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genetic engineering — English
The manipulation of any organism’s genetic material through either selective breeding or recombinant genetic material or DNA (see “genetically manipulated organism”). Recombinant DNA are techniques by which DNA molecules are extracted from different living organisms and chemically joined together in order to “create“ a different organism. A rather grisly, but perfectly true example is that DNA from an animal can be extracted and recombined (fused) with DNA from an insect or a bacterium. It might sound like Hollywood science fiction, but the technology to do it does in fact exist. Many people, action groups and even scientists regard these techniques as morally unacceptable and ethically inexcusable. Many people do not eat food containing genetically modified organisms or GMOs (see “genetically manipulated [modified] organisms”). GMOs are constantly negatively discussed in the popular media; it definitely does not receive favourable media coverage. Environmental activists are completely opposed to both the technology used in the creation of GMOs and human consumption of GMO food. Whether GMOs are really detrimental to human health has yet to be proved.
