Altering the Biological Blueprint (Headline Science)

The idea of custom-made life-forms would once have been pure science fiction. Not any more, however, thanks to genetic engineering. Genetic engineering already allows single-cell bacteria to work as drug-making factories. It has made possible new types of plants that resist diseases. It could lead to cures for cancers and other fatal illnesses. Genetic engineers work with DNA, the molecule that genes are made of. They insert new genes into animals, plants, bacteria, and other organisms. Their work, however, has raised ethical concerns. Should humans tamper with the blueprint of life? Headline Science uses news stories and everyday applications to explain the science behind genetic engineering.