GENETIC

ENGINEERING
LIFE SCIENCE
 LESSON OBJECTIVES:

• Define genetic engineering.

• List and briefly explain the four basic steps in
genetic engineering. Describe why each is
necessary.
• Identify the fundamental differences between
genetically modified organisms and non-
genetically modified organisms.
IF YOU WILL BECOME A SUPERHERO
WITH SUPERPOWERS, WHAT
SUPERPOWERS WILL YOU HAVE AND
WHAT CHANGES IN YOUR BODY WILL
YOU NEED?
 Chromosomes are thread-like structures A gene is a distinct segment or portion of the
located inside the nucleus of animals and DNA responsible for an inherited trait. These are
plant cells. Each chromosomes is made of coded instructions for everything that must
protein and a single molecule of happen in the body (how we function and how
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). we look)

DNA: The Molecule of Life

Passed from parents to offspring, DNA contains the specific instructions that make
each type of living creature unique. It carries the instructions for assembling
proteins which in turn responsible for the formation of a variety structures.
 Learn about It!

GENETIC ENGINEERING

Genetic Engineering is an artificial

manipulation, modification, and
recombination of DNA or other nucleic
acid molecules in order to modify an
organism or population of organisms.
 Learn about It!

GENETIC ENGINEERING PROCESS

• DNA ISOLATION. Target
DNA and plasmid are
isolated from their sources.

• In BT corn, gene of interest

is isolated from bacillus
thuringiensis.

Restriction enzymes cut gene of

interest from source organism.
 Learn about It!

GENETIC ENGINEERING PROCESS

• Bacillus Thuringiensis
Produces the
cry1ab protein or
BT toxin.

• BT toxin is lethal to
the Asian corn Bt toxin (left) is lethal to the intestines of corn
borers. borers (right).
 Learn about It!

GENETIC ENGINEERING PROCESS

• The plasmid used comes
from agrobacterium
tumefaciens, a soil
bacterium.

• A. Tumefaciens can infect

the target crop and
incorporate the new DNA Plant tumors caused by
into its host. Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
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GENETIC ENGINEERING PROCESS

• LIGATION: Recombinant
plasmid and foreign DNA
are combined by DNA
ligase.

Ti-plasmid and foreign DNA form the

recombinant plasmid.
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GENETIC ENGINEERING PROCESS

• TRANSFORMATION
Involves the insertion of
recombinant plasmid back
to a bacterial cell, usually,
escherichia coli.

Transformation requires electric or

heat shock.
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GENETIC ENGINEERING PROCESS

• SELECTION.
Transformed bacteria
are normally selected by
using xgal.

• The bacteria transfers

the BT toxin gene into
corn cells.
Transfer of foreign DNA into the corn cells.
 ANCIENT PRACTICE OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

• Artificial Selection – it is done to indirectly manipulate

genes focusing on the physical traits among organisms.
Breeders choose which organism to mate and produce
offspring with desirable traits. They maintain this procedure
without control of what genes can be passed.
➢Selective breeding is a process when animals with
desired characteristics are mated to produce offspring
with those desired traits such as Angus cows are bred
to increase more meat.
 ANCIENT PRACTICE OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

➢Hybridizations are when two individuals

with unlike characteristics are crossed to
produce the best in both organisms like the
disease resistant potato called the Burbank
potato developed by Luther Burbank.
 ANCIENT PRACTICE OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

➢Inbreeding is a technique of breeding

organisms that are genetically similar to
maintain desired traits.
 GENETIC ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES
• GENE SPLICING
-A process of chemically cutting DNA of one
organism and will be put into another organism using
restriction enzymes

Scientists can add a

tag sequence to track
and study gene in an
organism. It can also
create gene
sequences to create
proteins with
multiple or entirely
new functions
 GENETIC ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES
• GEL ELECTROPHORESIS
-A laboratory method used to separate mixtures of
DNA, RNA, or proteins according to molecular size
and charge
 GEL ELECTROPHORESIS
• Some key applications of the techniques are listed below:
• To separate DNA fragments for DNA fingerprinting to investigate crime scenes
• To analyze results of polymerase chain reaction
• To analyze genes associated with a particular illness
• In DNA profiling for taxonomy studies to distinguish different species.
• In paternity testing using DNA fingerprinting
• In the study of structure and function of proteins
• In the analysis of antibiotic resistance
• In the study of evolutionary relationships by analyzing genetic similarity among
populations or species.
Recombinant DNA Technology
 Recombinant DNA Technology

-the joining together of DNA molecules from two

different species
-used to remove and insert genetic sequences from
and into other sequences of other organism
-The tools used in Recombinant DNA technology are
restriction enzymes, vectors and host organisms.
-used in the production of medicine, health
supplements, cosmetic products, chemicals, and many
others.
 Tools used in Recombinant DNA Technology

• Restriction Enzymes, Ecor1- a protein produced by bacteria that

cleaves DNA at specific sites along the molecule. In the bacterial cell,
restriction enzymes cleave foreign DNA, thus eliminating infecting
organisms
• Vector- a vector is a DNA sequence that can transport foreign genetic
material from one cell to another cell, where the genes can be further
expressed and replicated. Plasmids are used in genetic engineering to
amplify, or produce many copies of, certain genes. In molecular
cloning, a plasmid is a type of vector.
• A host organism is an organism that harbors a parasite and supplies it
with nutrients. Most common is the E. coli bacteria
 GENETIC ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES

• CLONING
- A technique scientists use to
make exact genetic copies of
living things.
- Genes, cells, tissues, and even
whole animals can be cloned.
 Learn about It!

GMO APPLICATIONS
• Genetic modification has
extended its applications in
the following fields:
• Agriculture;
• Animal production;
• Medicine; and
• Environmental Genetic engineering procedures
protection. include testing of cattle semen.
 Learn about It!

AGRICULTURE
• GM crops have higher
resistance to
environmental stressors,
can produce more
nutrients, and have longer
shelf life.

Larva of Helicoverpa armigera,

one of the worst insect pests.
 Learn about It!

ANIMAL PRODUCTION
• GM animals have improved
meat quantity and quality
and resistance to some
diseases.

The Atlantic salmon is genetically

manipulated to grow at higher rates.
 Learn about It!

MEDICINE
• Some GMOs can produce
hormones, antibodies,
and other therapeutic
proteins for humans.

Escherichia coli is genetically engineered

to produce human hormone.
 Learn about It!

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
• Some GMOs have higher
capacity for
bioremediation by
processing more
environmental
contaminants.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is genetically

modified for bioremediation.
 Learn about It!

EXAMPLES OF GMO
• BT corn produces BT
toxin (cry1ab protein) to
deter asian corn borer
(ostrinia furnacalis).

• BT toxin gene comes

from bacillus Ostrinia furnacalis larval (left) and adult
thuringiensis. (right) stages.
 Learn about It!

EXAMPLES OF GMO
• Golden rice is modified to
produce more beta
carotene.

• Genes for phytoene

synthase and carotene
desaturase come from
daffodils and bacteria,
respectively.
Normal rice and Golden rice.
 Learn about It!

EXAMPLES OF GMO

• FLAVR SAVR tomato

• Tomatoes are modified
to have extended shelf
life.
• It results from
underexpression of
polygalacturonase. Tomatoes now have delayed ripening.
 Learn about It!

EXAMPLES OF GMO
• Arctic salmon is
modified to grow
at higher rates.

• It has extra gene

for growth
hormone from
the chinook
salmon.
The AquAdvantage salmon grows significantly
larger than its counterparts.
 Learn about It!

EXAMPLES OF GMO
• Glofish
• Danio rerio or zebra fish is
modified to have
fluorescent protein from
sea anemone.
• It is a controversial product
of genetic engineering. GloFish is marketed as the
world’s first GM pet.
 Learn about It!

EXAMPLES OF GMO
• Insulin-producing bacteria

• Insulin is now produced

from transgenic
bacteria to make it
available for type 1
diabetes patients.
Artificially produced insulin can
now be distributed in syringes.
 COULD SPIDERMAN BE REAL?

?
WEB-PRODUCING
GOATS
SPIDER GENES IN GOATS ENABLE THE
PRODUCTION OF SPIDER SILK IN GOAT MILK
 BANANA VACCINES
MODIFIED VIRUS INJECTED IN
SAPLING TREE CAUSES THE
BANANAS TO CONTAIN VIRUS
PROTEINS

Venomous
Cabbage
Scorpion genes added to the
cabbage prevent insects
from eating it
 Learn about It!

BENEFITS - INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY

• Genetic modification allows
crops to have greater
resistance to pest and
diseases

• This enables farmers to have

greater yield.
Agriculture is one of the sources
of country’s GDP.
 Learn about It!

BENEFITS - INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY

• Common GM crops in the
Philippines include BT corn
and BT talong.

• The supreme court is

strictly regulating
distribution of gm crops.
Corn is considered one of the
primary crops in the Philippines.
 Learn about It!

BENEFITS - IMPROVED NUTRITIONAL QUALITY

• Genetic modification allows

biosynthesis of more
nutrients (usually vitamins a, c,
d, and b complex) in gm crops.
Golden rice with more beta
carotene for vitamin A content
 Learn about It!

BENEFITS - IMPROVED NUTRITIONAL QUALITY

• This resolve food security

issues in third-world
countries.

• In the Philippines, improves

crops help increase yields.
Golden rice with more beta
carotene for vitamin A content
 Learn about It!

BENEFITS - DISEASE DIAGNOSIS

• Bioluminescent animals
provide protein trackers
for disease detection.

• This has been applied to

different laboratory
animals.
Successful transgenesis of
bioluminescent proteins in mice.
 Learn about It!

BENEFITS - DISEASE DIAGNOSIS

• They help in the detection

of diseases that normally
don’t show symptoms.

• This is highly helpful in

disease research (ex. Cancer
research).
Successful transgenesis of
bioluminescent proteins in mice.
 Learn about It!

RISKS - REDUCTION IN
INSECT BIODIVERSITY
• Some non-target and non-
damaging insects also
become affected by pest-
resistant plants.

• BT pollen may affect monarch

caterpillars. Monarch butterfly, a lepidopteran,
are also affected by transgenesis.
 Learn about It!

RISKS - ALLERGIC REACTIONS

• Because of modifications in
the proteins produced, some
GMO products have cause
allergic reactions in
humans.
Dermatitis, one of the allergic
reactions triggered y GMO food.
 Learn about It!

RISKS - EXPENSIVE SEEDS

• Farmers cannot use second
generation seeds of GM
crops.

• Farmers have to purchase

gm crop seeds every year
compliant to patent rights of
Monsanto is the most famous
the producing company company that produces GM seeds.
 Learn about It!

RISKS - RELIGION AND ETHICS

• Existence of GMOs is being

questioned around the
globe.

• In the Philippines,
acceptance towards GMO is
In Philippines, GMOs have many
still on progress. opposers such as GreenPeace.
 Learn about It!

RISKS - RELIGION AND ETHICS

• Activists and experts state

that scientists have no
right to manipulate
organisms.
In Philippines, GMOs have many
opposers such as GreenPeace.