What is Genetic Engineering?

Genetic engineering is a relatively new branch of science, often misleadingly called the new biotechnologies in an attempt to liken it to the centuries-old industrial use of biological processes, as in bread-making and beer brewing.

The term 'biotechnology' refers to the science of using living organisms, for example, the use of yeast cells to make bread and wine. The term is also used to describe the careful breeding of plants or animals to produce a particular, desired result. Traditional biotechnologies have given us hothouse roses with unique colouring and cows with higher meat or milk yields. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, involves taking genes out of an organism's cells and altering them in some way. It enables scientists to transfer genes between different species to produce genetically engineered organisms (GEOs) with new characteristics.

Genetic engineering has been seized upon by scientists and industry as a way redesigning and 'improving' living organisms. Genetic engineering in agriculture focuses on conferring new properties on commercial crops, like herbicide resistance, nutritional change, insect resistance or stress tolerance. Industry claims that these 'improvements' will increase efficiency and productivity. In fact, their main motive is increased profits.