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Genetic Engineering Handouts

Genetic engineering involves altering the genes of living organisms using biotechnology techniques. This can create genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by changing the DNA. A common example is using gene splicing to transfer the human insulin gene into bacteria, allowing the bacteria to then produce human insulin. Genetic engineering techniques include artificial selection, cloning, and gene splicing. Beneficial uses of genetic engineering include producing insulin to treat diabetes, developing disease-resistant crops to improve agriculture, and creating organisms that can break down environmental pollutants.

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Mary Jane Togno
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460 views2 pages

Genetic Engineering Handouts

Genetic engineering involves altering the genes of living organisms using biotechnology techniques. This can create genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by changing the DNA. A common example is using gene splicing to transfer the human insulin gene into bacteria, allowing the bacteria to then produce human insulin. Genetic engineering techniques include artificial selection, cloning, and gene splicing. Beneficial uses of genetic engineering include producing insulin to treat diabetes, developing disease-resistant crops to improve agriculture, and creating organisms that can break down environmental pollutants.

Uploaded by

Mary Jane Togno
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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GENETIC ENGINEERING

In other words, it is the term applied to biotechnology technique that alter the genes
which are hereditary materials that determine materials of living organisms
Changing the DNA in living organisms to create something new.
These organisms are called Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)
Example:
Bacteria that produce human insulin
GENES
Carry chemical information that determine the organisms by altering the genes,
the chemical information is also altered.
GENE SPLICING
-technique used by scientist to separate a gene.
- gene-sized fragment of DNA is isolated from the organism and joined from another
organism or form same organism
LIGASE
- an enzyme used to splice the gene to another DNA fragment after the isolation of gene

SOME GENETIC ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES

1. Artificial selection: breeders choose which organism to mate to produce offspring with
desired traits.
They cannot control what genes are passed.
When they get offspring with the desired traits, the maintain them.
Three types of artificial selection:
A. selective breeding
B. hybridization
C. inbreeding

A. Selective breeding: when animals with desired characteristics are mated to produce
offspring with those desired traits.
Passing of important genes to next generation.
Example: Champion race horses, cows with tender meat, large juicy oranges on a tree.

B. Hybridizations: two individuals with unlike characteristics are crossed to produce the
best in both organisms.
Example: Luther Burbank created a disease resistant potato called the Burbank potato.
He crossed a disease resistant plant with one that had a large food producing capacity.
Result: disease resistant plant that makes a lot of potatoes.

C. Inbreeding breeding of organism that genetically similar to maintain desired traits.


Dogs breeds are kept pure this way. Its how a Doberman remains a Doberman. It keeps
each breed unique from others.
Risk: since both have the same genes, the chance that a baby will get a recessive genetic
disorder is high.
Risks: blindness, joint deformities.

2. Cloning: creating an organism that is an exact genetic copy of another. There are human
clones in our school. Identical twins are naturally created clones.
Clone: group of cells or organisms that are genetically identical as a result of asexual
reproduction
They will have the same exact DNA as the parent.
3. Gene splicing: DNA is cut out of one organism and put into another organism. A trait will be
transferred from one organism to another.
For example: the human insulin gene can be removed from a human cell.
It can be put into a bacterial cell.
The bacterial will now make human insulin.

BENEFICIAL USES
1. MEDICINE
production of insulin in large quantities to treat diabetic patients
Production of interferon to counteract viral infection
Gene therapy to cure genetic defects including cancer, cystic fibrosis, and overproduction
of cholesterol
2. Industry
Production of rennin used in making cheese
Genetically engineered organisms and enzymes to breakdown organics, toxic substances
and other wastes
Harness the potential of certain organisms to breakdown mineral- containing rock and
mine wastes for improvement of environmental of abandoned mines.
3. Agriculture
Production of genetically engineered hormones to enable cows to increase milk production
and produce leaner beef meat. In pig, decrease the amount of fat
Produce plant varieties with improved yield, high quality and long storage life
Produce plants varieties which are resistant to viral diseases
Produce plants which can help in developing plastics which are biodegradables
Develop plants or organisms which can produce antibodies for medicinal purposes.

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