With advances in science and technology it is no surprise that we have finally found a way to manipulate genes. Genetic engineering, sometimes called genetic modification, is the process of altering the DNA in an organism's genome. It is used by scientists to improve or change the characteristics of an individual organism. This method can be applied to any organism, from a virus to a sheep. For example, it also has the ability to produce plants that have a higher nutritional value or that can tolerate exposure to herbicides. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The latest version of genetic modification is CRISPR, a unique technology that is currently the simplest, most versatile and precise method. Although it is the most advanced form of editing, it still has flaws. There has been a lot of research and testing focused on eliminating “off-target” effects, where the CRISPR-Cas9 system cuts a different gene than the one it was intended to edit. Before CRISPR people were still only able to edit genomes at a smaller scale and pace. The adaptation of CRISPR has changed things because a custom re-targeted gRNA can be created for just a few dollars in the lab, thus eliminating the cost and effort barriers associated with other technologies. The process of genetic modification is as follows: First, researchers create a small piece of RNA with a short “guide” sequence that attaches (binds) to a specific target sequence of DNA in a genome. This RNA also binds to the Cas9 enzyme. The modified RNA is used to recognize the DNA sequence, and the Cas9 enzyme cuts the DNA at the targeted location. Once the DNA has been cut, researchers use the cell's DNA repair machinery to add or delete pieces of genetic material or to make changes to the DNA by replacing an existing segment with a customized DNA sequence. CRISPR can be used on a multitude of organisms further challenging the ethics and opinions of genetic modification. While this technological advancement is great, there is still so much information and questions missing. It has the capacity to have serious human, social and environmental impacts, which is why it should be something regulated and protected or kept away and unused. Different areas have used genetic engineering focusing more on its importance, ranging from increasing plant and animal food production, diagnosing pathological conditions, improving medical treatments, as well as producing vaccines. New organisms created by genetic engineering could pose an ecological problem. There is no way to predict the changes that a genetically modified species would make to the environment. It can go wrong in many ways, for example the release of a new genetically modified species has the potential to cause an imbalance in the ecology of a region. Although the medical use of genetic engineering has been welcomed, critics still believe that disease-producing organisms used in some DNA experiments could develop extremely infectious forms that could cause epidemics worldwide. There are many ways we can use genetic engineering, but it comes with a lot of uncertainty and possible negative outcomes, this can be demonstrated throughout this discussion. Futuristically, genetic engineering could become a common method for modifying animals used in food production. Due to the likelihood of an increase in the world population, the demand for meat and,.