In the modern world, genetics has brought about more dramatic breakthroughs than
any other field of biological study. These breakthroughs have a wide impact,
from curing diseases to growing better vegetables to catching criminals. The
field of genetics is in the midst of a revolution, and at the center of it is
genetic engineering: the alteration of genetic material by direct intervention
in genetic processes. Some of the biggest strides in genetic engineering and
related fields are taking place in the realm of medicine. Genetic engineering in
the area of health aims at understanding the causes of disease and developing
treatments for them. Gene therapy is another