Genetic Engineering (GE)

The artificial or direct manipulation, by molecular cloning, of the DNA genes contained in an organism.

This process differs from traditional selective breeding where the genes are manipulated indirectly.

The GE technique has been applied primarily to the fields of medicine and agriculture. There are exciting possibilities but also serious dangers from genetically modified (GM) products. Scientifically there is a continual move to push the boundaries in animal and human reproduction, the control of disease or creating of new organs but not without serious ethical dilemmas.