Biotechnology is the application of a technological process, invention, or method to living organisms. Manipulating genetics of a living thing normally involves the use of biotechnology. Manipulating genetic information is called genetic engineering. DNA is a very important part of genetic engineering because DNA carries all the genetic information needed to survive.

Producing transgenic organisms is no easy task. Transgenic organisms are living things that contain genes from other species. This process involves injecting DNA into the nucleus of an egg cell of a species. Part of the DNA is inserted into host chromosome. A new organism is generated from the transferred cell. Now the organism has the new genes.

Cloning also involves having genes from another living thing. In this case, you can replicate a member of a species. A clone is a member of a population of a genetically identical cells produced from a single cell. This process involves an egg cell from an adult female and a donor cell taken from a member of the same species. The nucleus of the egg cell is removed and replaced with the donor nucleus. The newly fused cell begins to divide. Once the Embryo is developed, it is placed inside a foster mother. The embryo develops into a genetically identical member, or clone.

There is more than one way of cloning. Two examples are reproductive and therapeutic cloning. Reproductive cloning is very useful if an organism has a desirable combination of characteristics and more organisms with the same characteristics are wanted. This process does not usually end in the death of the embryo. On the other hand, therapeutic cloning is used to produce skin or other tissues needed to help patients. This process usually ends in the death of the embryo. Cloning humans involves many ethical issues and is banned in some countries.

There are many benefits in genetic engineering. Scientists all over the world are pushing to find out new things about genetic engineering. These researchers have allowed for a better understanding of DNA and its part in things such as medicine, pharmacology, reproductive technology, and many other fields. Along with broadening fields of research, this engineering has helped many humans. Gene therapy is one result of genetic engineering. This is the treatment of a sickness in which the infected tissue is replaced or repaired. One day we will completely get rid of genetic disease. Agriculture has also benefited greatly from genetic engineering. Research has helped produce the biggest and best produce. It has also helped take advantage of the nutrients in the soil. To make the healthiest or best produce, you can take certain nutrients or characteristics from a certain species and combine them to make the “perfect” produce.

Not only are there benefits of genetic engineering, but many potential hazards that tag along. Genetic engineering does not only affect the food we eat, but what the food does once we have eaten it. A potential hazard is the effect of genetically engineered foods on our health. Most genetically engineer crops contain viruses. These viruses could act as a growth factor in the stomach or colon, encouraging the growth of polyps. When polyps grow quickly and get to be extra large there is a higher chance for them to be malignant. Dr. Stanley Ewen has said that eating genetically modified food could lead to stomach and colon cancer. Another potential hazard is the effect on the environment. Governments around the world are allowing, with some exceptions, the release of genetically engineered organisms into nature without thorough research of the consequences. This can lead to unforeseen consequences, especially if the genes cannot be retrieved. New allergens could be released that sensitive individuals would not know to avoid. An example is transferring the gene for one of the many allergenic proteins found in milk into vegetables like carrots. Another potential hazard is the threat to our food supply. Insects, birds, and even the wind are great at carrying seeds. This means there is a very real possibility that genetically engineered plants can cross-pollinate with genetically natural crops and wild relatives. These seed carrying creatures could carry these seeds into a field of potatoes that could be sold at your local Wal-mart grocery. You can't really be sure what you will end up with. If those genetic modified seeds cross-pollinate with wild or normal seeds, who knows what that would do to our food supply. It could be something as simple as reducing the nutritional quality of the food or something as dangerous as making a harmless food poisonous. Is genetic engineering worth these risks?

Ethics are a big concern in biotechnology. There are people who are completely opposed to this type of research, people who are highly in favor of it, and people who could care less. I hope that by the end of these passages, you will decide where you stand. Because we have the technology to change an organism's characteristics, are we just in doing so? Cloning is an example that arouses many ethical issues. Cloning is the process of taking an egg cell from a mother and replacing the nucleus with a donor's nucleus, then putting that embryo in a foster mother. So whose baby is it? Does the baby belong to the one who gave it the genetic information or to the one who birthed it? Therapeutic cloning is another example of an ethical issue of biotechnology. In therapeutic cloning, the embryo is destroyed before it can be birthed. Who is the judge as to whether or not that potential life should be killed? What experimentation is too far? There is that fine line of what should and should not be done to human genomes. Eventually we will have to draw a line in the sand. Right now, the technology we use for genetic engineering is beyond a lot of people. Therefore, many people have chosen not to take a stand. Biotechnology and its many applications are not going away. It will bring many benefits, challenges and concerns to the human population.