CURRENT USES OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

Genetic Engineering: Application # 1. Application in Agriculture:

An important application of recombinant DNA technology is to alter the genotype of crop plants to make them
more productive, nutritious, rich in proteins, disease resistant, and less fertilizer consuming. Recombinant DNA
technology and tissue culture techniques can produce high yielding cereals, pulses and vegetable crops.

Some plants have been genetically programmed to yield high protein grains that could show resistance to heat,
moisture and diseases.

Genetic Engineering: Application # 2. Application to Medicine:

Genetic engineering has been gaining importance over the last few years and it will become more important in the
current century as genetic diseases become more prevalent and agricultural area is reduced. Genetic engineering
plays significant role in the production of medicines.

Microorganisms and plant based substances are now being manipulated to produce large amount of useful drugs,
vaccines, enzymes and hormones at low costs. Genetic engineering is concerned with the study (inheritance
pattern of diseases in man and collection of human genes that could provide a complete map for inheritance of
healthy individuals.

Gene therapy may someday be exploited to cure hereditary human diseases like haemophilia and cystic fibrosis
which are caused by missing or defective genes. In one type of gene therapy new functional genes are inserted by
genetically engineered viruses into the cells of people who are unable to produce certain hormones or proteins for
normal body functions.

Genetic Engineering: Application # 4. Application to Industries:

Genetically designed bacteria are put into use for generating industrial chemicals. A variety of organic chemicals
can be synthesised at large scale with the help of genetically engineered microorganisms. Glucose can be
synthesised from sucrose with the help of enzymes obtained from genetically modified organisms.

Now-a-days with the help of genetic engineering strains of bacteria and cyanobacteria have been developed which
can synthesize ammonia at large scale that can be used in manufacture of fertilisers at much cheaper costs.
Microbes are being developed which will help in conversion of Cellulose to sugar and from sugar to ethanol.

Recombinant DNA technology can also be used to monitor the degradation of garbage, petroleum products,
naphthalene and other industrial wastes.

For example bacterium pseudomonas fluorescens genetically altered by transfer of light producing enzyme called
luciferase found in bacterium vibrio fischeri, produces light proportionate to the amount of its breaking down
activity of naphthalene which provides way to monitor the efficiency of the process.

Maize and soybeans are extensively damaged by black cutworm. Pseudomonas fluorescens is found in association
with maize and soybeans. Bacillus thuringiensis contain a gene pathogenic to the pest. The pest has, over the
years, not only become dangerous to the crops but has developed resistance to a number of pesticides.
José Rizal called for peaceful reform of Spain's colonial rule in the Philippines. After his 1896
execution, he became an icon for the nationalist movement.

QUOTES

“[C]reative genius does not manifest itself solely within the borders of a specific country: it sprouts
everywhere; it is like light and air; it belongs to everyone: it is cosmopolitan like space, life and God.”

—José Rizal

Synopsis

José Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Philippines. While living in Europe, Rizal wrote about
the discrimination that accompanied Spain's colonial rule of his country. He returned to the Philippines
in 1892, but was exiled due to his desire for reform. Although he supported peaceful change, Rizal was
convicted of sedition and executed on December 30, 1896, at age 35.

Early Life

On June 19, 1861, José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born in Calamba in the
Philippines' Laguna Province. A brilliant student who became proficient in multiple languages, José Rizal
studied medicine in Manila. In 1882, he traveled to Spain to complete his medical degree.

Writing and Reform

While in Europe, José Rizal became part of the Propaganda Movement, connecting with other Filipinos
who wanted reform. He also wrote his first novel, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not/The Social Cancer), a
work that detailed the dark aspects of Spain's colonial rule in the Philippines, with particular focus on
the role of Catholic friars. The book was banned in the Philippines, though copies were smuggled in.
Because of this novel, Rizal's return to the Philippines in 1887 was cut short when he was targeted by
police.

Rizal returned to Europe and continued to write, releasing his follow-up novel, El Filibusterismo (The
Reign of Greed) in 1891. He also published articles in La Solidaridad, a paper aligned with the
Propaganda Movement. The reforms Rizal advocated for did not include independence—he called for
equal treatment of Filipinos, limiting the power of Spanish friars and representation for the Philippines
in the Spanish Cortes (Spain's parliament).
 Albert Einstein
September 25, 2013 | bob 2 MINUTES

Born: March 14, 1879, in Ulm, Kingdom of

Württemberg, German Empire
Died: April 18, 1955 (at age 76) in Princeton,
New Jersey
Nationality: German
Famous For: Father of the Atomic Age. Many
contributions to science that transformed the
modern world
Awards: Nobel Prize in Physics
(1921), Time Magazine’s Person of the Century
(1999)

Albert Einstein, the renowned physicist, is remembered for his theories on

nuclear power, and his revolutionary concept concerning nature of light.
Nonetheless, his innovative ideas were misunderstood and he was regularly
criticized for his involvement in politics as well as social issues. He has made
significant contributions to the field of mathematics, physics, and science .

Einstein’s Early Years

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, at Ulm, Germany. Six weeks later, he
moved to Munich with his family where he later started his schooling at Luitpold
Gymnasium. Later, his family moved to Milan, Italy, and Albert continued his
schooling in Switzerland.

Einstein and Nuclear Power

The theory of nuclear energy is based upon the idea that atomic nuclei are
created of neutrons and protons. Usually, the mass of the nucleus is smaller than
the mass of all the protons and neutrons together. This disparity is known as mass
defect. According to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, which he completed in 1915,
there is a similarity between energy and mass. This means that both neutrons and
protons have a lot of energy when split up. This energy is the same as the mass
defect.

According to Einstein, the mass defect is transformed into kinetic energy as atoms
are split. According to his theory, energy must be added to the nucleus in order to
split it. You can therefore calculate a stability of nucleus by mass defect. The
stable nucleus is one that you cannot easily split. The energy comes from binding
the energy that holds the subatomic particles together. It is similar to the energy
that is stored in chemical bonds.

Einstein’s Contribution to Mathematics

While Einstein was remembered for his contributions to physics, he also made contributions in
mathematics. He contributed several equations to calculus and geometry, ten of which are called
the Einstein Field Equations. He first published these equations in 1915. One of these equations
demonstrates how stress-energy inflicts curvature of space-time.

Einstein: The World Citizen

During the early part of the 20th century, Einstein became internationally renowned. He received
several awards in medicine, science, and philosophy from numerous universities across the
world. His tour to any corner of the world became the national event; reporters followed him
everywhere he went. Though regretting his public life, Albert capitalized on his popularity to
further his political and social view. Two social movements that received his support were
Zionism and pacifism.

Albert Einstein and Politics

Now a celebrity, Albert began to voice his opinions about world affairs, supporting various
social movements. In 1914, Einstein acquired a German citizenship and lived in Berlin until
1933, when he immigrated to the US when he was appointed a Professor of the Theoretical
Physics. He acquired a US citizenship in 1940. After the Second World War, Albert was the
leading figure in the World Government Movement and was even offered a high-ranking
position in Israel.

Einstein’s Personal Life

In 1903, Einstein married Mileva Maric. They had two sons and one daughter. But in 1919, they
divorced and he married Elsa Löwenthal in that same year. He died in 1955 at his home in New
Jersey.