Definition of Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is used to be defined as simple addition and subtraction of single genes. Now, it is a function of multiple genes. Today, multiple genes are manipulated with the most advanced technology towards the needs of the industry in GMO market.

"People don't understand that we're not working with Gregor Mendel anymore" says Bonnie McClafferty, development head at HarvestPlus in a NY-Times article. "The science is advancing, and there's a whole variety of tools to use".

The novel trend is that Mendelian techniques of breeding are combined with modern tools of genetic engineering and served with the spice of information technology according to the needs of the industry.

One reason we do not hear about these in the media often is that big firms of the industry like Monsanto and Pioneer have invested heavily in molecular breeding, none of their research has been published, due to competition.

Among the novel technologies, whole genome sequencing is the most powerful tool of genetic engineering for now and for the near future. It took seven years to sequence the first plant genome. However, in the near future the same genome could be sequenced for $70 and in one day. The rest is a work of number crunching done by computers and will reveal much more information than the industry giants hiding under patent pressure.

Corn is the particular example of early, under-tested GMO on the farm fields. Global profits out of GMO Corn and damage done to the nature by the very same GMO species are good indicators of where GMO industry is heading. Rice with high prevalence in Asia is the second on the indicator list.

Although, there are different GMO patents for corn, rice and other seeds, one thing that should definitely not be patented is the technique of multivariant gene analysis in silico, in computers and its global application to the GMO industry.

The technology is universal and should be in a public domain.