Genetic engineering is the process of manually adding new DNA to an organism. This can be done in a number of ways, but most commonly it is done by using a virus or bacteria to insert the new DNA into the organism’s cells. The new DNA can be added to change the organism’s appearance, function, or both.
Some of the emerging trends in genetic engineering include the use of CRISPR/Cas9 for genome editing, the use of gene drives for population modification, and the use of synthetic biology for the design and construction of new biological systems.