genetic engineering

genetic engineering

is the artificial manipulation or alteration of genes

recombinant DNA

DNA that is composed of the DNA of the two species

transgenic organism

an organism that contains genes from another species

plasmid

a circular piece/loop of DNA that can contain genes

isolation

finding and removing the required gene and a plasmid from a bacterium

cutting

using restriction enzyme to cut the gene from the chromosomes and using the same restriction enzyme to cut the plasmid so that the free bases will match those of the gene

ligation

joining target gene to the plasmid DNA using DNA ligase (forming recombinant DNA)

transformation

the uptake of DNA into the bacterial cell

introduction of new base sequences

the order of bases in the host DNA is now different

expression

the gene becomes active and protein is produced

plants application

inserting a bacterial gene for herbicide resistance into crop plants so that the herbicide kills weeds but does not affect the plant

animal applications

inserting a human gene for a lung protecting protein into sheep DNA so that the sheep can produce the protein in their milk

micro-organisms

insertion of the human insulin producing gene into bacteria

ethical considerations

the use of GMOs as a food source, the release of GMOs into the environment, animals might suffer due to genetic engineering, the fear that humans may be genetically modified