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Powerpoint Genetic Engineering 1

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Peter Dizon
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6 views12 pages

Powerpoint Genetic Engineering 1

Uploaded by

Peter Dizon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is the primary purpose of

genetic engineering?
a) To observe genetic mutations
b) To alter DNA for desired traits
c) To study molecular biology
d) To prevent all genetic diseases
Which tool is commonly used in
genetic engineering to cut
DNA?
a) RNA polymerase
b) DNA ligase
c) Restriction enzymes
d) Reverse transcriptase
What is plasmid DNA commonly used
for in genetic engineering?
a) Breaking down genetic material
b) Carrying foreign genes into host cells
c) Amplifying RNA strands
d) Measuring gene expression
Which organism is most commonly
used in genetic engineering
experiments?
a) Humans
b) E. coli bacteria
c) Drosophila melanogaster
d) Yeast
Which agricultural product is most
associated with genetic
modification?
a) Corn
b) Potatoes
c) Apples
d) Bananas
Which gene-editing tool acts like
molecular scissors?
a) CRISPR-Cas9
b) RNA interference
c) ZFN (Zinc Finger Nucleases)
d) TALENs
GENETIC ENGINEERING

Or is it Recombinant DNA

Or Gene Splicing
Genetic Engineering and Gene Splicing
When DNA from two different species is joined together, it is called
recombinant DNA or gene splicing. It’s a form of genetic engineering.

This involves breaking a DNA molecule and inserting or attaching a new


gene by means of a chemical “splice”.

It provides a way of producing large amounts of previously rare


substance.

Ex: Interferon – a protein to help fight off viruses.

Growth –promoting hormones – used to


increase milk production by cows or fatten farm
animals.
Produce human insulin
These are already being produced using genetic engineering technology
– specifically gene splicing/recombinant DNA.
Here’s a simplified version of how it works:

To transfer DNA, genetic engineers use a carrier of genetic material


called a vector. Bacteria contain vectors called plasmids.

Plasmids are small circular pieces of DNA separate from the bacterial
chromosome.
Ex.: to make human growth hormone (hGH)
1. A bacterial plasmid and the human gene are removed.
2. Both DNAs are cut with the SAME restriction enzyme
3. The hGH gene is inserted into the plasmid, producing recombinant
DNA
4. The recombined plasmid is introduced into a bacterial cell.

5. The recombinant bacterial cell reproduces, making copies of the hGH


gene which the bacteria use to produce hGH
So, looking back at the diagram, notice that the gene for human
growth hormone is removed or “cut out”, of the human DNA.
What do you have to use to cut DNA? No, the answer is not scissors!)
You should remember that we use a restriction enzyme (go
back to gel electrophoresis vocab to recall the definition and
then look at slide 2 to see a visual of how these restriction
enzymes cut) to cut DNA
These enzymes are derived from bacteria and they cut the DNA in
very precise locations.
It is important that they use the same restriction enzyme to cut out
both the human gene and to open the plasmid. Why? So that the
ends of the gene (so, if the gene ends with the adenine nucleotide, the
plasmid, where it is open, will have a thymine nucleotide.
Remember – apple in the tree, car in the garage!
Back to the diagram - they have the ends of the gene and the open
portion of the plasmid labeled “sticky ends”. Not because they are
sticky like jelly or glue, but because one will end with a ‘T’ and the
other with an ‘A’ (or a ‘C’ with a ‘G’)
Once the plasmid has been opened up, the human gene will be inserted.

The plasmid is then placed back into the bacteria.


The bacteria is allowed to reproduce.
Every time it reproduces, it will be making more copies of the human
gene.
Eventually, there will be loads of bacteria containing the gene for human
growth human.
The recombinant bacteria use the gene to begin producing human growth
hormone.
Scientists harvest the insulin from the bacteria and…
purify the substance for use as a medicine for people.

This only one of the many uses scientist have developed using this
technique of gene splicing.

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