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What is genetic engineering?

Genetic engineering is the deliberate alteration of an organism's DNA, which stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA is the substance that contains the genetic material (encoded hereditary characteristics) in living organisms. The purpose of genetic engineering is to bring about a change in the traits that an organism will pass on to its offspring.

Two genetic engineering techniques are cell fusion and recombinant DNA (also called gene-splicing or cloning). In cell fusion, the tough outer membranes (walls) of sperm and egg cells are stripped off by enzymes (digestive compounds). Then the unbounded cells are combined with the aid of chemicals or viruses. If the sperm and egg come from members of different species, the result may be the creation of a new species, or hybrid species, containing traits of both parent species.

Recombinant DNA techniques involve the splicing (uniting by...

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1. Terms And Classification
   1. What is the origin of the field of biology?
   2. How are animals and plants classified into groups and who began trie practice?
   3. What are the five kingdoms presently used to categorize living things?
   4. How many different organisms have been identified by biologists?
2. Evolution
   1. Which biological events occurred during the geologic time divisions?
   2. What is radiocarbondating?
   3. What is the significance of On the Origin of Species?
   4. How did humans evolve?
   5. When was the Scopes (monkey) trial?
   6. What is Batesian mimicry?
   7. What is a biological clock?
3. Genetics
   1. Who is generally known as the founder of genetics?
   2. What is the difference between DNA and RNA?
   3. What are the stages in the type of cell division called mitosis?
   4. What is genetic engineering?
   5. What organism has the largest number of chromosomes?
   6. Can human beings be cloned?
   7. Do all cells have a nucleus?
   8. What is DNA fingerprinting?
   9. How much DNA is in a typical human cell?
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   2. Are there stone-eating bacteria?
   3. What is a virus and how does a vaccination work?
   4. What is the scientific study of fungi called?
   5. What is a lichen?