Can you take a glow worm, put its genes into a cow and

make the cow glow?

Believe it or not, scientists have tried this- and even got some degree of success. You see, each one of living organisms have a 'code' within their cells. These are called 'Genetic codes'. These codes define how those beings would shape up. All organisms have different Genetic Codes. These codes form a particular structure, called DNA.

Yes- this is a very simple way to understand genes and DNA. In actuality, the study of 'Genetic engineering' is a detailed, complex but very interesting field of study. For now, we will understand this topic in a very simple, easy to understand way.

Humans have tried to play with these genetic codes since a long time. They have taken Genetic material from one plant and inserted into another plant to create a totally different variety of plant, for example. This helps in producing crops, fruits and vegetables that have different kinds of properties. Nowadays, scientists are trying harder to create different kinds of food products that could resist pest attacks better, can survive in harsh weather conditions and can even produce more quantities of crops. These could help in feeding more people as the number of humans increases. There is a negative side to it too. Nature lovers worry that this is 'playing with nature', they worry that these food products can harm the naturally occurring food products and they warn that the effect of these products to health is not known yet. Watch the video below and know more about it: What are some interesting ways you think genetic engineering can work for us?

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