Genetic Engineering; Magician or Monster.

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GENETIC ENGINEERING; MAGICIAN OR MONSTER

By: Alina Hasni M. Rashid

Genetic Engineering is the science of changing the way a human, an animal or a plant develops by changing the information in its genes. It also the use of various methods to manipulate the DNA (genetic material) of cells to change hereditary traits or produce biological products. Like all other new discoveries, it is always expected that both advantages, 'magician', and disadvantages, 'monster' ,occur in genetic engineering. Some of the most promising and powerful applications of genetic engineering are in the field of medicine. Researchers are using it to diagnose and predict disease, and to develop therapies and drugs to treat devastating diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and cystic fibrosis. Disease could be prevented by detecting people, plants, or animals that are genetically prone to certain hereditary diseases, and preparing for the inevitable. Gene therapy can be used to fix defective genes or to replace missing genes. Many diseases are the result of just one gene malfunctioning; sickle cell anaemia, cystic fibrosis, are all caused by one defective gene. To correct the problem, gene therapy is used to deliver genes that function correctly.

Genes could also be