Modern Tools For Genetic Engineering

Site-specific endonucleases create double-strand breaks within the genome and can be targeted to literally any genetic mutation. Together with a repair template, a correction of the defective locus becomes possible. This book offers insight into the modern tools of genome editing, their hurdles and their huge potential. A new era of in vivo genetic engineering has begun.

Assists policymakers in evaluating the appropriate scientific methods for detecting unintended changes in food and assessing the potential for adverse health effects from genetically modified products. In this book, the committee recommended that greater scrutiny should be given to foods containing new compounds or unusual amounts of naturally occurring substances, regardless of the method used to create them. The book offers a framework to guide federal agencies in selecting the route of safety assessment. It identifies and recommends several pre- and post-market approaches to guide the assessment of unintended compositional changes that could result from genetically modified foods and research avenues to fill the knowledge gaps.

Genetically engineered (GE) crops were first introduced commercially in the 1990s. After two decades of production, some groups and individuals remain critical of the technology based on their concerns about possible adverse effects on human health, the environment, and ethical considerations. At the same time, others are concerned that the technology is not reaching its potential to improve human health and the environment because of stringent regulations and reduced public funding to develop products offering more benefits to society. While the debate about these and other questions related to the genetic engineering techniques of the first 20 years goes on, emerging genetic-engineering technologies are adding new complexities to the conversation. Genetically Engineered Crops builds on previous related Academies reports published between 1987 and 2010 by undertaking a retrospective examination of the purported positive and adverse effects of GE crops and to anticipate what emerging genetic-engineering technologies hold for the future. This report indicates where there are uncertainties about the economic, agronomic, health, safety, or other impacts of GE crops and food, and makes recommendations to fill gaps in safety assessments, increase regulatory clarity, and improve innovations in and access to GE technology.

Genetic engineering has been studied for a number of years for understanding the formation of cells and cell structures as well as the processes involved in evolution. The scientific advancements in the field of genetic engineering and biotechnology have resulted in the manipulation of genes of organisms as well as plants to enhance their traits for commercial purposes. Protein expression and DNA sequencing are key topics of research in this field. This book on genetic engineering and biotechnology discusses the theories and practices related to genes and genetic modification. While understanding the long-term perspectives of the topics, the book makes an effort in highlighting their impact as a modern tool for the growth of the discipline. This book is an essential guide for both academicians and those who wish to pursue this discipline further.

Genetic engineering has become a very important field of study with its growing applications in biological engineering, medical science and other related fields. This book brings forth some of the most innovative concepts and elucidates the unexplored aspects of genetic engineering such as advanced artificial synthesis of genes, gene therapy, genetic cloning and applications of genetic engineering in various fields like agriculture, medical and biomedical science, etc. It will also provide interesting topics for research which readers can take up.

An authoritative yet easy-to-read description of molecular biology, genetics, and the ethical implications of genetic engineering.

While the choices of microbial and eukaryotic expression systems for production of recombinant proteins are many, most researchers in academic and industrial settings do not have ready access to pertinent biological and technical information since it is normally scattered throughout the scientific literature. This book closes the gap by providing information on the general biology of the host organism, a description of the expression platform, a methodological section -- with strains, genetic elements, vectors and special methods, where applicable -- as well as examples of proteins produced with the respective platform. The systems thus described are well balanced by the inclusion of three prokaryotes (two Gram-negatives and one Gram-positive), four yeasts, two filamentous fungi and two higher eukaryotic cell systems -- mammalian and plant cells. Throughout, the book provides valuable practical and theoretical information on the criteria and schemes for selecting the appropriate expression platform, the possibility and practicality of a universal expression vector, and on comparative industrial-scale fermentation, with the production of a recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine chosen as an industrial example. With a foreword by Herbert P. Schweizer, Colorado State University, USA: "As a whole, this book is a valuable and overdue resource for a varied audience. It is a practical guide for academic and industrial researchers who are confronted with the design of the most suitable expression platform for their favorite protein for technical or pharmaceutical purposes. In addition, the book is also a valuable study resource for professors and students in the fields of applied biology and biotechnology."

Explains how the genetic engineer pieces together genes from different organisms to make powerful diagnostic tools and new products. Describes the essential techniques and organisms that are used in recombinant DNA, discussing the ethical considerations that underlie genetic engineering. Written to be accessible to non-specialists.