GENETIC ENGINEERING!
WHAT IS GENETIC ENGINEERING?
the direct manipulation of the genes in an organism
also known as genetic modification
to obtain a desired characteristic, the relevant gene from a cell in one organism is transferred
to a cell in another organism
the organism receiving the gene is thus genetically modified and is known as a transgenic
organism
GM= genetically modified
GMO= genetically modified organism
genetic engineering also replaces faulty or missing genes that cause disorders or diseases
this ensures that the correct protein is synthesized
PROCESS:
1. the relevant gene is identified in a healthy cell, extracted and cut from the DNA
2. the isolated gene is inserted into the defective cell by means of vectors (organism that
transfers something eg: virus or bacteria)
3. it becomes integrated into the organism's genome
4. the correct protein is synthesized and the desired trait is expressed in the phenotype
genetic engineering results in the formation of a new DNA sequence in the recipient cell
the new DNA formed is called recombinant DNA
gene therapy= the intergation of genes (for theraputic uses) in cells with faulty or missing
genes
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMO'S)
The result of genetic engineering
Utilized in a variety of human activities to improve quality of life or productivity
May be microbes or plants or animals
Importance of genetic engineering and GMOs
Plays a role in:
synthesis or medicinal drugs
cloning
production of new crops
stem cell research
IN MEDICINE
Two aspects of importance are:
1. production of artificial hormones eg: insulin
2. production of vaccines
, Production of insulin:
Diabetes mellitus is a disease where the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin
This usually controls the glucose concentration in the blood
Type 1 diabetes is treated daily by injections or nasal spray insulin and this used to be extracted
from pigs or cattle (which was very pricey)
This insulin was not actually the same or as effective as human insulin
BUTTTT WE CAN NOW USE RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY!!!!!
DNA with gene coding for insulin is removed from healthy human pancreatic cells
restriction enzymes cut DNA into segments to isolate specific gene
E Coli, a bacterium present in the human intestine, is used to produce insulin
some bacterial genes are found on ring-shaped DNA molecules called plasmids (not part of
chromosomes of a bacterium cell and replicate independently)
plasmids are removed from the E Coli bacteria
restriction enzymes are used to cut the plasmids
the human gene, coding for the production of insulin, is inserted into the opened bacterial
plasmid aided by the enzyme DNA ligase
the plasmid joins ends to form the ring shape again and he human gene is now part of the
recombinant DNA, which is placed back into the E Coli host cell
E Coli accepts the new gene as part of its genetic material and produces insulin
the bacteria are placed in a special fermentation tank where they reproduce rapidly
replication of the desired gene takes place as soon as E Coli reproduces
large numbers of bacterial cells with the desired gene coding for insulin production are formed
the insulin is extracted from the bacteria, purified and then used to treat diabetes
Production of vaccines:
certain bacteria and plants can be genetically modified to produce antigens of certain viruses
antigens are protein molecules that occur on the surface of cells and act as identifying markers
these antigens are used in vaccines to trigger an immune response in the body
the body recognises the antigens as foreign and produces antibodies in response
antibodies provide immunity from infection by that particular virus
antigens of Hepatitis B are produced by genetic engineering in yeast cells
IN AGRICULTURE:
selective cultivation/breeding of plants and animals is a natural form of genetic modification
that has been applied by farmers for hundreds of years
farmers make use of artificial selection to control the reproduction of their plants and animals
in such a way that each new generation will have the most desirable traits of the parents
THE IMPROVEMENT OF PARTICULAR QUALITIES IN A HYBRID
(PRODUCED BY CROSS-BREEDING) IS KNOWN AS A HYBRID
VIGOUR
THIS SHOWS THE BEST QUALITIES OF THE PARENTS
IN PLANTS, CROSS BREEDING RESULTED IN HIGHER YIELDS
AND STRONGER OFFSPRING
IN ANIMALS, HYBRIDS HAVE MORE OF THE DESIRED QUALITIES
REQUIRED BY BREEDERS
WHAT IS GENETIC ENGINEERING?
the direct manipulation of the genes in an organism
also known as genetic modification
to obtain a desired characteristic, the relevant gene from a cell in one organism is transferred
to a cell in another organism
the organism receiving the gene is thus genetically modified and is known as a transgenic
organism
GM= genetically modified
GMO= genetically modified organism
genetic engineering also replaces faulty or missing genes that cause disorders or diseases
this ensures that the correct protein is synthesized
PROCESS:
1. the relevant gene is identified in a healthy cell, extracted and cut from the DNA
2. the isolated gene is inserted into the defective cell by means of vectors (organism that
transfers something eg: virus or bacteria)
3. it becomes integrated into the organism's genome
4. the correct protein is synthesized and the desired trait is expressed in the phenotype
genetic engineering results in the formation of a new DNA sequence in the recipient cell
the new DNA formed is called recombinant DNA
gene therapy= the intergation of genes (for theraputic uses) in cells with faulty or missing
genes
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMO'S)
The result of genetic engineering
Utilized in a variety of human activities to improve quality of life or productivity
May be microbes or plants or animals
Importance of genetic engineering and GMOs
Plays a role in:
synthesis or medicinal drugs
cloning
production of new crops
stem cell research
IN MEDICINE
Two aspects of importance are:
1. production of artificial hormones eg: insulin
2. production of vaccines
, Production of insulin:
Diabetes mellitus is a disease where the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin
This usually controls the glucose concentration in the blood
Type 1 diabetes is treated daily by injections or nasal spray insulin and this used to be extracted
from pigs or cattle (which was very pricey)
This insulin was not actually the same or as effective as human insulin
BUTTTT WE CAN NOW USE RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY!!!!!
DNA with gene coding for insulin is removed from healthy human pancreatic cells
restriction enzymes cut DNA into segments to isolate specific gene
E Coli, a bacterium present in the human intestine, is used to produce insulin
some bacterial genes are found on ring-shaped DNA molecules called plasmids (not part of
chromosomes of a bacterium cell and replicate independently)
plasmids are removed from the E Coli bacteria
restriction enzymes are used to cut the plasmids
the human gene, coding for the production of insulin, is inserted into the opened bacterial
plasmid aided by the enzyme DNA ligase
the plasmid joins ends to form the ring shape again and he human gene is now part of the
recombinant DNA, which is placed back into the E Coli host cell
E Coli accepts the new gene as part of its genetic material and produces insulin
the bacteria are placed in a special fermentation tank where they reproduce rapidly
replication of the desired gene takes place as soon as E Coli reproduces
large numbers of bacterial cells with the desired gene coding for insulin production are formed
the insulin is extracted from the bacteria, purified and then used to treat diabetes
Production of vaccines:
certain bacteria and plants can be genetically modified to produce antigens of certain viruses
antigens are protein molecules that occur on the surface of cells and act as identifying markers
these antigens are used in vaccines to trigger an immune response in the body
the body recognises the antigens as foreign and produces antibodies in response
antibodies provide immunity from infection by that particular virus
antigens of Hepatitis B are produced by genetic engineering in yeast cells
IN AGRICULTURE:
selective cultivation/breeding of plants and animals is a natural form of genetic modification
that has been applied by farmers for hundreds of years
farmers make use of artificial selection to control the reproduction of their plants and animals
in such a way that each new generation will have the most desirable traits of the parents
THE IMPROVEMENT OF PARTICULAR QUALITIES IN A HYBRID
(PRODUCED BY CROSS-BREEDING) IS KNOWN AS A HYBRID
VIGOUR
THIS SHOWS THE BEST QUALITIES OF THE PARENTS
IN PLANTS, CROSS BREEDING RESULTED IN HIGHER YIELDS
AND STRONGER OFFSPRING
IN ANIMALS, HYBRIDS HAVE MORE OF THE DESIRED QUALITIES
REQUIRED BY BREEDERS
