Genetic engineering holds the promise of significant benefits for human and animal health, agriculture, and the environment. This diagram illustrates how the milk from genetically engineered goats can help produce life-saving medicine for humans. In the traditional selective breeding process a number of genes are introduced into a plant or animal. This may include the gene responsible for the desired characteristic, as well as genes responsible for unwanted characteristics. By contrast, genetic engineering enables the introduction into the plant or animal of only the specific gene or genes responsible for the characteristic(s) of interest, without also introducing genes responsible for unwanted characteristics. For more information visit FDA's website, and read these Consumer Updates:

• Regulation of Genetically Engineered Animals • AquAdvantage GE Salmon is as Safe to Eat as Non-GE Salmon • Creating Human Drugs From Genetically Engineered Animals

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