genetic engineeringn.
/dʒᵻˌnɛtɪk ˌɛn(d)ʒᵻˈnɪərɪŋ/, U.S. /dʒəˌnɛdɪk ˌɛndʒəˈnɪrɪŋ/ The alteration of the genome of an organism by laboratory techniques, esp. by the insertion, alteration, or removal of a gene, in order to produce a desired genotype; the techniques involved in this process. In early use also: the production of desirable genotypes by selective breeding; the application of eugenics (now rare).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > study > [noun] > genetics > branches of
eugenics1883
thremmatology1888
negative eugenics1908
phenogenetics1928
cytogenetics1930
genetic engineering1934
radiogenetics1934
population biology1935
population genetics1938
immunogenetics1947
gengineering1985
archaeogenetics1999
1934 N. W. Timoféëff-Ressovsky in Biol. Rev. 9 451 The power of X-rays and radium to induce all known types of heritable variations makes the application of the radiation methods most valuable for analytical genetic studies, for instance..in ‘genetic engineering’ (i.e. in the synthesis of new genotypes and races).
1949 Science 26 Aug. 208/2 In the future..genetic and eugenic counseling will become the foundation of human genetic engineering.
1951 J. Williamson Dragon's Island xxiii. 180 I was expecting to find that mutation lab filled with some sort of apparatus for genetic engineering.
1968 Exper. Gerontol. 3 268 Directions of inquiry which could lead us to a slowing of the ageing process without the need for genetic engineering, euphenics, or the other glittering possibilities that are offered to us by eminent spokesmen for molecular biology.
1975 Proc. Royal Soc. B. 191 182 Genetic engineering offers many exciting possibilities in aquaculture and has already demonstrated its ability in the pet-fish hobby by way of the many ornamental varieties of goldfish and guppy.
1993 Super Marketing 13 Feb. 23/2 Four American companies are going ahead with genetic engineering in tomatoes aimed at providing longer shelf-life.
2000 Scotsman (Nexis) 20 May 15 The genetic engineering that produced Dolly the sheep..was done so that sheep could produce a milk containing a protein which can be distilled to make medicines to treat cystic fibrosis.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1934