How Accessible Is Genetic Engineering?

<p>Hi all, thanks for this forum.</p><p><br></p><p>I'm a member of the general public trying to educate myself about genetic engineering.&nbsp; &nbsp;I'm particularly interested in understanding how accessible genetic engineering is, and will be, for the general public.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Here's an example question to start the ball rolling.</p><p><br></p><p>TODAY:&nbsp; At this time, can well funded experts do something like this?&nbsp; Edit the embryo of say, a lizard, to give it some competitive advantage.&nbsp; Release such edited lizards in to the wild where they gradually out compete and replace existing lizards of that species.</p><p><br></p><p>TOMORROW:&nbsp; What is your best guess as to when a self funded biology grad student will be able to perform the same operation?</p><p><br></p><p>I keep hearing that genetic engineering is rapidly becoming cheaper and easier, and thus presumably accessible to more people.&nbsp; I'm hoping to get a general ball park idea of how this process may proceed.</p><p><br></p><p>Many thanks for your input!</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>