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87-667: Rhon may refer to: Rhon psion in the fictional Saga of the Skolian Empire Rhön Mountains , Germany Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Rhon . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rhon&oldid=933084946 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

174-630: A genetically modified organism in the process. However, some broad definitions of genetic engineering include selective breeding . Cloning and stem cell research, although not considered genetic engineering, are closely related and genetic engineering can be used within them. Synthetic biology is an emerging discipline that takes genetic engineering a step further by introducing artificially synthesised material into an organism. Plants, animals or microorganisms that have been changed through genetic engineering are termed genetically modified organisms or GMOs. If genetic material from another species

261-484: A promoter and terminator region, which initiate and end transcription . A selectable marker gene is added, which in most cases confers antibiotic resistance , so researchers can easily determine which cells have been successfully transformed. The gene can also be modified at this stage for better expression or effectiveness. These manipulations are carried out using recombinant DNA techniques, such as restriction digests , ligations and molecular cloning. There are

348-425: A biotech company, Advanced Genetic Sciences (AGS) applied for U.S. government authorisation to perform field tests with the ice-minus strain of Pseudomonas syringae to protect crops from frost, but environmental groups and protestors delayed the field tests for four years with legal challenges. In 1987, the ice-minus strain of P. syringae became the first genetically modified organism (GMO) to be released into

435-542: A gene coding for a useful protein, such as an enzyme, so that they will overexpress the desired protein. Mass quantities of the protein can then be manufactured by growing the transformed organism in bioreactor equipment using industrial fermentation , and then purifying the protein. Some genes do not work well in bacteria, so yeast, insect cells or mammalian cells can also be used. These techniques are used to produce medicines such as insulin , human growth hormone , and vaccines , supplements such as tryptophan , aid in

522-456: A gene is isolated it can be stored inside the bacteria providing an unlimited supply for research. Organisms are genetically engineered to discover the functions of certain genes. This could be the effect on the phenotype of the organism, where the gene is expressed or what other genes it interacts with. These experiments generally involve loss of function, gain of function, tracking and expression. Organisms can have their cells transformed with

609-598: A genetically modified virus has been used in a research laboratory as a scaffold for assembling a more environmentally friendly lithium-ion battery . Bacteria have also been engineered to function as sensors by expressing a fluorescent protein under certain environmental conditions. One of the best-known and controversial applications of genetic engineering is the creation and use of genetically modified crops or genetically modified livestock to produce genetically modified food . Crops have been developed to increase production, increase tolerance to abiotic stresses , alter

696-440: A given mental strength. Most humans rate between 0 and 2 on this scale, which denotes absent or marginal empathic and telepathic abilities. A three or higher indicates an empath; a six denotes a telepath. There is also a group of psions who have a rating too high to be measured numerically. Those are called "Rhon". They are extremely rare and to be born Rhon a child must get the full set of psion genes from both parents. In practice,

783-747: A great column of light called a "Kyle singularity". The ancient technology which created the Locks has been lost, but the Skolian Empire has deduced some of its functioning. Their three known remaining Locks are located on the Orbiter space habitat (headquarters of the Skolian military), the planet Raylicon (origin of the Ruby Empire), and on the Onyx platform. The psiberweb is crucial to the defence of

870-464: A number of techniques used to insert genetic material into the host genome. Some bacteria can naturally take up foreign DNA . This ability can be induced in other bacteria via stress (e.g. thermal or electric shock), which increases the cell membrane's permeability to DNA; up-taken DNA can either integrate with the genome or exist as extrachromosomal DNA . DNA is generally inserted into animal cells using microinjection , where it can be injected through

957-513: A psion possesses, the stronger psionic abilities he/she manifests. However, many of these genes are closely linked to other Recessive genes that may cause deformities in offspring. As a result, the stronger the psionic abilities of a parent, the more likely it is that a child will be either deformed or not survive pregnancy. This is why Psions are very rare. Telepathy and empathy in Asaro's novels are mediated by two microscopic brain structures,

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1044-413: A virus was used to insert a healthy gene into the skin cells of a boy suffering from a rare skin disease, epidermolysis bullosa , in order to grow, and then graft healthy skin onto 80 percent of the boy's body which was affected by the illness. Germline gene therapy would result in any change being inheritable, which has raised concerns within the scientific community. In 2015, CRISPR was used to edit

1131-589: A wide range of plants, animals and microorganisms. Bacteria , the first organisms to be genetically modified, can have plasmid DNA inserted containing new genes that code for medicines or enzymes that process food and other substrates . Plants have been modified for insect protection, herbicide resistance , virus resistance, enhanced nutrition, tolerance to environmental pressures and the production of edible vaccines . Most commercialised GMOs are insect resistant or herbicide tolerant crop plants. Genetically modified animals have been used for research, model animals and

1218-524: A year later the company produced a human protein ( somatostatin ) in E. coli . Genentech announced the production of genetically engineered human insulin in 1978. In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court in the Diamond v. Chakrabarty case ruled that genetically altered life could be patented. The insulin produced by bacteria was approved for release by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1982. In 1983,

1305-441: Is added to the host, the resulting organism is called transgenic . If genetic material from the same species or a species that can naturally breed with the host is used the resulting organism is called cisgenic . If genetic engineering is used to remove genetic material from the target organism the resulting organism is termed a knockout organism. In Europe genetic modification is synonymous with genetic engineering while within

1392-486: Is an important tool for natural scientists , with the creation of transgenic organisms one of the most important tools for analysis of gene function. Genes and other genetic information from a wide range of organisms can be inserted into bacteria for storage and modification, creating genetically modified bacteria in the process. Bacteria are cheap, easy to grow, clonal , multiply quickly, relatively easy to transform and can be stored at -80 °C almost indefinitely. Once

1479-486: Is characterized not only by their cruelty but also by power-hunger and sense of superiority. Their leader, Eube Qox founded the Eubian Concord and his descendants presently rule it. Aristos began breeding psions to torture and use as pleasure slaves called providers . Their main goal was to produce a single, extremely strong psion who could serve as an ultimate provider. The stronger a provider's psionic abilities,

1566-413: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Rhon psion In the novels , psion is a term describing fictional people with empathic and in some cases telepathic abilities. Psions can detect emotions , and even individual thoughts, depending on the strength of the psion and the proximity of those around them. They are also susceptible to

1653-408: Is generated through genetic engineering is considered to be genetically modified (GM) and the resulting entity is a genetically modified organism (GMO). The first GMO was a bacterium generated by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen in 1973. Rudolf Jaenisch created the first GM animal when he inserted foreign DNA into a mouse in 1974. The first company to focus on genetic engineering, Genentech ,

1740-422: Is not necessary. Selectable markers are used to easily differentiate transformed from untransformed cells. These markers are usually present in the transgenic organism, although a number of strategies have been developed that can remove the selectable marker from the mature transgenic plant. Further testing using PCR, Southern hybridization , and DNA sequencing is conducted to confirm that an organism contains

1827-704: Is possible to create animal model organisms of human diseases. As well as producing hormones, vaccines and other drugs, genetic engineering has the potential to cure genetic diseases through gene therapy . Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are used in industrial genetic engineering. Additionally mRNA vaccines are made through genetic engineering to treat viruses such as COVID-19 . The same techniques that are used to produce drugs can also have industrial applications such as producing enzymes for laundry detergent, cheeses and other products. The rise of commercialised genetically modified crops has provided economic benefit to farmers in many different countries, but has also been

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1914-569: Is separated by using restriction enzymes to cut the DNA into fragments or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify up the gene segment. These segments can then be extracted through gel electrophoresis . If the chosen gene or the donor organism's genome has been well studied it may already be accessible from a genetic library . If the DNA sequence is known, but no copies of the gene are available, it can also be artificially synthesised . Once isolated

2001-401: Is the genetic engineering of humans , generally by replacing defective genes with effective ones. Clinical research using somatic gene therapy has been conducted with several diseases, including X-linked SCID , chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and Parkinson's disease . In 2012, Alipogene tiparvovec became the first gene therapy treatment to be approved for clinical use. In 2015

2088-422: Is the modification and manipulation of an organism's genes using technology . It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across species boundaries to produce improved or novel organisms . New DNA is obtained by either isolating and copying the genetic material of interest using recombinant DNA methods or by artificially synthesising

2175-578: The American Association for the Advancement of Science say that absent scientific evidence of harm even voluntary labeling is misleading and will falsely alarm consumers. Labeling of GMO products in the marketplace is required in 64 countries. Labeling can be mandatory up to a threshold GM content level (which varies between countries) or voluntary. In Canada and the US labeling of GM food

2262-513: The CRISPR/Cas9 system, a technique which can be used to easily and specifically alter the genome of almost any organism. Creating a GMO is a multi-step process. Genetic engineers must first choose what gene they wish to insert into the organism. This is driven by what the aim is for the resultant organism and is built on earlier research. Genetic screens can be carried out to determine potential genes and further tests then used to identify

2349-536: The Laplace Equation , the author invents a universe where "location" is based on quantum wave functions rather than position and time, and where a psion's thoughts determined their location in Kyle space. The Locks are three powerful sentient machines created by the ancient Ruby Empire . They are located at points of disruption in normal spacetime caused by an intersection with Kyle space, which manifests as

2436-579: The host organism or into a cell that is then fused or hybridised with the host. This relies on recombinant nucleic acid techniques to form new combinations of heritable genetic material followed by the incorporation of that material either indirectly through a vector system or directly through micro-injection , macro-injection or micro-encapsulation . Genetic engineering does not normally include traditional breeding, in vitro fertilisation , induction of polyploidy , mutagenesis and cell fusion techniques that do not use recombinant nucleic acids or

2523-434: The infectious sequences . Genetic engineering is also used to create animal models of human diseases. Genetically modified mice are the most common genetically engineered animal model. They have been used to study and model cancer (the oncomouse ), obesity, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, substance abuse, anxiety, aging and Parkinson disease. Potential cures can be tested against these mouse models. Gene therapy

2610-560: The Assembly Key is required to have a peerless intellect and a piercing analytical mind. Therefore, the person who is the Assembly Key takes the sobriquet of the "Mind of Skolia", or the style of Ruby Pharaoh, with at least the executive powers of chief-of-state. The Selei branch of the Rhon produces the Assembly Key with following line of succession: Lahaylia, then Dyhianna, with Taquinil the designated successor. The personality powering

2697-501: The DNA of non-viable human embryos , leading scientists of major world academies to call for a moratorium on inheritable human genome edits. There are also concerns that the technology could be used not just for treatment, but for enhancement, modification or alteration of a human beings' appearance, adaptability, intelligence, character or behavior. The distinction between cure and enhancement can also be difficult to establish. In November 2018, He Jiankui announced that he had edited

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2784-432: The DNA. A construct is usually created and used to insert this DNA into the host organism. The first recombinant DNA molecule was made by Paul Berg in 1972 by combining DNA from the monkey virus SV40 with the lambda virus . As well as inserting genes , the process can be used to remove, or " knock out ", genes. The new DNA can be inserted randomly, or targeted to a specific part of the genome . An organism that

2871-452: The FDA approved a drug produced in goat milk. Genetic engineering has potential applications in conservation and natural area management. Gene transfer through viral vectors has been proposed as a means of controlling invasive species as well as vaccinating threatened fauna from disease. Transgenic trees have been suggested as a way to confer resistance to pathogens in wild populations. With

2958-574: The KEB and KAB feed information about a sender's brain activity into the KEB, and interpret the quantum patterns in the KAB back into emotions and thoughts in the receiver. The term KAB Rating stands for Kyle Afferent Body Rating, and is also called "Kyle Rating". It refers to the strength of a psion's empathic and telepathic abilities and is measured on a scale from 0 to 10, based on a logarithmic inverse of how many people it would take to find an individual with

3045-586: The Kyle Efferent Body (KEB) and Kyle Afferent Body (KAB). The KEB works by modulating the wave functions of some of the particles within it in a way that models, on a much smaller scale and with a low degree of precision, the electrochemical patterns (i.e. thoughts and emotions) of the brain surrounding it. The KAB detects such signals from the KEBs of other nearby psions via quantum entanglement , establishing matching patterns. "Parastructures" surrounding

3132-555: The Kyle Web, but cannot construct or maintain it. It is possible for a Rhon psion to physically enter psiberspace via a Lock, as the Ruby Pharaoh Dyhianna Selei and her son Taquinil did to escape a Eubian attack on the Orbiter. Inexperienced psions suffer potentially fatal headaches upon entering a Lock. Dyhianna eventually emerges from psiberspace on a random planet, but Taquinil's whereabouts remain unknown at

3219-670: The Military Key is required to be robust, ruthless, agile, forceful, and uncompromising. Therefore, the person who is the Military Key takes the sobriquet of the "Fist of Skolia", or the style of Imperator , with the executive power of commander-in-chief of all armed forces in the Imperialate . The Skolia branch of the Rhon produces the Military Key: Jarac, Kurj , Althor Valdoria Skolia, Sauscony Valdoria Skolia , and Kelric Valdoria Skolia . The personality powering

3306-662: The Skolian Empire together with an elected parliament, the Assembly. The different Keys that can exist, (depending which time period the particular novel occurs in), are the Assembly Key, the Military Key, and the Web Key. Each of these Keys has a line succession that is hereditary, though all the members of the Skolia family are in each of the lines at various points due to issues of consanguinity . The personality powering

3393-443: The Skolian Empire. Access and control of the psiberweb is what gives the Skolian Empire its equal strength to the more powerful and more numerous Trader empire. Only the Rhon psions have sufficient Kyle Rating to interface with the Locks. In exceptional cases Rhon can even receive emotions over big distances (even through space), mostly when they are closely related to the sender. Less powerful psions called telops can also access and use

3480-622: The USDA, FDA and EPA. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety , an international treaty that governs the transfer, handling, and use of GMOs, was adopted on 29 January 2000. One hundred and fifty-seven countries are members of the Protocol, and many use it as a reference point for their own regulations. The legal and regulatory status of GM foods varies by country, with some nations banning or restricting them, and others permitting them with widely differing degrees of regulation. Some countries allow

3567-586: The United States and Europe . Genetic engineering : Process of inserting new genetic information into existing cells in order to modify a specific organism for the purpose of changing its characteristics. Note : Adapted from ref. Genetic engineering is a process that alters the genetic structure of an organism by either removing or introducing DNA , or modifying existing genetic material in situ. Unlike traditional animal and plant breeding , which involves doing multiple crosses and then selecting for

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3654-478: The United States of America and Canada genetic modification can also be used to refer to more conventional breeding methods. Humans have altered the genomes of species for thousands of years through selective breeding , or artificial selection as contrasted with natural selection . More recently, mutation breeding has used exposure to chemicals or radiation to produce a high frequency of random mutations, for selective breeding purposes. Genetic engineering as

3741-404: The United States. One of the key issues concerning regulators is whether GM products should be labeled. The European Commission says that mandatory labeling and traceability are needed to allow for informed choice, avoid potential false advertising and facilitate the withdrawal of products if adverse effects on health or the environment are discovered. The American Medical Association and

3828-511: The Web Key is not required to have any great intellectual or organization skill, merely large amounts of willpower and emotional strength. The person who is the Web Key takes the sobriquet of the "Heart of Skolia". The only one so far who has ever been the Web Key was Eldrinson Althor Valdoria . Eldrinson perceives psiberspace as a sea. Genetic engineering This is an accepted version of this page Genetic engineering , also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation ,

3915-518: The approaches taken by governments to assess and manage the risks associated with the development and release of GMOs. The development of a regulatory framework began in 1975, at Asilomar , California. The Asilomar meeting recommended a set of voluntary guidelines regarding the use of recombinant technology. As the technology improved the US established a committee at the Office of Science and Technology , which assigned regulatory approval of GM food to

4002-480: The best candidates. The development of microarrays , transcriptomics and genome sequencing has made it much easier to find suitable genes. Luck also plays its part; the Roundup Ready gene was discovered after scientists noticed a bacterium thriving in the presence of the herbicide. The next step is to isolate the candidate gene. The cell containing the gene is opened and the DNA is purified. The gene

4089-408: The cell membrane permeable to plasmid DNA. As only a single cell is transformed with genetic material, the organism must be regenerated from that single cell. In plants this is accomplished through the use of tissue culture . In animals it is necessary to ensure that the inserted DNA is present in the embryonic stem cells . Bacteria consist of a single cell and reproduce clonally so regeneration

4176-774: The cell's nuclear envelope directly into the nucleus , or through the use of viral vectors . Plant genomes can be engineered by physical methods or by use of Agrobacterium for the delivery of sequences hosted in T-DNA binary vectors . In plants the DNA is often inserted using Agrobacterium -mediated transformation , taking advantage of the Agrobacterium s T-DNA sequence that allows natural insertion of genetic material into plant cells. Other methods include biolistics , where particles of gold or tungsten are coated with DNA and then shot into young plant cells, and electroporation , which involves using an electric shock to make

4263-443: The composition of the food, or to produce novel products. The first crops to be released commercially on a large scale provided protection from insect pests or tolerance to herbicides . Fungal and virus resistant crops have also been developed or are in development. This makes the insect and weed management of crops easier and can indirectly increase crop yield. GM crops that directly improve yield by accelerating growth or making

4350-616: The concept of substantial equivalence . The European Union by contrast has possibly the most stringent GMO regulations in the world. All GMOs, along with irradiated food , are considered "new food" and subject to extensive, case-by-case, science-based food evaluation by the European Food Safety Authority . The criteria for authorisation fall in four broad categories: "safety", "freedom of choice", "labelling", and "traceability". The level of regulation in other countries that cultivate GMOs lie in between Europe and

4437-465: The concepts of the Hilbert space described by the harmonics to create the universe called Kyle space. Spherical harmonics (see also Spherical Harmonic ) are an orthonormal set of eigenfunctions used in many areas of math and physics, including quantum mechanics and electromagnetics . By directly applying the rules that define Hilbert spaces described by the angular wave functions that solve

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4524-413: The defective gene with a functioning one. It is an important tool in research that allows the function of specific genes to be studied. Drugs, vaccines and other products have been harvested from organisms engineered to produce them. Crops have been developed that aid food security by increasing yield, nutritional value and tolerance to environmental stresses. The DNA can be introduced directly into

4611-578: The direct manipulation of DNA by humans outside breeding and mutations has only existed since the 1970s. The term "genetic engineering" was coined by the Russian-born geneticist Nikolay Timofeev-Ressovsky in his 1934 paper "The Experimental Production of Mutations", published in the British journal Biological Reviews. Jack Williamson used the term in his science fiction novel Dragon's Island, published in 1951 – one year before DNA's role in heredity

4698-573: The earliest uses of genetic engineering was to mass-produce human insulin in bacteria. This application has now been applied to human growth hormones , follicle stimulating hormones (for treating infertility), human albumin , monoclonal antibodies , antihemophilic factors , vaccines and many other drugs. Mouse hybridomas , cells fused together to create monoclonal antibodies , have been adapted through genetic engineering to create human monoclonal antibodies. Genetically engineered viruses are being developed that can still confer immunity, but lack

4785-429: The emotional suffering of people who are near them, and can suffer emotional scars from other psions who project their pain naturally. To survive the ongoing emotional attacks, psions are trained to put up barriers around their minds, both to protect themselves from unwelcomed feelings and thoughts and to prevent projecting onto others. There are several hundred genes that result in psionic abilities. The more such genes

4872-565: The environment when a strawberry field and a potato field in California were sprayed with it. Both test fields were attacked by activist groups the night before the tests occurred: "The world's first trial site attracted the world's first field trasher". The first field trials of genetically engineered plants occurred in France and the US in 1986, tobacco plants were engineered to be resistant to herbicides . The People's Republic of China

4959-471: The first synthetic genome and inserted it into an empty bacterial cell. The resulting bacterium, named Mycoplasma laboratorium , could replicate and produce proteins. Four years later this was taken a step further when a bacterium was developed that replicated a plasmid containing a unique base pair , creating the first organism engineered to use an expanded genetic alphabet. In 2012, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier collaborated to develop

5046-595: The first GMO designed as a pet, was sold in the United States in December 2003. In 2016 salmon modified with a growth hormone were sold. Genetic engineering has been applied in numerous fields including research, medicine, industrial biotechnology and agriculture. In research, GMOs are used to study gene function and expression through loss of function, gain of function, tracking and expression experiments. By knocking out genes responsible for certain conditions it

5133-490: The food supply and intellectual property rights have also been raised as potential issues. These concerns have led to the development of a regulatory framework, which started in 1975. It has led to an international treaty, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety , that was adopted in 2000. Individual countries have developed their own regulatory systems regarding GMOs, with the most marked differences occurring between

5220-464: The gene is ligated into a plasmid that is then inserted into a bacterium. The plasmid is replicated when the bacteria divide, ensuring unlimited copies of the gene are available. The RK2 plasmid is notable for its ability to replicate in a wide variety of single-celled organisms , which makes it suitable as a genetic engineering tool. Before the gene is inserted into the target organism it must be combined with other genetic elements. These include

5307-404: The genome of pigs to induce the growth of human organs, with the aim of increasing the success of pig to human organ transplantation . Scientists are creating "gene drives", changing the genomes of mosquitoes to make them immune to malaria, and then looking to spread the genetically altered mosquitoes throughout the mosquito population in the hopes of eliminating the disease. Genetic engineering

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5394-465: The genome, and use the cell's endogenous mechanisms to repair the induced break by the natural processes of homologous recombination and nonhomologous end-joining . There are four families of engineered nucleases: meganucleases , zinc finger nucleases , transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and the Cas9-guideRNA system (adapted from CRISPR ). TALEN and CRISPR are

5481-470: The genomes of two human embryos, to attempt to disable the CCR5 gene, which codes for a receptor that HIV uses to enter cells. The work was widely condemned as unethical, dangerous, and premature. Currently, germline modification is banned in 40 countries. Scientists that do this type of research will often let embryos grow for a few days without allowing it to develop into a baby. Researchers are altering

5568-511: The host genome or targeted to a specific location. The technique of gene targeting uses homologous recombination to make desired changes to a specific endogenous gene. This tends to occur at a relatively low frequency in plants and animals and generally requires the use of selectable markers . The frequency of gene targeting can be greatly enhanced through genome editing . Genome editing uses artificially engineered nucleases that create specific double-stranded breaks at desired locations in

5655-454: The import of GM food with authorisation, but either do not allow its cultivation (Russia, Norway, Israel) or have provisions for cultivation even though no GM products are yet produced (Japan, South Korea). Most countries that do not allow GMO cultivation do permit research. Some of the most marked differences occur between the US and Europe. The US policy focuses on the product (not the process), only looks at verifiable scientific risks and uses

5742-678: The increasing risks of maladaptation in organisms as a result of climate change and other perturbations, facilitated adaptation through gene tweaking could be one solution to reducing extinction risks. Applications of genetic engineering in conservation are thus far mostly theoretical and have yet to be put into practice. Genetic engineering is also being used to create microbial art . Some bacteria have been genetically engineered to create black and white photographs. Novelty items such as lavender-colored carnations , blue roses , and glowing fish , have also been produced through genetic engineering. The regulation of genetic engineering concerns

5829-551: The involvement of the Aristos in creating the Rhon psions. The Kyle Web, also known as the psiberweb, is an instantaneous interstellar communication network powered by Locks. The psiberweb can be thought of as similar to the Internet. Unlike the Internet, the psiberweb, rather than existing in real physical form, transmits information through "Kyle space", also known as "psiberspace". A theoretical physicist by training, Asaro uses

5916-434: The monkey virus SV40 with that of the lambda virus . In 1973 Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen created the first transgenic organism by inserting antibiotic resistance genes into the plasmid of an Escherichia coli bacterium. A year later Rudolf Jaenisch created a transgenic mouse by introducing foreign DNA into its embryo, making it the world's first transgenic animal These achievements led to concerns in

6003-498: The new gene. These tests can also confirm the chromosomal location and copy number of the inserted gene. The presence of the gene does not guarantee it will be expressed at appropriate levels in the target tissue so methods that look for and measure the gene products (RNA and protein) are also used. These include northern hybridisation , quantitative RT-PCR , Western blot , immunofluorescence , ELISA and phenotypic analysis. The new genetic material can be inserted randomly within

6090-399: The organism with the desired phenotype , genetic engineering takes the gene directly from one organism and delivers it to the other. This is much faster, can be used to insert any genes from any organism (even ones from different domains ) and prevents other undesirable genes from also being added. Genetic engineering could potentially fix severe genetic disorders in humans by replacing

6177-571: The pain of others. The project failed and spawned instead modified Kyle organs to interpret pain signals from psions as orgasmic pleasure called "transcendence". Upon discovering his mistake, Dr. Rhon attempted to destroy his patients but they murdered him first and destroyed his work. Dr Rhon's former patients are referred to as Aristos . They are anti-empathetic sadists utterly devoid of compassion. Notably, some Aristos (Corbal Xir, Calliope Muze, and Tarquine Iquar) have undergone surgery to remove their ability to achieve transcendence. The Aristo nature

6264-482: The pair, name unknown, committed suicide upon realizing his intended purpose. The female, Lahaylia Selei, killed her captors and escaped. Lahaylia then founded the Skolian Imperialate . Later she discovered a natural Rhon from a nearly dead race of Ruby colonists, named Jarac Skolia, and took him as her consort. However, since this history is rather unnoble, the story as told in the Skolian Empire omits

6351-564: The plant more hardy (by improving salt, cold or drought tolerance) are also under development. In 2016 Salmon have been genetically modified with growth hormones to reach normal adult size much faster. GMOs have been developed that modify the quality of produce by increasing the nutritional value or providing more industrially useful qualities or quantities. The Amflora potato produces a more industrially useful blend of starches. Soybeans and canola have been genetically modified to produce more healthy oils. The first commercialised GM food

6438-430: The production of agricultural or pharmaceutical products. The genetically modified animals include animals with genes knocked out , increased susceptibility to disease , hormones for extra growth and the ability to express proteins in their milk. Genetic engineering has many applications to medicine that include the manufacturing of drugs, creation of model animals that mimic human conditions and gene therapy . One of

6525-570: The production of food ( chymosin in cheese making) and fuels. Other applications with genetically engineered bacteria could involve making them perform tasks outside their natural cycle, such as making biofuels , cleaning up oil spills, carbon and other toxic waste and detecting arsenic in drinking water. Certain genetically modified microbes can also be used in biomining and bioremediation , due to their ability to extract heavy metals from their environment and incorporate them into compounds that are more easily recoverable. In materials science ,

6612-518: The same type were to join the psiberweb simultaneously, one is likely to die, as Kurj did to Jarac. Rhon psions that "join" the Locks are considered members of the Dyad or Triad, depending on the context of the novel in the series. A Dyad is formed by two complementary personalities, and a Triad is formed by three such. The Dyad or the Triad when acting together forms the full executive authority that governs

6699-500: The scientific community about potential risks from genetic engineering, which were first discussed in depth at the Asilomar Conference in 1975. One of the main recommendations from this meeting was that government oversight of recombinant DNA research should be established until the technology was deemed safe. In 1976 Genentech, the first genetic engineering company, was founded by Herbert Boyer and Robert Swanson and

6786-434: The source of most of the controversy surrounding the technology. This has been present since its early use; the first field trials were destroyed by anti-GM activists. Although there is a scientific consensus that currently available food derived from GM crops poses no greater risk to human health than conventional food, critics consider GM food safety a leading concern. Gene flow , impact on non-target organisms, control of

6873-440: The stronger the pain signals he produces while tortured and consequently, the greater the pleasure an Aristo experiences. The first Rhon psions were a pair of siblings meant to be bred to each other to found a pre-eminent line of providers. They were created from genetic samples of long dead members of the once so powerful Ruby Empire 's ruling caste, who were known for their great empathic and telepathic abilities. The male half of

6960-404: The term Rhon refers to members of Ruby Dynasty, the ruling family of Skolian Empire, as Rhon not related to them are not known. The Rhon Project was instigated to genetically engineer extremely powerful psions. The project was led by the prominent geneticist, Hezahr Rhon. The initial project of Dr. Rhon was undertaken to prevent the suffering of psions by attempting to prevent them from receiving

7047-552: The time of the novel Catch the Lightning . Rhon psions can act as Keys to the psiberweb, engaging the Locks to create and maintain psiberweb links. The Locks can support only a limited number of Keys. This limit is determined by a psiberspace law equivalent to the Pauli Exclusion Principle , in that no more than one personality of a specific type can be joined to the Locks at any given time. If two persons of

7134-412: The two most commonly used and each has its own advantages. TALENs have greater target specificity, while CRISPR is easier to design and more efficient. In addition to enhancing gene targeting, engineered nucleases can be used to introduce mutations at endogenous genes that generate a gene knockout . Genetic engineering has applications in medicine, research, industry and agriculture and can be used on

7221-490: Was a tomato that had delayed ripening, increasing its shelf life . Plants and animals have been engineered to produce materials they do not normally make. Pharming uses crops and animals as bioreactors to produce vaccines, drug intermediates, or the drugs themselves; the useful product is purified from the harvest and then used in the standard pharmaceutical production process. Cows and goats have been engineered to express drugs and other proteins in their milk, and in 2009

7308-507: Was approved safe by the Environmental Protection Agency , after having been approved by the FDA, making it the first pesticide producing crop to be approved in the US. In 2009 11 transgenic crops were grown commercially in 25 countries, the largest of which by area grown were the US, Brazil, Argentina, India, Canada, China, Paraguay and South Africa. In 2010, scientists at the J. Craig Venter Institute created

7395-482: Was confirmed by Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase , and two years before James Watson and Francis Crick showed that the DNA molecule has a double-helix structure – though the general concept of direct genetic manipulation was explored in rudimentary form in Stanley G. Weinbaum 's 1936 science fiction story Proteus Island . In 1972, Paul Berg created the first recombinant DNA molecules by combining DNA from

7482-501: Was founded in 1976 and started the production of human proteins. Genetically engineered human insulin was produced in 1978 and insulin-producing bacteria were commercialised in 1982. Genetically modified food has been sold since 1994, with the release of the Flavr Savr tomato. The Flavr Savr was engineered to have a longer shelf life, but most current GM crops are modified to increase resistance to insects and herbicides. GloFish ,

7569-587: Was the first country to commercialise transgenic plants, introducing a virus-resistant tobacco in 1992. In 1994 Calgene attained approval to commercially release the first genetically modified food , the Flavr Savr , a tomato engineered to have a longer shelf life. In 1994, the European Union approved tobacco engineered to be resistant to the herbicide bromoxynil , making it the first genetically engineered crop commercialised in Europe. In 1995, Bt potato

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