Shinthia Rahman (SR)
Senior Biology Teacher
Mastermind English Medium School
Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering is the artificial manipulation or alteration of genes.
Genetic Engineering involves:
• removing a gene (target gene) from one organism
• inserting target gene into DNA of another organism
• ‘cut and paste’ process
Genetic engineering, sometimes called genetic modification.
Father of Genetic Engineering is Paul Berg. He was the first who developed
recombinant DNA technology.
The first genetically modified animal was mouse created in 1973 by Rudolf
Jaenisch.
Genetic engineering is used by scientists to enhance or modify the characteristics
of an individual organism. Genetic engineering can be applied to any organism.
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Shinthia Rahman (SR)
Senior Biology Teacher
Mastermind English Medium School
TOOLS USED IN GENETIC ENGINEERING
Restriction endonuclease enzyme
DNA ligase enzyme
Vector
Restriction Endonuclease (RE)
These are the enzyme which cleaves the DNA from particular sequence.
The sequence from where it cleaves the DNA is called as recognition sequence.
Recognition site can be 4 to 8 bp long. It breaks the nucleotide bond of base pair.
Many restriction enzymes make staggered cuts, producing ends with single-
stranded DNA overhangs. However, some produce blunt end.
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Shinthia Rahman (SR)
Senior Biology Teacher
Mastermind English Medium School
DNA Ligase
• DNA ligase is a DNA-joining enzyme.
• If two pieces of DNA have matching ends, DNA ligase can join them
together to make an unbroken molecule.
Ligase catalyzes a reaction in which the phosphate group sticking off the 5’ end of
one DNA strand is linked to the hydroxyl group sticking off the 3’ end of the other.
This reaction produces an intact sugar-phosphate backbone.
Vector
A vector is a DNA molecule used as a vehicle to artificially carry foreign genetic
material into another cell, where it can
be replicated and/or expressed (e.g., plasmid) A vector containing foreign DNA is
termed recombinant DNA.
Plasmid is used as a vector
• It can be readily isolated from the cells
• self-replicating, and double stranded
• Insertion of foreign DNA does not alter the replication properties.
• It can be reintroduced into cell.
Steps in genetic engineering
• Isolation of DNA from target organism.
• Isolation of plasmid from bacteria.
• Cutting of gene of interest from target organism and plasmid by using same
restriction enzyme.
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Shinthia Rahman (SR)
Senior Biology Teacher
Mastermind English Medium School
• Insertion of gene of interest into plasmid. Here plasmid used as vector.
• Now this plasmid DNA is called recombinant DNA.
• Insertion of rDNA into bacterium.
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Shinthia Rahman (SR)
Senior Biology Teacher
Mastermind English Medium School
Insulin production
• Isolation of the DNA with insulin producing gene from human cell.
• Cutting of insulin producing gene from human cell using restriction
enzymes, forming sticky ends.
• Cutting of bacterial plasmid DNA with the same RE,
forming complementary sticky ends.
• Insertion of human DNA into bacterial plasmid DNA using ligase enzymes to
form a recombinant plasmid. Plasmid acts as a vector.
• Insertion of recombinant plasmid DNA into bacteria.
• Replication of bacteria containing recombinant plasmid which make human
protein as they express the gene.
• The bacteria are cultured in special vessels called fermenters and the
insulin that they produce can be extracted from the culture medium and
purified for use in treating diabetes.
GM Insulin production
Natural insulin can be taken from the pancreases of pigs or cattle. However, this
insulin causes adverse reactions in some people and its supply is limited.
Nowadays, most insulin is made using genetically modified bacteria that have had
the human gene for insulin inserted into them.
Advantages of GM insulin
This GM insulin has some advantages over insulin taken from pigs or cattle:
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Shinthia Rahman (SR)
Senior Biology Teacher
Mastermind English Medium School
• it can be made in very large amounts from bacteria grown in a fermenter
• it is less likely to cause an adverse reaction
• it overcomes ethical concerns from vegetarians and some religious groups
Advantages of Genetic engineering in plants
Crop plants, such as wheat and maize, have been genetically modified to contain
a gene from a bacterium that produces a poison that kills insects, making
them resistant to insect pests such as caterpillars.
Crop plants have also been genetically modified to make them resistant to
certain herbicides (chemicals that kill plants), meaning that when the herbicide is
sprayed on the crop it only kills weeds and does not affect the crop plant.
Some crops have been genetically modified to produce additional vitamins,
eg ‘golden rice’ contains genes from another plant and a bacterium which make
the rice grains produce a chemical that is turned into vitamin A in the human
body, which could help prevent deficiency diseases in certain areas of the world.
Advantages of Genetic engineering in plants
• increased yield/ more profitable/grow quicker/reduce famine
• able to grow in environmental extremes / grow in new areas
• more predictable results than selective breeding/ more certain
• able to transfer (beneficial) genes / features between species
• nutritionally improved / visually improved /desirable outcome e.g. uniform
shape ; disease/ pest resistance
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Shinthia Rahman (SR)
Senior Biology Teacher
Mastermind English Medium School
Disadvantages of Genetic engineering in plants
risk of genetic spread to other species
may be patented/ costs too much
possible (unknown) risk to health of other species
possible (unknown) risk to genes of other species
Terms Used in Genetic Engineering
• Recombinant DNA: The DNA formed by joining DNA segment of two different
organisms.
• Recombinant DNA technology: The technique by which gene of interest is
transferred to the host.
• Genetically modified organism: The organism whose genetic make up is
altered/changed using rDNA technology. Also known as transgenic organism.
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