Understanding Genetic Engineering: Tools and Applications

2. Genetic Engineering: Genetic engineering is defined as the set of technologies to manipulate the genetic material of a living being, i.e., modifying genes. This manipulation consists basically of: introducing new genes into a genome, removing existing genes from a genome, and modifying the information in a particular gene. The new genetic combinations are introduced into organisms capable of transmission to subsequent generations. It is also called recombinant DNA technology because most techniques rely on DNA fragments that recombine.

2.1. Genetic Engineering Tools To obtain new combinations of heritable material, you must use:

• 1. Restriction Enzymes: They are a type of protein that can recognize a specific DNA fragment and cut it. Using different restriction enzymes can yield different DNA fragments. Each restriction enzyme recognizes a specific sequence of nucleotides and cuts at that point in each of the DNA strands. The remaining free ends are called sticky ends because they can bind to other DNA fragments that have been cut with the same restriction enzyme. In the following drawings, you can see how these enzymes act.
• 2. Vectors: These are agents capable of introducing DNA into host cells. The cloning vectors are small DNA molecules that have the capacity to replicate themselves inside host cells. There are two main types of cloning vectors:
  • Virus Plasmids: These are circular DNA molecules found in bacteria, in addition to the bacterial chromosome. This involves inserting the new fragment of DNA (gene) desired into the plasmid and then introducing the plasmid into the body where we want to introduce the gene.
  • Viruses: The process is similar; it involves inserting the desired gene into the DNA of a virus and then introducing the virus into the body where we want to introduce this gene.

2.3. Applications of Genetic Engineering Genetic engineering has many applications, mainly in two areas:

• - In Biotechnology: (It is discussed in the following paragraph)
• - In Medicine:

• In the Diagnosis of Disease: Genetic engineering allows us to discover alterations in DNA itself. This is very important in prenatal diagnosis.
• In the Treatment of Diseases: Using gene therapy to cure diseases by replacing an altered gene with a normal one. Research is ongoing into the use of this technology for diseases such as AIDS and cancer.
• In Forensic Medicine: Each person has a characteristic pattern of DNA, called a DNA fingerprint, obtained by restriction enzymes. This fingerprint allows for the identification of a person with great reliability.