REVIEW ON GENETICS

At the end of this

lesson you should be
able to:

Define genetic
engineering

LEARNING
TARGETS Outline the process of
genetic engineering

Discuss the applications

of recombinant DNA

Point out the concerns of

different human
technology in the
community
 GENETIC
ENGINEERING
 GENETIC
ENGINEERING
THE SIMPLE ADDITION,
DELETION, OR MANIPULATION
OF A SINGLE TRAIT IN AN
ORGANISM TO CREATE A
DESIRED CHANGE.
GENETIC ENGINEERING

Is:
Artificially copying a piece of DNA from one
organism and joining this copy of DNA into the
DNA of another organism
GENETIC ENGINEERING - OVERVIEW

 The altered DNA is called recombinant DNA

 Recombinant DNA is joined to other unrelated

DNA in the organism

 This is called gene splicing.

- tiny segments of a gene are taken out and
replaced by different genes
TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS

• Organisms altered by genetic engineering.

• Genetic material changed by other than random

natural breeding

• Gene transfer
-moving a gene from one organism to another.
WHAT TRANSGENIC MEANS

• 'Trans-' means 'crossing from one place to

another‘

• The '-genic' bit means genes

• So it means that bits of genes from different

living things have been bolted together and
spliced into another organism to make a new
one which does something which the scientists
want it to do.
EXAMPLES OF TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS

• GMO - genetically modified

organism (US)
• GEO - genetically
engineered organism (UK)

For example
Plants that resists a particular
type of weed killer
Sheep which makes some
special substance in its
milk.
 1. Isolation
5 STAGES
INVOLVED 2. Cutting
IN
3. Ligation and Insertion
GENETIC
ENGINEERING 4. Transformation

5. Expression
 ISOLATION
(a) Isolation of a specific gene from donor e.g. human

• Cells broken open

• Genetic probe added

• Reveals position of the gene of interest

Genetic probe

Position of
gene of
interest

Donor DNA
ISOLATION
(b) Isolation of plasmid from a bacterial cell
Bacterial cell

Plasmid
CUTTING

• Restriction enzymes act as molecular scissors and

cut DNA at specific sites called restriction sites

Restriction site
Restriction
site Restriction
ezymes
CUTTING
Restriction site Restriction site
Donor DNA

Plasmid
Restriction 15

enzymes
CUTTING

Donor DNA

Plasmid Sticky Ends

DNA LIGASE

Ligation –re-joining cut fragments of DNA and

forming artificial recombinant molecules
LIGATION AND INSERTION
TRANSFORMATION

Recombinant DNA introduced into

bacterial cell

Bacterial
cell
Bacterial
chromosome

Recombinant DNA
EXPRESSION
Bacterial cell reproduces by Binary Fission

Bacterial cell produces the polypeptide

Coded for by the donor DNA

SUMMARIZE THE STEPS OF GENETIC
ENGINEERING PROCESS
SUMMARY OF STEPS
Donor DNA
Plasmid

1. Cut with restriction

enzymes

Donor DNA

Sticky
Ends

2. Ligase bonds
sticky ends Recombinant DNA
together
ANIMALS USED IN GENETIC ENGINEERING
AND RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY

• The human gene to clot blood has been inserted

into the DNA of sheep

• Sheep produce human clotting factor needed for

Haemophiliacs in their milk

• Goats produce a protein to treat emphysema

APPLICATIONS (MICRO-ORGANISMS)

Production of humulin

Used by diabetics
 PLANT APPLICATION
GOLDEN RICE – A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY.
 APPLICATIONS OF GENETIC ENGINEERING
AND RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY

• Pharming
• Gene pharming is a technology that scientists use to alter an
animal's own DNA, or to splice in new DNA, called a transgene,
from another species.
• In pharming, these genetically modified (transgenic) animals are
mostly used to make human proteins that have medicinal value.
The protein encoded by the transgene is secreted into the
animal's milk, eggs or blood, and then collected and purified.
 TRACY THE SHEEP

• One of the first mammals

engineered successfully for the
purpose of pharming was a sheep
named Tracy, born in 1990 and
created by scientists led by British
developmental biologist Ian
Wilmut at Roslin Institute in
Scotland. Tracy was created from
a zygote genetically engineered
through DNA injection to produce
milk containing large quantities of
the human enzyme alpha-1
antitrypsin, a substance used to
treat cystic fibrosis and
emphysema
XENOTRANSPLANTATION

• Xenotransplantation is the transplantation of living

cells, tissues or organs from one species to another.
• However there are ethical issues and issues with
rejection
• There are also issues with virus transmission from one
species to another
• Porcine islet transplants are being investigated for use in
type 1 diabetes due to the shortage of human islet cells
GENE THERAPY
• It involves modifying human DNA
either to repair it or to replace a
faulty gene.

• The idea of gene therapy is to

overcome the effects of a mutation
which causes a genetic disease.

• Cystic fibrosis is the best-known

disease where gene therapy has
been tried.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

Genetic engineering can produce very specific

and sensitive diagnostic tests for many
diseases, using engineered proteins.

This new technology is also opening up novel

ways of delivering medicines to specific targets.
VACCINES

• Genetically engineered
microbes can be used to
produce the antigens
needed in a safe and
controllable way.
• The use of genetically
modified yeast cells to
produce a vaccine against
the hepatitis B virus has
been a major success story.
 HUMAN
TECHNOLOGY
CONCERNS

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS,

ARTIFICIAL SELECTION, SELECTIVE
BREEDING, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, GENE
THERAPY
HOW HAVE HUMANS USED TECHNOLOGIES
TO INFLUENCE THE INHERITANCE OF
DESIRED TRAITS IN ORGANISMS?

• SELECTIVE BREEDING
1. The intentional mating of two animals or
plants
2. Produces offspring with desirable traits
3. Can also get rid of unwanted traits
HOW HAVE HUMANS USED TECHNOLOGIES
TO INFLUENCE THE INHERITANCE OF
DESIRED TRAITS IN ORGANISMS?

• ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
1. Selective Breeding of animals only
2. Concerned with the production and care
of domestic animals
HOW HAVE HUMANS USED TECHNOLOGIES
TO INFLUENCE THE INHERITANCE OF
DESIRED TRAITS IN ORGANISMS?

• GENE THERAPY
1. Technique that uses genes to treat or
prevent disease.
2. May allow doctors to treat a disorder
by putting a gene into a patient’s cells
3. No need for drugs or surgery.
 HOW HAVE HUMANS USED TECHNOLOGIES
TO INFLUENCE THE INHERITANCE OF
DESIRED TRAITS IN ORGANISMS?

• GENETIC MODIFICATION
1. GM stands for 'genetically-modified
2. Describes the process by which scientists able
to pinpoint the individual gene
3. Remove gene, copy it, place it in new organism
4. Produces a desired outcome
SELECTIVE BREEDING
AND
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
 REASONS FOR SELECTIVE BREEDING

• Improve food production

We choose the characteristics
• Better able to fight off pests we want:
• More fit and stronger animals • Dogs with a good
• Cows that give more milk sense of smell,
• Chickens that lay bigger eggs hearing etc.

• Selective Breeding – Plants and

Animals
• Animal Husbandry – Animals only
• Typically for farming and
agriculture
 CONTROVERSIES OF SELECTIVE
BREEDING

• ANIMAL RIGHTS: • BENEFITS TO HUMANITY

• Should animals have the  Better/more plentiful
right to select their own food.
breeding partners?  Service animals
• UNNATURAL • Humans have been using
• It doesn’t occur in selective breeding for
nature, does that make thousands of years
it wrong? already.
 PROCESS OF SELECTIVE
BREEDING
• Decide which characteristics are
important
• Choose parents that show these
characteristics
• Select the best offspring from parents
to breed the next generation
• Repeat the process continuously

• Human controlled Natural

Selection/Evolution
GENE THERAPY
 REASONS FOR GENE THERAPY

• To alter genes to correct genetic

defects
• Prevent or cure genetic diseases.
• Possibility to cure deadly
diseases like cancer
 PROCESS OF GENE THERAPY

THREE DIFFERENT WAYS:

• Replacing a mutated gene that
causes disease with a healthy
copy of the gene
• Inactivating, or “knocking out,” a
mutated gene that is functioning
improperly
• Introducing a new gene into
the body to help fight a
disease
 CONTROVERSIES OF GENE
THERAPY

• PROS: • CONS:
• Could wipe out genetic • Still a dangerous and
diseases difficult process
• Prevent genetic • When used in unborn
disorders in future children, not sure of effects
generations for families • Child doesn’t have a choice
who know they have it
in their bloodline
GENETIC ENGINEERING
REASONS FOR GENETICALLY MODIFYING
ORGANISMS

• Produce faster growing crops or animals

• Produce plants that are more resistant to pests
 Rainbow Papaya
• Produce crops that are drought resistant
• Produce foods that stay ripe longer
 Endless Summer Tomato
REASONS FOR GENETICALLY MODIFYING
ORGANISMS
• RESEARCH:

 Drug development
• COMMERCIAL REASONS
 Fluorescent fish for pets
• Increase yield of crop
• Reduce cost that is passed to consumer
• Enhance the nutritional value of a food
• Golden Rice
HOW CAN WE APPLY THE LEARNING WE
GAIN FROM THIS TOPIC TO THE
CURRENT STATUS OF OUR COUNTRY?
Questions?
DNA FINGERPRINTING ACTIVITY