Genetic Engineering

  • Process of modifying the genetic material of organisms

    • Biotechnology uses organisms to solve human problems

      • Organisms that undergo genetic engineering are described as: genetically altered, genetically modified, genetically engineered, or transgenic

      • DNA is altered, typically only slightly, to produce proteins (or other materials) that can’t be produced without organisms

        • E.g to produce medicines, such as human insulin, interferon, and human growth factor; to do gene therapy; to improve plant products; to do bioremediation; for pest control

          • Uses technologies like recombinant DNA and CRISPR-CAs systems

Recombinant Technology

  • process of joining DNA from different sources and inserting them into host cells to create new genetic combinations

    • allows for ability to create new things, like specific proteins that can be harvested

CRISPR-Cas Systems

  • CRISPR - clustered regulary interspaced short palindromic repeats

    • inheritable DNA regions that contain viral nucleic acids from past infections (spacers)

    • CRISPR systems allow microbes to recognize and break down DNA or RNA of pathogenic viruses

  • cas genes make cas proteins, which cut viral DNA to destroy their ability to reporduce within microbial cells

    • “cas” - CRISPR-associated protein

  • CRISPR-Cas systems can be used for genomic editing

    • cut and insert new DNA pieces or alter specifc bases

Genetic Engineering in Plants

  • tehniques can improve plant yield and nutritional value

    • insects/virus//bacteria resistance

      • e.g. Bt cotton uses genes from bacillus thuringiensis that prodice Bt toxin (a natural insecticide) → up tp 80% increase in yeild resulting in earnings rising up by 36%

    • herbicide resistance

      • many HRCs resistant to glyphosate (found in Roundup)

    • environmental resistance/tolerance

      • e.g. drought resistance corn and wheat, cold-tolerant crops, and salt-tolerant soybeans

    • additional nutrients

      • e.g. indigo tomatoes and golden rice

        • indigo tomatoes feature genes from purple snapdragons that increase anthocyanin levels

        • golden rice features genes from daffodils and a bacterium that enable accumulation of beta-carotene (up to 20x more) in the rice endosperm

          • helps humans with vitamin A biosynthesis