The applications and hypothetical benefits of genetic engineering across into many different areas including: human health care, veterinary science, agriculture, food processing, aquaculture, waste management, energy conservation, etc.... The following is a summary of the outlined hypothetical benefits from the use of genetic engineering techniques.

 Health Care

Research using rDNA technology and monoclonal antibodies, another method of modern biotechnology, seeks to improve techniques for diagnosing and treating various diseases including: hereditary conditions, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), diabetes, cancer, anemia, mental disorders, and others. Commercial products that have been made via genetic engineering and been given approval for diagnosing and treating disease include: humulin (rDNA-derived human insulin), human growth hormone, alpha interferon, erythropoietin, and tissue plasma activator . In addition, a vaccine against human hepatitis B has been developed through rDNA biotechnology.

 Veterinary Science

The advances being made in applying biotechnology to the production of vaccines are being used in veterinary medicine as well. The first biotechnologic derived vaccine, a product to protect newborn pigs and calves against infant diarrhea, was developed in 1983. A passive rabies vaccine to inoculate wild animals is currently in the process of being developed. Monoclonal antibodies are being investigated for use in diagnosing and treating infectious bronchitis virus in poultry, bovine mastitis in cows, and rabies in raccoons and foxes. The creation of "transgenic animals" has been made possible through rDNA technology. Transgenic animals differ from traditionally bred animals in that genes from another species are inserted into the animal's own gene sequence to give a desired characteristic. Examples of transgenic animals created thus far include: mice, fish, and pigs . rDNA technology is also being exploited to produce proteins that can promote increased meat and milk production in farm animals . This can be done by injecting animals with a hormone (e.g., growth hormone) derived from rDNA technology which allows for the expression of a desired trait such as faster growth or increased feed efficiency. Examples of this application include injection of recombinantly derived bovine growth hormone (rBGH) into dairy cows to increase milk production and injection of recombinantly derived porcine growth hormone (rPGH) into pigs to decrease carcass fat in growing pigs.

 Agricultural

Genetic engineering is being used in agriculture and food production with three overall goals in mind: increased crop yield, improved crop quality, and reduced production costs.

Genetic engineering to improve characteristics associated with yield and quality - such as size, taste, texture, color, acidity or sweetness, ripening, increased nutrient composition - of food crops, such as fruits and vegetables, are being explored. Other areas of investigation include producing plants that are resistant to herbicides or pesticides, which some proponents suggest could allow the use of less toxic herbicides and pesticides to produce optimal yields and optimal environmental impacts. Plants resistant to insects and viruses are also being explored as a way to reduce the number of crops lost to disease and insects each year. Tomatoes have been transfected with genes that increase food ripening, retard food ripening and decreases shelf life.

 Aquaculture

The world's food supply comes from land and water. In many areas of the world, both diet and the economy rely heavily on the fishing industry. Scientists are exploring ways to use the techniques of biotechnology to produce popular varieties of seafood that grow faster and larger in aquaculture conditions or fish farms. Also, research is being pursued to produce varieties of seafood in places that may have not been feasible before . For example, by inserting flounder genes into salmon, salmon can survive ocean temperatures that would otherwise kill the species.

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