Genetic Engineering and Its Application - Lecture 1

• Transgenic organisms are generated in the laboratory for research purposes.
• Genetic engineering is a process of making changes on the genetic code of an organism.
• Ethical considerations for transgenic organisms include environmental impact, human health, ethical treatment of animals (animal welfare), economic and social impact, labeling and consumer choice.
• Genetic engineers can alter the DNA code of living organisms.
• The goal of genetic engineering is to add one or more new traits that are normally found in that organism.
• DNA recombination is a process of modifying the genes of organisms for practical purposes.
• DNA recombination is done when a piece of DNA is combined with another DNA from another source.
• Organisms get to have traits that are not normally found in their species through DNA recombination.
• Transformation using a Vector involves inserting a selected portion of the foreign DNA into a small, circular DNA molecule called the plasmid.
• Vectors are organisms that are normally harmless but may help spread infection by transferring the genetic material from one host to another.
• Vectorless Gene Transfer involves four types: Electroporation, Protoplast Fusion, Microinjection, and Particle Gun.
• Electroporation is a process where temporary holes are formed in the plasma membrane of the host cell by applying a significant amount of electricity in the culture medium, enabling the entry of foreign DNA via pores.
• Protoplast Fusion involves treating cells with chemicals to initiate recombination, turning the cells into protoplasts, and treating them with polyethylene glycol to allow them to fuse.
• Microinjection involves immobilizing the host cell with a mild suction and injecting the foreign gene with a microinjection needle, creating recombinant DNA.
• Particle Gun is a method used in agriculture to genetically modify plants to make them highly resistant to insects and other pests.
• Transduction is a process where genetically engineered bacteriophages, viruses that parasitize bacteria, are introduced into the cell to create the desired recombinant DNA.
• Steven Howell and his associates learned that even genes from two or more different organisms can be made to work together.
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) allows scientists to make many copies of a piece of DNA.
• In gel electrophoresis, DNA samples are cut with restriction enzymes, run through a gel, and bands will form in the gel.
• Agarose Gel is mostly used for DNA separation.
• Kary Mullis developed the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 1983.
• To perform gel electrophoresis, you need a gel, usually made of a substance called agarose, and a way to conduct electricity through the gel.
• Biotechnology is the application of a technological process, invention, or method to living organisms.
• Selective breeding is one form of biotechnology important in agriculture and medicine, but there are many others.
• Over one billion copies can be synthesized in a matter of hours using the technique.
• Polyacrylamide Gel is used for DNA or protein separation.
• PCR allows the rapid synthesis of designated fragments of DNA.
• Everyone’s DNA bands are unique and can be used to identify a person.
• The many breeds of dogs are maintained using inbreeding, ensuring that the characteristics that make each breed unique are preserved.
• During gel electrophoresis, an electric field causes changed molecules to move through a gel.
• Inbreeding is useful in preserving certain traits, but it can be risky as most of the members of a breed are genetically similar, which increases the chance that a cross between two individuals will bring together two recessive alleles for a genetic defect.
• Gel electrophoresis is a technology that allows scientists to identify someone’s DNA.
• Transgenic organisms, also known as genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are organisms or cells whose genome has been altered by the introduction of one or more foreign DNA sequences from another species by artificial means.
• DNA bands are like “genetic fingerprints”.
• They tried to isolate the gene for luciferase, an enzyme that allows fireflies to glow, and insert it into tobacco plants.
• American botanist Luther Burbank developed more than 800 varieties of plants using selective breeding methods, including hybridization, where dissimilar individuals are crossed to bring together the best of both organisms.
• The basic mechanisms of gene expression are shared by both plants and animals.
• The Bacillus thuringiensis gene is inserted to produce Bt corn.
• Humans use selective breeding to produce animals with certain desired traits, allowing only those animals with wanted characteristics to produce the next generation.
• Bt corn is widely used in organic farming because it is poisonous to certain pests, benefiting farmers by eliminating corn borers, which cause an enormous amount of damage to corn crops in our country.