D6. Intro to Genetic Engineering

From the beginning, mankind has sought to harness the powers of nature. Over the centuries, humans did this empirically by breeding animals and plants for desirable traits. The discovery of DNA’s structure in 1953 revolutionized the search. Over the next century, scientists developed tools that could be used to improve the human condition, from laboratory-produced enzymes and vaccines to new gene editing tools that could prove transformational in medicine and agriculture. We’ll discuss the history of this genetic revolution as well as the challenges ahead. No previous experience in biology is required!