Pest-resistance and other traits related to yield or other desired qualities have thus been introduced and enhanced for centuries by a variety of genetic modification techniques.

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The two-year-old start-up seeks to combine evidence-based medicine, behavioral modification techniques and smart design to combat major illnesses, such as diabetes, and cardiovascular disease before they become full-blown.

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The US researchers, reported Science magazine, used genetic modification techniques to knock out a mouse gene which is responsible for keeping the immune system in check so that it does not launch attacks on itself.

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In spite of the scientific consensus that the new techniques of genetic engineering are essentially extensions, or refinements, of conventional (but less precise and less predictable) techniques of genetic modification, both U.N. entities have established requirements for the products of genetic engineering (whether plants or food derived from them) that no conventionally modified product could meet.

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Those in favour of plant modification often argue that the new techniques are really no different from traditional plant-breeding.

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