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→Genetic engineering: Misleading phrasing about genre therapy and *why* people who get gene therapy can't pass along their "new" genes to future offspring. Original phrasing made it sound like it was just because children were presumably created prior to gene therapy taking place, and also as though children couldn't get gene therapy. Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
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Since traits come from the genes in a cell, putting a new piece of DNA into a cell can produce a new trait. This is how [[genetic engineering]] works. For example, rice can be given genes from a maize and a soil bacteria so the rice produces [[beta-carotene]], which the body converts to Vitamin A.<ref>Staff [http://www.goldenrice.org/ Golden Rice Project] Retrieved 5 November 2012</ref> This can help children suffering from Vitamin A deficiency. Another gene being put into some crops comes from the bacterium ''[[Bacillus thuringiensis]]''; the gene makes a protein that is an [[insecticide]]. The insecticide kills insects that eat the plants but is harmless to people.<ref>[http://ars.usda.gov/is/ar/archive/nov99/pest1199.htm Tifton, Georgia: A Peanut Pest Showdown] USDA, accessed 16 May 2008</ref> In these plants, the new genes are put into the plant before it is grown, so the genes are in every part of the plant, including its seeds.<ref>[http://www.gmo-safety.eu/basic-info/129.bacterial-arsenal-combat-chewing-insects.html Genetic engineering: Bacterial arsenal to combat chewing insects] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515134013/http://www.gmo-safety.eu/basic-info/129.bacterial-arsenal-combat-chewing-insects.html |date=15 May 2011 }} GMO Safety, Jul 2010</ref> The plant's offspring inherit the new genes, which has led to concern about the spread of new traits into wild plants.<ref>[http://www.geo-pie.cornell.edu/gmo.html Genetically engineered organisms public issues education] Cornell University, Accessed 16 May 2008</ref>
The kind of technology used in genetic engineering is also being developed to treat people with [[genetic disorder]]s in an experimental medical technique called [[gene therapy]].<ref>{{cite web| last = Staff|date= November 18, 2005| url = http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/medicine/genetherapy.shtml| title = Gene Therapy| format = FAQ| work = Human Genome Project Information| publisher = [[Oak Ridge National Laboratory]]| accessdate = 2006-05-28}}</ref> However, here the new, properly working gene is put in
==See also==
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