LC Biology- Genetic engineering

Genetic engineering

artificial manipulation of genes

applications of genetic engineering: plant

weed killer resistant crops- inserting a bacterial gene for herbicide resistance into crop plants so that the herbicide kills the weed but does not affect the plant.

application of genetic engineering: animals

sheep produce a protein to treat emphysema, inserting human gene into sheep dna so that sheep produce it in their milk.

application of genetic engineering: micro-organisms

bacteria make insulin inserting the gene for human insulin into bacterium which produces insulin for diabetics. 

Ethical issues with genetic engineering

The suffering of animals, GMO food is it safe to eat.

processes of genetic engineering

1. isolation

2. cutting

3. ligation

4. transformation

5. cloning

6. expression

isolation

of a chromosome (containing target gene) and a plasmid

cutting

the chromosome and plasmids with a restriction enzyme

ligation

the joining of a target gene into a plasmid

transformation

of bacterial cells i.e bacterial cells take up plasmids

cloning

reproducing identical copies of new genetically engineered bacterium

expression

production of the required product by the bacteria with recombinant DNA