Genetic

Genetic engineering is formed by a set of techniques including within the field of biotechnology. These techniques involve the manipulation of cellular DNA or RNA so modified organisms that are more suited to the tasks they have to perform.

The idea is based on introducing a certain amount of genetic material (usually more than one gene) DNA or RNA into an organism so that it can develop the processes resulting encoded novel genes they possess. The genetic material being worked on can come from animal cells, plant or a microorganism, once extracted, isolated the gene or genes of interest, manipulated or not, and subsequently inserted into the same living being which was extracted or in another.

Living things that are transplanted one or more genes in their DNA are called transgenic. To obtain these individuals the following steps

 Are extracted from a particular cell where DNA fragments are inserted genes that are needed. By using the gene is isolated enzymes among DNA fragments.

 Gene is inserted into a vector (virus or liposome).

 Infection occurs on the cell vector is to be transformed and inserted, by mechanisms of the cell, the gene in its genetic material.

 The transgenic cell, to express their genetic code, summarizes the product encoded by the new gene.

 The insertion of these genes in the genetic material of the individual new host does not always occur successfully. Upon detecting an individual that is resulting trasgénico to do as many exact copies to ensure persistence of the gene that has been registered. This process is responsible for cloning, which is a technique used to generate copies of genetically identical living beings.

 Two bodies are identical clones from the genetic point of view, ie are identical in the characters that rely solely on the genetic (some physical traits, sex, etc..) But not in the characters depend on the conditions external (the height, the risk of certain diseases, etc..). This situation occurs especially in humans, since two people are as equal as Clone brothers twins, that can be distinguished both by the physical characteristics and by the psychological traits.
Cloning of vegetables in a technically simple process because the plants have the ability to generate (in very special conditions) throughout an entire organism from few differentiated cells. The steps for cloning of plants are:

    Are isolated one or several cells from any part of the plant (especially the leaves).

    Grown cells in the laboratory until it develops a mature plant.
APPLICATIONS OF GENETIC ENGINEERING
The two basic techniques of engineering (cloning and production of transgenic individuals), together with improved knowledge of the various DNA and RNA, have enabled man to manipulate the genetic material of many organisms, including own. The scientific research efforts directed basically to two fields:

    Gene therapy.

    Food sector: agriculture, fisheries and livestock.
Gene Therapy
Genetic research is concentrated on those aspects that can solve many of as diseases of our species, either directly, ie, directly in the genes, or by means of products that can cure these diseases. Some of the areas in which genetic engineering works are:
Production of antibiotics, hormones, and antibodies
Since in 1929 he discovered penicillin, the number and use of antibiotics has continued to increase. Today, because of their economic and social importance, genetic engineering has improved quantitatively the process of manufacturing such drugs. This improvement was achieved by isolating the antibiotic-producing gene and inserting it in a microorganism that has a great reproductive potential, and this fact means that the antibiotic in question is produced in large quantity and with high purity.

Diabetes is a disease that causes a deficiency of the hormone insulin in patients who have it. Low levels of insulin in the blood are solved with the external supply of the hormone. So far, this substance was extracted from rabbits and pigs by an expensive process and not without problems of rejection.
Genetic engineering has been isolated in the human gene coding for insulin and introduced into a bacterium Eschlerichia coli. The result is a hormone without side effects and cheaper.
Somatostatin is another hormone that has a production process even more difficult than the last. Formerly needed a million sheep brains to get 0.005 g, at present the production is done by means of transgenic bacteria, which have a production thousands of times higher.
Solution to genetic diseases
Genetic type diseases are characterized as having its origin in a defect in the genes involved. The progressive knowledge of the human genome has allowed to locate many of these diseases in different chromosomes. Genetic engineering can intervene and change the defective genes from other normal.
The DNA (Adenosine deaminase deficiency) is a disease that causes severe immune deficiency, so patients who have it must live within a chamber completely isolated and sterilized (kids bubble). Therapy involves removing white blood cells (T lymphocytes) from the patient, genetically modify them and return them to the blood. This modification is the replacement of the altered gene (chromosome 20) by other mails having the ability to produce adenosine deaminase. The transformed lymphocytes multiply artificially in the laboratory to generate billions of cells. The return of healthy cells is done periodically.

This treatment had a fairly brief, because these genetically modified white blood cells have a rather short life, so that treatment had to be repeated about every month. Improved therapy involves inserting genes into the hematopoietic cells correctors, ie in forming cells white blood cells. The advantage is that these modified cells have a much longer life and can divide and generate billions of blood cells, all with the new gene.
There are many types of cancer can be treated by gene therapy, in fact, more than half of this therapy protocols are for cancer treatments.
In 1989 he began treatments in patients with severe epidermal tumors (melanoma) cells were introduced genetically engineered to provoke an immune response more intense than usual. The result was little hope, although some patients experienced remission of tumors.