Summary - part of an introduction to genetic engineering and patents Summary Genetic Engineering is the heritable, directed alteration of an organism. Altering DNA or adding new DNA allows us to change the characteristics of a cell or cells. Non-germline alterations are not carried to the next generation. Only half of our genes are given to our offspring, diluting any germline genetic modifications over time. DNA carries the instructions as genes, proteins perform the actions.
Regulation is as important as gene function.
Foreign DNA may be rejected. While the human genome project may give us the entire sequence of our DNA, scientists must still determine how all the encoded proteins work.