Genetic Engineering

genetic engineering

the manipulation and alteration of genes

what does genetic engineering allow?

allows genes from different species to be combined, also called recombiant DNA technology

genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

are living things that have had their DNA altered

transgenic organisms

they contain genes from another species

step 1

isolating

step 2

cutting

step 3

inserting

step 4

transformation

step 5

cloning/culturing

step 6

expression

isolating (step 1)

chromosome containing the tagret gene (the source of the DNA) is isolated from the cell

cutting (step 2)

the target gene is cut from the chromosome using restriction enzyme, the same restriction enzyme is used to cut open the bacterial plasmid (the cloning vector)

Inserting (step 3)

the target gene DNA is inserted into the plasmid using DNA ligase

Transformation

the recombiant DNA (DNA + bacterial plasmid) is taken up by the cell, this step has a high failure rate

Cloning/Culturing (Step 5)

cell that took up the recombiant DNA is cloned, which quickly divides and multiplies

Expression (Step 6)

the recombiant DNA forms a particular product (ex. protein)

Applications in Plants ex.

bacterial gene inserted into DNA of a crop to make it resistant to certain herbicides

Applications in Animals ex.

the gene for blood clotting is inserted into sheep, the sheep produce necessary clotting proteins in their milk for haemophiliacs

Applications in Micro-organisms

humulin can be produced in bacteria and used as insulin for diabetics

ethical issues

• people are worried about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) being used as a food source

• worries about humans being genetically modified

• worries about harm to animals during genetic modification