Genetic Engineering

• Genetic Engineering

  • artificial manipulation, modification, and recombination of DNA or other nucleic acid molecules to modify an organism or population of organisms.
• Genetic Engineering

  • Modifications involve:
  • Introduction of new traits
  • Enhancement of a present trait by increasing the expression of the desired gene.
  • Enhancement of a present trait by disrupting the inhibition of the desired gene's expression.
• Classical Breeding

  • Mating or reproduction of organisms with desirable qualities to produce offspring with the best qualities.
• Genetic Engineering vs Classical Breeding

  A) Introduces foreign DNA into the genome

  B) Deliberate modification

  C) manipulating

  D) modifying the characteristics

  E) enhance one or more

  F) selection in breeding

  G) selection of mating partners

  H) introduction of recombinant

  I) plasmids

  J) Does not require

  K) efficient way of producing organism

  
• Recombinant DNA Technology

  • the joining together of DNA molecules from two different species.
• Steps of Recombinant DNA Technology:

  1. cutting or cleavage of DNA by restriction enzymes (REs)
  2. 2. selection of an appropriate vector or vehicle which would propagate the recombinant DNA (eg. circular plasmid in bacteria with a foreign gene of interest)
  3. 3. ligation (join together) of the gene of interest (eg. from an animal) with the vector (cut bacterial plasmid)
• Steps of Recombinant DNA Technology:

  4. transfer of the recombinant plasmid into a host cell (that would carry out replication to make huge copies of the recombined plasmid).

  5. selection process to screen which cells actually contain the gene of interest.

  6. sequencing of the gene to find out the primary structure of the protein.
• Ways to Introduce Gene:

  1. Biolistics/Using Gene Gun
  2. Plasmid insertion by Heat Shock Treatment
  3. Electroporation
• Biolistics/Using Gene gun

  • used to fire DNA-coated pellets on plant tissues
• Plasmid insertion by Heat Shock Treatment

  • process used to transfer plasmid DNA to bacteria
  • bacteria are given a HEAT SHOCK, which “encourages” them to take up a plasmid.
• Electroporation

  • done through ELECTRIC SHOCK that is commonly used for insertion of genes into mammalian cells.
• Pros of Genetic Engineering:

  1. growth and reproduction of a specific species can be boosted.
  2. can decrease the use of pesticides
  3. can improve growth and reproduction rate of specific animals.
  4. Can transfer desirable trait to other organism for new adaptation
  5. Increase various crops and create its own insecticide
• Cons of Genetic Engineering:

  1. unwanted side effects in vaccine.
  2. Reduced nutritional value.
  3. pose health hazards to humans.
  4. development of antibiotic resistance of disease-causing organisms.
  5. Pathogens can adopt to environment full of disease-resistant organisms (other info).