[One Thousand Characters a Day] The Imagination of Genetic Engineering Becomes Reality <2>

Editor's NoteWho could have imagined a life that reverses aging and prevents diseases before they even occur? Currently, the scientific community is focusing on genetic engineering. Genetic engineering, the study of genes to create substances beneficial to humans, is essential to understand when predicting and preparing for the future. However, few people truly understand the complex theories and terminology involved. Imagination of Genetic Engineering Becomes Reality guides readers into the fascinating world of genetic engineering. The author, Byeong-il Ye, a professor at Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, has long communicated science in a friendly and engaging manner as both a researcher and medical communicator. His works include Medical History Notes, Healing Medicine with Humanities, Infectious Diseases That Changed the World, Is Science in Every Breath?, and The World of Blood for Beginners, among others. Word count: 990.

Genes refer to segments of DNA that contain the information necessary to synthesize proteins that regulate life phenomena within living organisms. Because genes play a crucial role in defining what makes a living organism, some people perceive the term "genetic manipulation" as intruding into areas humans should not interfere with.

There are various methods of genetic manipulation (for example, when bedding is dried under strong sunlight, ultraviolet rays destroy the genes of microorganisms attached to the bedding, which is also a form of genetic manipulation), and genetic recombination is considered the most representative method of genetic manipulation.

Genetic recombination refers to the process of joining specific parts of two genes to synthesize a new gene. Cutting a gene is akin to cutting out information necessary for protein synthesis. When another gene segment is connected to the cut gene, the synthesized protein changes. This process of cutting genes and attaching different segments to form a gene containing information to synthesize new proteins is called genetic recombination.

Some people who have no aversion to the term genetic recombination may feel uncomfortable with the term genetic manipulation. This is likely because the information about genetic manipulation conveyed through mass media has often been more negative than that about genetic recombination.

Today, genetic recombination technology has advanced to the point of creating genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and new plants and animals much larger than ordinary ones. Instead of obtaining insulin from pigs, human genes have been manipulated to produce human insulin or growth hormones from bacteria, and genetic manipulation is being carried out everywhere to improve the breeds of plants and animals.

Genetic recombination technology has brought significant changes to the scientific community and is expected to bring both predictable and unpredictable changes in the future. However, the technology itself is relatively simple to implement. To recombine genes, methods to cut specific parts of genes and to join the cut genes must be developed, and enzymes responsible for these two tasks have already been discovered.

－Byeong-il Ye, Imagination of Genetic Engineering Becomes Reality, Kim Young-sa, 13,500 KRW