DNA sequencing
DNA sequencing is the process of determining the exact order of the chemical building blocks (bases) that make up DNA. It is a laboratory procedure that involves first breaking down the DNA into short pieces, followed by separating the individual fragments using a technique called gel electrophoresis. A bar code pattern of the DNA pieces is produced which can then be read by computer.
An enormous volume of information on the genetics of organisms is being generated using this technique and is providing computer experts with a great challenge in handling the data.
Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project (HGP), which began in 1990, was a 13-year international project involving Australia. Its goal was to discover the approximate 50,000 genes that make up the human genome, make them accessible for further biological study and to determine the complete sequence of the 3 billion DNA subunits.
Knowledge gained through this research will allow scientists and doctors of the future to prevent or treat most diseases at the level of genes.
While it is now common to screen infants for inherited genetic diseases, further understanding of the human genome will allow doctors to determine a person’s chances of developing particular diseases later in life. They will then be able to give advice or treatment to prevent, slow or cure those diseases.
Cloning technology
A "clone" is a copy of a plant, animal, micro-organism or gene derived from a single common ancestor gene, cell or organism. Identical twins are natural clones from the one fertilised egg. A plant cutting is a clone of the original plant.
Some confusion arises because the word clone is also applied to genes. A gene is said to be cloned when its sequence is multiplied many times in a common laboratory procedure. The cloning of a gene is a step in determining its sequence and initiating many types of experiments to understand its function and biology.
The possibility of human cloning, raised when Scottish scientists at the Roslin Institute created the much-celebrated sheep "Dolly" in 1996, aroused worldwide interest and concern because of its scientific and ethical implications.
Dolly was produced by injecting a nucleus from a mammary cell into an egg cell without a nucleus and raising an animal from that egg by treating it as a fertilised egg. Dolly was therefore a genetic clone of the animal from which the nucleus was taken. The important difference from identical twins is that the donor was a mature sheep and could even be made the mother of the clone.
Cloning of animals and plants can be used to develop more efficient ways to produce superior breeds of animals. Cloning also enables genes to be added (such as those for human proteins) to produce animals that can generate hormones and other pharmaceuticals in milk, eggs or other products.
The governments of many nations involved in gene technology have banned the cloning and genetic modification of human individuals. However, cloning technology may soon be available for human benefit to produce whole organs or special tissues from single cells for transplant to humans. It should be possible to use cells from the patient’s own body and correct genetic defects before growing the tissue for transplant back into the donor. This is called therapeutic cloning.
This is basically saying that with Genetic Modification you are able to manipulate the organisms and plants to do what you want based on what each gene does. The human genome project is a project which is set up to discover all of the 50,000 genes that make up the human body. This will allow scientists to beat diseases and virus’ before they hit. Cloning is replicating the genes of one organism and creating an identical copy. It enables genes to be added to produce animals that can produce needed things.
I think that the general understanding about these topics are not very well understood however many people know of them, they just don’t exactly know what they are apart from rough guesses.
