Scope

Genetic engineering is the production of new genes and alteration of genomes by substituting or adding new genetic material. This Research Guide is intended to be a starting point, as the topic of genetic engineering is extremely broad. The Internet section is divided into five categories: Agricultural Biotechnology, Bioethics, Genetics, Human Genetics, and a Wisconsin section.

Overview

Biotech-Life Sciences Dictionary
This online dictionary currently contains 8300+ terms that deal with biochemistry, biotechnology, botany, cell biology and genetics

CQ Researcher
Contains weekly in-depth reports that cover the most current and controversial issues of the day with complete summaries, insight into all sides of the issues, bibliographies and more.

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 1992 (updated daily)
Britannica Online is a searchable collection of authoritative references, including Britannica's latest encyclopedia articles. Basic instructions for Encyclopædia Britannica Online

Sample searches:
biotechnology
genetic engineering
molecular genetics
recombinant DNA

Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics
College Library Reference Collection: BJ 63 A66 1998
Refer to "Genetic Engineering" volume 2, pages 407-417, or in volume 4, refer to “genetics” or “biotechnology” in index.

Encyclopedia of Bioethics
College Library Reference Collection: QH 332 E52 2004
Refer to "Genetic Engineering" in index.

McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology
College Library Reference Collection: Q 121 M3 1997 7
Refer to "Genetic Engineering" in volume 7, pages 762-775

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center 1990 - to date (updated daily)
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (OVRC) includes the acclaimed social issues series published by Greenhaven Press, as well as core reference content from other Gale and Macmillan Reference USA sources and provides viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles.

Finding Journal and News Articles

Below are links to databases that cover this subject area. The truncation symbol for all of them is an asterisk (*) unless otherwise noted.

Sample searches for databases:

bioengineering and agriculture
biotechnology
genetic engineering
genetic engineering industry
genetic engineering and technology
genetic engineering and law* and regulation*
genetic research
genetic engineering and heredity
genetic engineering and human
genetic research and moral or ethical aspects
gene therapy
recombinant DNA

Recommended Databases:

Academic Search 1984 - to date (updated daily)
This library database indexes approximately 3,100 popular magazines and academic journals and provides the full-text articles from approximately 1,000 journals. Basic instructions for Academic Search

Agricola 1970 - to date (updated quarterly)
Indexes 2,500 scholarly and trade journals along with government publications and conference proceedings in animal sciences, agricultural engineering, botany, entomology, plant science, soil science, veterinary management and water management. Basic instructions for Agricola

CQ Researcher November 1991 - to date (updated weekly)
Contains weekly reports from Congressional Quarterly that cover the most current and controversial issues. Basic instructions for CQ Researcher

General Science Full Text 1984 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 150 popular and scholarly periodicals, as well as the Science section of the New York Times. Subjects include biology, chemistry, earth sciences, environment, nutrition, genetics, medicine and health. Basic instructions for General Science Full Text

ProQuest Research Library 1988 - to date (updated daily)
Indexes over 2,000 general-interest and academic journals. Nearly 1,000 periodicals are full-text. Dates vary, but many full-text journals go back to 1988. Basic instructions for ProQuest Research Library

More Databases:

Business Full Text 1982 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 400 key business periodicals, including trade magazines and scholarly journals, covering all aspects of business. Basic instructions for Business Full Text

Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe Dates Vary (updated daily)
Contains the full-text articles from U.S. and international newspapers (including the New York Times, June 1980 - to date), as well as some news and business magazines and trade journals. The truncation symbol is an exclamation point (!). Basic instructions for Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe

Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS) 1972 - to date (updated quarterly)
Indexes journal articles, books, government documents, statistical compilations, committee reports, directories, serials, reports of public, intergovernmental and private organizations, and most other forms of printed literature from all over the world. The full-text of the articles is not available in the database. Basic instructions for PAIS

Readers' Guide Full Text and Retrospective 1890 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 240 popular magazines in a wide range of subject areas. Full-text coverage of 131 titles begins with 1994. Basic instructions for Readers' Guide Full Text

Social Sciences Full Text 1983 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes more than 415 scholarly journals in economics, politics, public administration, public health, sociology, criminology, environmental and urban studies, psychology and anthropology. Basic instructions for Social Sciences Full Text

Finding Books

MadCat
Books on genetic engineering can be found in MadCat, the UW-Madison library catalog.

Sample keyword searches:

"biotechnology" and "moral and ethical aspects"
crops and "genetic engineering"
"gene therapy "
"genetic engineering" and "social aspects"
"human genetic?"
"molecular genetics"
"plant genetic engineering"
http and "genetic engineering" (to find electronic resources)

All of these searches can be limited to College Library to see available titles

Internet Sites

|Agricultural Biotechnology | Bioethics | Genetics | Human Genetics | Wisconsin |

Agricultural Biotechnology

Ag Biotech InfoNet
http://www.biotech-info.net
A large, regularly updated site which covers "all aspects of the application of biotechnology and genetic engineering in agricultural production, food processing, and marketing."

Agricultural Network Information Center (AgNIC)
http://www.agnic.org/
Sponsored by the University of Maryland, AgNIC is a guide to quality agricultural biotechnology information on the Internet. The directory covers animals, economics, ethics, breeding and genetic improvement, entomology, food biotechnology, regulation, crops, environmental studies, and forestry.

Genetically Modified Organisms Research Guide
http://www.library.wisc.edu/guides/Biology/gmo.htm
Provided by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries, this guide is a collection of books, journal articles, and Web sites all related to GMO's.

Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology
http://pewagbiotech.org
"The Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology was established in 2001 to be an independent and objective source of credible information on agricultural biotechnology for the public, media and policymakers." The site covers recent news releases, research, polls, the Pew Initiative's own publications, and other Pew Initiative events.

USDA Agricultural Biotechnology
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?navid=BIOTECH&parentnav=AGRICULTURE&navtype=RT
Provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, this site covers laws and regulations, permitting and notification, research, and trade in relation to agricultural biotechnology.

Bioethics

Bioethics.net
http://bioethics.net
Hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, Center for Bioethics. Refer to the "Features" section for articles relating to bioethics.

Bioethics Resources on the Web
http://www.nih.gov/sigs/bioethics
Provided by the National Institutes of Health, this site contains a wealth of information about general and specific bioethics topics, organizations, and other federal resources relating to bioethics.

Bioethics Online Service
http://www.mcw.edu/bioethics/smatic.html
Provided by the Medical College of Wisconsin, bioethics online service (BOS) is a searchable index with abstracts taken from bioethics literature.

The President's Council on Bioethics
http://www.bioethics.gov
President George W. Bush established the Council on Bioethics in November 2001, to investigate issues relating to human bioethics. On this site you will find information about the council, transcripts from the council meetings, reports published by the council, background materials on the subject, and other related sites.

Genetics

HealthWeb
http://healthweb.org/genetics/
"HealthWeb is a collaborative project of the health sciences libraries of the Greater Midwest Region (GMR) of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) and those of the Committee for Institutional Cooperation." Select "Genetics" to view topics related to genetics such as career resources, consumer health resources, educational resources, organizations, and online journals.

Virtual Library on Genetics
http://www.ornl.gov/TechResources/Human_Genome/genetics.html
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, and the Human Genome Program.

Human Genetics

National Institute of Health, Office of Biotechnology Activities
http://www4.od.nih.gov/oba
"Monitors scientific progress in basic and clinical research involving Recombinant DNA and Human Gene Transfer" and "provides policy advice to the Department of Health and Human Services on the broad array of complex medical, ethical, legal, and social issues raised by the development and use of genetic technologies."

Human Genome Project Information
http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/home.html
Provided by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This site not only provides information about the Human Genome Project, but also includes news, research, publications, ethical and legal information, and topical fact sheets on genetics.

National Human Genome Research Institute
http://www.nhgri.nih.gov
Hosted by the National Institutes of Health, this site provides information on research, health, policy, and ethics.

Genetech, Inc.
http://www.gene.com
Located out of San Francisco, California. Genetech Inc. "uses genetic engineering to develop drugs to address significant unmet medical needs." The site provides information about current research, products, recent news, and career information.

Wisconsin

ABS Global, Inc.
http://www.absglobal.com
ABS, in DeForest, Wisconsin, conducts research in bovine genetics and the commercial applications of cloning technologies in the cattle breeding and pharmaceutical fields.

SEE Biotech
http://www.biotech.wisc.edu/seebiotech
Provided by the University of Wisconsin-Extension Services, this site is intended to "help the public understand the social, economic, and ethical aspects of Agricultural Biotechnology."

Program on Agricultural Technology Studies
http://www.pats.wisc.edu/fabiotech.htm
This page includes data, publications, and other links related to biotechnology. The Program on Agricultural Technology Studies (PATS) is an applied research and extension unit housed in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and linked with Cooperative Extension Services.

University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center
http://www.biotech.wisc.edu
Contains downloadable lectures from the Biotechnology public lecture series, as well as class lectures.

University of Wisconsin Laboratory of Genetics Research
http://www.genetics.wisc.edu
This site provides local information for current and prospective students such as department resources, faculty research, courses, and program information.

Food Fight: Wisconsin's Biotech Crops
http://www.wpt.org/foodfight/index.cfm
This is a documentary from Wisconsin Public Television. The page provides the documentary transcripts, interviews, video clips, and special reports.

Statistics

Statistical Universe 1973 - to date (updated monthly)
Contains the full text of more than 800 U.S. government statistical publications. Lexis-Nexis Statistical Universe is available to UW-Madison registered users.

Videos

After Darwin: Genetics, Eugenics, and the Human Genome
College Library Main Book Collection: HQ750 A2 A373 2000

Organizations

A World of Genetics Societies
http://www.faseb.org/genetics/mainmenu.htm
Provided by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), this site contains an extensive list of national and international genetics societies.

Center for Genetics and Society
http://www.genetics-and-society.org/index.asp
"The Center for Genetics and Society is a nonprofit information and public affairs organization working to encourage responsible uses and effective societal governance of the new human genetic and reproductive technologies." The organization is located in Oakland, California.

Genetic Engineering Network
http://www.geneticsaction.org.uk
"The Genetic Engineering Network is a network of people opposed to the imposition of GM technology." This site contains the following information: local and international group contacts, tips on how to start your own local group, getting active information, and recent news events.

Greenpeace.org
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/genetic-engineering
This international organization opposes genetically modified organisms and provides recent news events, multimedia and press information, documents, and other links.

Institute of Science in Society
http://www.i-sis.org.uk
"The Institute of Science in Society (ISIS) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1999 by Mae-Wan Ho and Peter Saunders to work for social responsibility and sustainable approaches in science." This site provides vast amounts of information, use the topical headings at the top of the page to navigate.

American Society of Human Genetics
http://www.faseb.org/genetics/ashg/ashgmenu.htm
The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), founded in 1948, is the primary professional membership organization for human geneticists in the Americas. The nearly 8,000 members include researchers, academicians, clinicians, laboratory practice professionals, genetic counselors, nurses and others involved in or with special interest in human genetics.

The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
http://www.icgeb.trieste.it
"An international organisation dedicated to advanced research and training in molecular biology and biotechnology, with special regard to the needs of the developing world."