Review
Genetic
Engineering
Process
General Biology 2
John Rey Lawig
Have you seen or tasted this one? How did they
come up with this kind of product?
Have you seen or tasted this one? How did they
come up with this kind of product?
What is the process
involved in Genetic
Engineering?
Most Essential Learning
Competencies
• Outline the processes involved
in genetic engineering
(STEM_BIO11/12-IIIa-b-6).
Objectives
• 1. outline the processes involved in
genetic engineering;
• 2. describe the processes used in
Recombinant DNA Technology; and
• 3. infer the importance of the
processes used in genetic engineering.
Genetic Engineering
• It is a process of making
changes on the genetic
code of an organism. Its
goal is to add one or more
new traits that are not
Genetic Engineering
• Through advanced studies in
the structure of DNA and its
chemical properties, scientists
have been able to employ
different techniques to extract,
DNA recombination
• Is a process of modifying
the genes of organisms for
practical purposes. It is done
when a piece of DNA is
combined with another DNA
DNA recombination
• The resulting genetic product
is called recombinant DNA.
With this process, organisms
get to have traits that are not
normally found in their species.
Processes Used in
Recombinant DNA
Technology
•Transformation,
•Vectorless gene transfer
•Transduction.
Transformation Using a Vector
• Recombinant DNA may be created
through transformation with the help
of a vector, such as bacterial cells.
Vectors are organisms that are
normally harmless but may help
spread infection by transferring the
genetic material from one host to
Transformation Using a Vector
• In the transformation process,
a selected portion of the
foreign DNA is inserted into a
small, circular DNA molecule
called plasmid, which is
naturally found in bacteria.
Transformation Using a Vector
• Plasmids are the most useful tool
in gene transformation for two
reasons. First, a plasmid
contains a gene sequence that
serves as a bacterial origin of
replication.
Transformation Using a Vector
• This is where the foreign DNA can be
inserted into the bacterial cell.
Second, it also contains a genetic marker,
which makes it possible to distinguish
bacteria that carry the plasmid-
containing foreign DNA. Some of these
genetic markers code for antibiotic
Transformation Using a Vector
• During transformation, a restriction
endonuclease enzyme is used to cut the
piece of the donor DNA. This enzyme
cleaves the DNA at the phosphate-sugar
bond, and thus sticky ends are created.
Sticky ends are areas in the DNA where
the bases are ready to be paired.
Transformation Using a Vector
• Restriction enzymes cut the DNA
only at a specific nucleotide
sequence. They work precisely like a
key that fits only one specific lock.
Then, an enzyme known as DNA
ligase is used to insert the donor
DNA into the vector.
Transformation Using a Vector
• It seals the sticky ends by joining the
phosphate and the sugar bonds in the
DNA. The inserted DNA also
contains a genetic marker for
identification. The recombinant DNA
is then inserted into a bacterial cell,
such as E. coli.
Transformation Using a Vector
• After transformation, the
culture is treated with an
antibiotic. Those that have
been transformed will be the
only ones to survive because
Vectorless Gene Transfer
• This process is similar to
transformation, but it does not involve
vectors. The types of vectorless gene
transfer include electroporation,
protoplast fusion, microinjection, and
use of a particle gun.
Vectorless Gene Transfer
• In electroporation, temporary holes
are formed in the plasma membrane of
the host cell by applying a significant
amount of electricity in the culture
medium. This enables the entry of
foreign DNA via the pores.
Vectorless Gene Transfer
• In protoplast fusion, cells are treated with
chemicals to initiate recombination. In this process,
bacterial cell walls are digested, turning the cells
into protoplasts. These protoplasts are treated with
polyethylene glycol to allow them to fuse, creating
a random recombination of genes. The resulting
recombinant cell will now grow a new cell wall.
Vectorless Gene Transfer
• In microinjection, the host cell is
immobilized by applying a mild suction
with a blunt pipette. The foreign gene is
then injected with a microinjection
needle, thus creating recombinant DNA.
Vectorless Gene Transfer
• In using a particle gun for recombination, the host
cell is bombarded with tungsten particles coated with
foreign DNA. This process is used in the field of
agriculture. Many farmers use this method to
genetically modify plants to make them highly resistant
to insects and other pests. Some also use this method
to develop crops that can survive extreme weather
conditions
Transduction
• Transduction is the process
wherein genetically
engineered bacteriophages-
viruses that parasitize
bacteria- are introduced into
the cell to create the desired
• You are a police investigator assigned to solve a case of
house robbery. In your investigation, you discovered a
small quantity of blood and a sample of skin in a piece
of broken glass from the window where the thief entered.
However, these blood and skin samples are insufficient to
yield conclusive results. No usable fingerprints were even
obtained. Question: What can you do with these
samples to help you identify the prime suspect?
If you become a scientist
what organism/product
would you like to do using
genetic engineering?
Why?
Do you think it is right to
change the
appearance/genes of the
organism?
What the government do
about genetic
engineering?
What the bible says about
“changing”?
Assessment
•Directions: Read the
question carefully and
choose the letter of the
correct answer.
Assignment
• Give 5 example of
application of Genetic
engineering. Write it on your
notebook.