Genetically Modified Animals and Their Benefits and Risks

Genetically Modified Animals
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Introduction
Scientists have always been attracted toward genetically modified animals and plants. In recent years, a large number of animal species have been modified to obtain food and acquire strength for day-to-day activities. According to R. Pribylova and team, a genetically modified animal is the organism whose genes are altered with the basic to advanced genetic engineering techniques (Pribylova et al., 2012, p. 214). The purpose is to produce its species in a large number, within a short time. The first animal that was genetically modified was a mouse. In 1974, Rudolf Jaenisch created genetic copies of this mouse, followed by the genetic production of different plants in 1983. Later on, almost all animal and plant species were modified genetically, and scientists from all parts of the world came forward and contributed to this technology in one way or the other (Pribylova et al., 2012).
How It Works
In 2016, Anna Jurkiewicz published an article titled Attitudes of Polish Adolescents toward Genetically Modified Organisms and Genetically Modified Food in which it was clearly mentioned that GMO is a multi-step technique that requires the scientist or genetic engineer to select the right kind of animal for his experiment. Its genes are obtained, and genetic screening is carried out to determine whether those genes can be further processed or not. In case the genes are not healthy or not up to the mark, a new set of genes is obtained and used to produce the best and healthiest offspring. With the development of transcriptome, genome sequencing, and microarray, it has become easier for researchers to carry out GMO without any significant issue (Jurkiewicz, 2016).
In the next step, the candidate gene is isolated based on its characteristics and features, and the cell containing this gene is opened for purifying DNA and RNA. With the help of restriction enzyme, this gene is then separated, and the DNA is cut and divided into different fragments (Jurkiewicz, 2016, p. 418). In the third step, these segments are extracted via a technique known as gel electrophoresis. Once the scientist or genetic engineer is ensured that the target gene possesses all major features and is ready to be used, it is then inserted into the target animal and combined with all of its genetic elements through synthetic methodologies. This manipulation is frequently carried out through recombinant DNA technology (Jurkiewicz, 2016).
The Benefits and Risks of Genetically Modified Animals
It is safe to say that the genetically modified animals are widely adopted in the fields of agriculture, healthcare, and research. They have their positive and negative impacts on the environment, as well as human beings. When it comes to talking about the benefits of genetically modified animals, we need to remember that they are capable of fulfilling the requirements of food in all parts of the world. They proliferate and are healthier than the naturally bor...