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Genetic engineering,
recombinant DNA technology, genetic modification/manipulation (GM)
and gene splicing are terms that apply to direct manipulation of
an organism's gene.(1)
Genetic engineering
uses the techniques of molecular cloning and transformation to alter
the structure and characteristics of gene directly (which is different
from breeding, where the organism's genes are manipulated indirectly).
(1) Gene cloning, in which DNA molecules from two or more sources
are combined either within cells or in vitro and are then inserted
into host organisms in which they are able to propagate. (2)
Genetic engineering
has widespread applications: -Biological and medical research (e.g.
transgenic fruit flies are model organisms used to study the effects
of genetic changes on development, transgenic mice to study cellular
and tissue-specific responses to disease and transgenic pigs for
the hope that their organs could be used in xenotransplantation).
(3), (4)
-Production of pharmaceutical
drugs (synthetic human insulin, human growth hormone, interferon,
erythropoietin, hepatitis B vaccine and others). (5)
-Experimental
medicine (e.g. gene therapy which is being researched for diseases
such as cancer, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia B, heart disease,
and severe combined immune deficiency disease). (5)
-Agriculture (to date the broadest application of GMO technology
is patent-protected food crops such as corn, rice, wheat, cotton,
sunflowers and others).(1).
- To increase milk production in dairy cows (through the use of
genetically engineered bovine somatotropin), to produce genetically
modified meat products from the offspring of cloned cows and to
increase the size and infection-resistance of farmed fish like salmon.
(5), (6)
Dolly the
sheep was produced using a genetic
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engineering
technique known as cloning. Hundred of animals have been cloned, including
bulls, cows, mice, and pigs. Cloning is used to produce laboratory
test animals with specific disease-related characteristics. Areas
of cloning research range from cloning cows and sheep to produce medicines
in their milk, to using cloning to preserve endangered species such
as the Indian cheetah and the Asian guar.(5)
Genetic engineering
is controversial and has led to many protests regarding the potential
of short-and long-term health and environmental risks. Many fear
that using cloning technology to cure genetic disorders or produce
body tissues will eventually lead to the process being used to enhance
or improve humans, a practice known as positive eugenics. It is
feared that altering human genomes may have unknown consequences
for future generations that inherit the changes. Also concerns with
genetic engineering in plants are that a transferred gene could
migrate unintentionally via pollen scattering from a transgenic
plant to a related species and alter the ecosystem. Allergens from
one food crop, such as peanuts, can be transferred to another through
genetic engineering. The use of bovine growth hormone to increase
dairy-cow milk production is also controversial with critics questioning
its safety for both cows and the humans who consume the milk.(5)
As one of IOMS objectives
is to reach a common ground on controversial medical and legal issues
in the application of recent medial findings through an Islamic
perspective, a seminar on "Genetics, Genetic Engineering, The human
Genes and Genetic Treatment" was held in Kuwait on October 1998.
Specific recommendations following discussions and deliberations
were issued by distinguished Muslim jurists, medical doctors, pharmacists
and biological scientists about the issues involved in this subject.
Please click for Recommendations.
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