Scienceizy

Scienceizy

Mai Magdi Salah Eldin
Third Year


* Do you know the real word for the abbreviation DNA?

‘DNA’ means deoxyribonucleic acid. In the nucleus of each cell, there are a number of chromosomes and these chromosomes are long threads of DNA. The chromosomes contain the genes. These genes are what determines all sort of things about you, such as what colour your eyes are or whether you have a snub nose or a straight one. In other words, there is a gene for every characteristic in the human body. DNA is also responsible for the protein synthesis in our body.

* Genetic Engineering

Nowadays, we hear the watch word “genetic engineering”. But have you ever thought about its meaning? Genetic Engineering, Gene Modification, and Gene Splicing are all terms of manipulating genes usually outside the organism’s normal reproductive process. It involves the isolation, manipulation, and reintroduction of DNA into cells or model organisms. The aim of this is to introduce amiable physiological or physical characteristics. This process is done by isolating the DNA which carries the gene having the desirable characteristics and cutting the gene out of the DNA to be reintroduced into a different DNA segment.

* Is this process really used now?

Yes, of course it is used in many walks of life. There are many examples. Of these examples are the introduction of new traits such as making a crop resistant to an herbicide, production of a new protein or enzyme like the human insulin and growth hormone instead of extracting it from the human body, and finally, the creation of genetically modified organisms.