial basis of recombinant DNA technology.
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.A technology that attempts to create organisms that contain linked organic and manufactured components.
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What's a dpp class?\n\nWell I hate to tell you that not all jobs are easy to be described in the formalism you are looking for... Having said that and having done my PhD using genetic engineering here are some tips.\n\nYou need at least a university degree in biology or biochemistry or even chemistry. Then postgraduate studies in molecular biology. You might also come across genetic engineering as a postgraduate student doing (bio)chemical engineering.\nPersonally I studied chemistry 4 years in Greece (majored in biochemistry) and then did my PhD in molecular biology in Germany (4 years).\nDegree in genetics would also be a way towards genetic engineering (I think that would be not only through biology but also medicine). \n\nSalaries vary a lot depending on the country, your background and place of work. The most obvious place is an academic institute (universities, research institutes, etc) so in such places your salary would depend also on grants or fellowships (at least at the level of a post-doctoral fellow). Another place of work would be research and development for pharma industry and also ...hmm, well, the army...\n\nGenetic engineering is actually a tool, rather than a field of its own. It means changing the genetic material of organisms in a defined-designed way that changes their phenotype; changes their traits, even introducing completely novel ones. It can be from something as simple as a bacterium (or a virus which is not considered an organism) up to humans (gene therapy). You could be engineering the organism to study'use the organism itself or use the organism as a vessel for something else, like the genetically engineered bacteria which produce insulin and allow the easy, mass production of insulin. \nSo I wouldn't say that there are genetic engineers. Rather that there are different scientists which use this tool according to their needs and field of expertise.\n\nCommon duties and responsibilities? Well, the general ethics behind science and its practice and being very careful with safety issues.\n\nI guess this info can get you started
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I'm not sure if any colleges in India offer a programme in Genetic Engineering at the undergraudate level.\n\nHowever, there are programmes in Biotechnology, which offer specializations in Genetic Engineering in the senior years. Anna University, Chennai (www.annauniv.edu) offers a four-year undergraduate programme in Industrial Biotechnology. So does Amity (www.amity.edu/aib).\n\nPlease refer to the institute's website / brochures for qualifying criteria.
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DNA Technology\nRecombinant DNA technology refers to the techniques used to transplant genes from one living source into another where it will be expressed.\n \nHow Does it work?:\nThe science of DNA technology includes the use of special enzymes called restriction enzymes, DNA vectors, and the host organisms. We will take a look at each of these groups in the following section.\n \nRestriction Enzymes:\nThese special enzymes were discovered in the late 1960's as naturally occurring agents in bacteria. They protect the bacterium against foreign DNA from other organisms. Invading DNA is cut into pieces and made inoperable. This process is called restriction. As with any enzyme, these are specific in the job they do. Many of them only recognize short, specific nucleotide sequences( recognition sequences) and cut at specific points within those sequences. Bacteria protect their own DNA by a process called methylation. During this process methyl groups are added to the nucleotides within the recognition sequence. There are several hundred restriction enzymes and about 100 different recognition sequences.\nRecognition Sequences: are symmetric in that the same sequence of 4 to 8 nucleotides is found on both strands, but run in opposite directions. The restriction enzymes usually cut the phosphodiester bonds of both strands in a staggered manner. The result being both ends have a single stranded area called the sticky ends. It is within this space that the new piece of DNA is added, attaching to the sticky ends. \n \nThese unions are temporary until the enzyme DNA ligase is added to catalyze the formation of the phosphodiester bonds.\nVectors: are used as carriers for moving DNA from test tubes into cells. Bacterial plasmids and viruses are the most widely used vectors in DNA transfer. Bacterial cells can pick up the DNA through the process of transformation. Lambda phages are used by eliminating the middle of its liner genome and adding the foreign DNA in the created space. The phage is then introduced into the bacterial cell where it replicated itself via the lysogenic cycle.\nHost Organisms: Bacteria are usually used as hosts in genetic engineering. There are several reasons why they are chosen. 1. Bacterial DNA can be easily isolated and reintroduced into bacterial cells. 2. Bacterial cultures grow quickly. Some disadvantages surface as well: 1. Bacteria, being prokaryotic, may not be able to use the information in eukaryotic genes. 2. Bacterial cells cannot make the the necessary changes in transcription to produce some eukaryotic proteins. Eukaryotic cells can also be used as hosts. Yeast cells and some plant and animal cells can be a host for foreign DNA, but it is often difficult to get such cells to take up engineered DNA.\nSteps for using Bacteria and Plasmids to Clone Genes:\n1. Isolation of two kinds of DNA.\n2. Treatment of plasmid and foreign DNA with the same restriction enzyme.\n3. Mixture of foreign DNA with clipped plasmids.\n4. Addition of DNA ligase.\n5. Introduction of recombinant plasmid into bacterial cells.\n6. Production of multiple gene copies by gene cloning and selection process for transformed cells.\n7. Final screening for transformed cells.\n \n\n \nAdditional Methods for Analyzing and Cloning Nucleotide Sequences:\n1. Gel Electrophoresis. is used to separate either nucleic acids or proteins based upon molecular size, charge and other physical properties. Various DNA's can be identified by their characteristic banding patterns after being cut with their particular retraction enzymes. Genes can be isolated, purified and recovered from the gel with full biological activity.\n2. DNA Synthesis. It is possible to create known short DNA sequences in the laboratory. The Sanger Method is used to identify the sequence of a DNA molecule. This method is based on: a). use of restriction enzymes into small reproducible fragments. b). produce in a test tube DNA strands complimentary to a strand from the restr
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Biotechnology covers a wide range of uses, but I'd say that mostly it's about manipulating cells to express genes that we want them to express.  This could be to make them produce industrial enzymes, designer agriculture, or biopharmaceuticals.  the genetic code is pretty much universal, meaning we can take a gene from one organiand put into another to acheive specific results.  Industrial enzymes can be used for anything from cleaning wastewater with special enzymes to degrade certain toxins, to making enzymes that breakdown starch into sugar for the production of ethanol for fuel, to the making of specific detergents.  With agriculture, we can transfect plants with genes that make them more resistant to diseases or vermin, or more robust and able to grow under more varied claimates, or we can make food bigger or more nutritious.  In biopharmceuticals, we address genetic disorders by creating the proteins that some people are unable to make for themselves, allowing them to lead more normal lives.
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Plasmids are little loops of DNA. They can act as vectors ("carriers") in genetic engineering. The donor DNA is inserted into the plasmid/ vector, which can then be inserted into a bacterial cell, typically a non- pathogenic species. This will transform the cell. Large numbers of these bacteria are then produced in conditions which favour synthesis and secretion of the desired gene product. \n---> Important for the artificial production of hormones etc.
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Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions for the biological development of a cellular form of life or a virus. All known cellular life and some viruses have DNAs. DNA is a long polymer of nucleotides (a polynucleotide) that encodes the sequence of amino acid residues in proteins, using the genetic code.
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biotechnology is technology that has to do with living things. for instance, growing organs, genetically enhancing/modifying plants and animals, etc.
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No, for two very simple  reasons.\n\n1) There is no such thing as "genetical engineering". There is gene technology, and there is genetic engineering. "Genetical engineering" was made up in your imagination just now. We can't produce anything with it.\n\n2) Supernatural by defintion means outside the natural order. Gene technolgy by defintion is within the natural order. The results of gene technolgy can never be outside the natural order.
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cloning\nstem cells\ngenetic manipulation
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the definition of biotechnology is " the creation of useful products to make money" basically but it really is more than that.  It is a wonderful field that, if allowed to progress, is going to change the world in so many ways! Paralyzed people will walk again by research in stem cell use,  organ donors will no longer be neccessary by research in cloning human organs,  we have insulin through microbial cultivation....there's so much we can do! Clean up oil spills with microbes,  mapping the entire genetic code will help cure diseases, gene therapy....I could go on forever!
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Biotechnology or BT is industrial application of biology. Its biology in the service of mankind. It involves application of plants, animals and microorganisms in industry. On the other hand, Biomedical engineering uses traditional engineering expertise to solve problems in biology and medicine. Hearing aids, pacemakers etc. are the gifts of biomedical engineering to mankind. \n\nFor list of Biotechnology colleges and Biomedical engineering colleges, visit http://www.biotechworld.cjb.cc
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SUB-CATEGORIES OF BIOTECHNOLOGY:\n\nRED BIOTECHNOLOGY is biotechnology applied to medical processes. Some examples are the designing of organisms to produce antibiotics, and the engineering of genetic cures to cure diseases through genomic manipulation.\n\nWHITE BIOTECHNOLOGY, also known as GREY BIOTECHNOLOGY, is biotechnology applied to industrial processes. An example is the designing of an organism to produce a useful chemical. White biotechnology tends to consume less in resources than traditional processes when used to produce industrial goods.\n\nGREEN BIOTECHNOLOGY is biotechnology applied to agricultural processes. An example is the designing of an organism to grow under specific environmental conditions or in the presence (or absence) of certain agricultural chemicals. One hope is that green biotechnology might produce more environmentally friendly solutions than traditional industrial agriculture. An example of this is the engineering of a plant to express a pesticide, thereby eliminating the need for external application of pesticides. Whether or not green biotechnology products such as this are ultimately more environmentally friendly is a topic of considerable debate.\n\nBIOINFORMATICS is an interdisciplinary field which addresses biological problems using computational techniques. The field is also often referred to as computational biology. It plays a key role in various areas like functional genomics, structural genomics, and proteomics amongst others, and forms a key component in biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector.\n\nThe term BLUE BIOTECHNOLOGY has also been used to describe the marine and aquatic applications of biotechnology, but its use is relatively rare.
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Special Reports On Key Topics In Science And TechnologyGM Organisms: Instant Expert\n \nBy far the most common genetically modified (GM) organisms are crop plants. But the technology has now been applied to almost all forms of life, from pets that glow under UV light to bacteria which form HIV-blocking "living condoms" and from pigs bearing spinach genes to goats that produce spider silk.\n\nGM tomatoes, as puree, first appeared on British supermarket shelves in 1996 (a different fresh GM tomato first appeared in the US in 1994), but the consumer furore that surrounded GM technology did not erupt until February 1999. This was because a controversial study suggested that a few strains of GM potatoes might be toxic to laboratory rats. Those experiments, subsequently criticised by other experts, were carried out in Scotland by biochemist Arpad Pustzai.\n\nWhat followed was a European anti-GM food campaign of near religious fervour. Spearheaded in the UK by environmental groups and some newspapers, the campaign would have far-reaching consequences. It culminated in an unofficial moratorium on the growth and import of GM crops in Europe and led to a trade dispute with the US.\n\nGM crops are today very rare in Europe, strict labelling laws and regulations are in place for food (DNA bar codes), and public opinion towards the technology remains largely negative. Several UK government reports have offered qualified support for GM crops and produce, though they argue that the economic benefits of the technology are currently small. Some African nations have also opposed engineered crops, even to the point of rejecting international food aid containing them.\n\nGM produce has been taken up with far less fuss in the US (where it does not have to be labelled), India, China, Canada, Argentina, Australia and elsewhere. However controversy over a type of GM corn - only approved for animal feed - which turned up in taco shells and other products stirred opinion in the US.\n\nBiotech revolution\nThe human race has methodically improved crop plants through selective breeding for many thousands of years, but genetic engineering allows that time-consuming process to be accelerated and exotic traits from unrelated species to be introduced. But not everyone agrees this is represents progress.\n\nThe root of genetic engineering in crops lies in the 1977 discovery that soil bug Agrobacterium tumefaciens can be used as a tool to inject potentially useful foreign genes into plants. With the help of that microbe, and other gene-implantation technologies such as electroporation, and gene guns, geneticists have developed a multitude of new crop types.\n\nMost of these are modified to be pest, disease or herbicide resistant, and include: soya, wheat, corn (maize), oilseed rape (canola), cotton, sugar beet, walnuts, potatoes, peanuts, squashes, tomatoes, tobacco, peas, sweet peppers, lettuce and onions, among others. The bacterial gene Bt is one of the most commonly inserted. It produces an insecticidal toxin that is harmless to people.\n\nSupporters of GM technology argue that engineered crops - such as vitamin A-boosted golden rice or protein-enhanced potatoes - can improve nutrition, that drought- or salt-resistant varieties can flourish in poor conditions and stave off world hunger, and that insect-repelling crops protect the environment by minimising pesticide use.\n\nOther plants have been engineered to improve flavour, increase shelf life, increase hardiness and to be allergen-free (see also: hay fever-free grass). Geneticists have even created a no-tears onion to banish culinary crying, and novel caffeine-free coffee plants.\n\n"Frankenfood" fears\nCritics fear that what they call "Frankenstein foods" could have unforeseen, adverse health effects on consumers, producing toxic proteins (and allergens) or transferring antibiotic-resistance and other genes to human gut bacteria to damaging effect. But there has been little
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Biotechnology is a subject that involves the understanding of the physiology, functions and activities etc of various Biological entities and the use of technology in it to produce better products. \nThe main branches of bio tech are plant bio tech, animal bio tech, genetics, Environmental bio tech, Etc. Each of these branches involves the development of that particular branch with the use of technology.\nMedicines or the medical aspect of biotechnology is found in most of these courses. But the basics has to be genetics if you mean to study human disorders etc.\nBiotechnology has a good future as biotech products are now in demand. Also biotechnologists are needed in researches, Pharmaceutical companies, And various biotech companies itself.
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Great topic.. I personally LOVE genetics, and geneticists have come a loooooong way. Here's a few websites with good articles for you to read:\n\nhttp://archive.greenpeace.org/geneng/reports/food/intrfood.htm\n\nhttp://uk.encarta.msn.com/text_781566628___4/Genetic_Modification_of_Food.html\n\nhttp://www.planetpapers.com/Assets/835.php\n\nhttp://www.ifst.org/site/cms/contentChapterView.asp?chapter=1\n\nhttp://www.ourfood.com/Genetic_modification_food.html\n\n\nHope these help!