The resulting plant, animal, or microbe looks like the original organism, but displays the desired genetic trait of the donor organism. Plant and animal products resulting from these new techniques are helping reduce production costs for farmers, protecting the environment, and improving the nutritional quality of our food sources. Making these assessments is easier when one understands what is involved in genetic engineering. DNA is present in the same form and is composed of the same chemical components in every cell of every living thing. Human DNA is composed of the same substances as the DNA in trees, grass, birds, horses, and bacteria.
Cells contain long strands of DNA, which are called chromosomes.
Every human cell has 46 chromosomes and all the information that is needed to make us unique human beings is contained in these chromosomes. DNA itself is made up of a series of compounds called nucleic acids. The sequence tells the organism what to make, when to make it, and where to make it. Each person is unique because the nucleic acids of his or her DNA are arranged differently. Simple traits come from complex genes.