Week 1

GENERAL BIOLOGY 2
1st Quarter
Outline the processes involved in genetic
engineering
Discuss the applications of recombinant DNA
Recombinant DNA
Genetic engineering
a field in biotechnology which involves the use of molecular techniques or method to
modify the traits of a target organism.
a process of altering or changing the part of a DNA of an organism to modify its trait. It
is like cutting
and reinserting a fragment of DNA of one’s organism into another organism’s DNA to
create a new trait

The DNA of an organism serves as the blueprint of its life: it dictates the structure, functions
and characteristics of the organism. To change its DNA means to change its traits. Scientists
and researchers have been very busy producing new traits from different organisms to be
used in medicine, agriculture, and industry.
Why would altering DNA affect our characteristics or traits?
Remember that DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) codes for the proteins that determine our trait.
The central dogma of molecular biology explained that DNA provides the code that is
transcribed in the RNA and then will be translated or expressed as traits in proteins. The
central dogma states that if transcription and translation of a fragment of the DNA lead to
some traits, 11 then the insertion of a new fragment of the DNA in a given organism may
provide it with new traits. This is the basis for the development of genetic engineering. The
fragment of the DNA that is being used and modified in genetic engineering is the gene.
What is a gene?
A gene is a sequence of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait or one protein.
A chromosome is a thread-like structure found inside the nucleus of the cell; it is made up of
DNA. Part of that DNA is the gene.
How is DNA modified? (BASIC STEPS OF GENETIC ENGINEERING)
1. Scientists targets and identify specific gene.
2. They cut the targeted gene with restriction enzyme.
3. The targeted gene is “spliced” to the DNA of another organism using ligase.
4. The gene will be inserted in the host cell. Once inside the new cell, the new
instruction from the spliced DNA will direct the cell to make new proteins for new
function or characteristics.

Restriction enzymes are “scissor-like” enzymes that recognize and cut specific sequences in
the DNA. Ligases are enzymes that act like glue to join two fragments of DNA. The process
of attaching fragments of DNA from different sources is known as gene splicing. The
resulting “spliced” gene is termed as the Recombinant DNA.
What is Recombinant DNA and what is its application?
Recombinant DNA is the resulting DNA formed through the process of recombinant DNA
technology, which involves combining DNA fragments from different organisms or insertion
of a foreign DNA fragment to the original organism. This technology had been around since
the late 1960s and early 1970s when scientists learned that a broken DNA can be repaired
by the cells by recombining the broken pieces. Since then, various researches were made to
mimic this recombination in laboratories, and nowadays, the application of the said
technology is numerous and is seen across agriculture, medicine advancement, and industry
among others.
Some of the various applications of recombinant technology are presented below:
 Field Application Description
Industry GM rennet (chymosin) for Inserting a gene of chymosin in bacterial DNA made these
cheesemaking bacteria produce chymosin which is an alternative for rennet
(an enzyme used in cheese making and can be harvested
from calves). Chymosin is more cost-effective and is helpful
in the industry of cheese making.
Beauty Products Cosmetic companies use recombinant DNA technology in the
production of beauty products: an example is the use of
genetically modified Aspergillus oryzae in the production of
kojic acid from fermented soybeans and rice.

Medical Insulin Production Production of insulin used for medical purposes has
Advancement improved greatly when researchers discovered that inserting
the human gene for insulin on bacterial DNA can make the
bacteria to produce the needed insulin and provide a
consistent and sufficient supply of it worldwide. Insulin is
used to treat diseases such as diabetes.
Vaccine Production One way of producing a vaccine is through recombinant
technology which involves the insertion of genetic material
found in a virus to another host cell. An example is a
vaccine being developed by a team of experts at Oxford
University in the world’s battle with COVID-19.
Agriculture Pest Resistant Crop An example of this is the Bt Corn or the Bacillus thuringien
sis corn. It is produced by combining the gene of the
bacterium to the gen of the 13 from calves). Chymosin is
more cost-effective and is helpful in the industry of cheese
making. produce the needed insulin and provide a
consistent and sufficient supply of it worldwide. Insulin is
used to treat diseases such as diabetes. corn. The said
bacterium produces a protein that selectively kills some
specific crop eating insects including Lepidoptera a larvae, a
corn pest.
Delayed Ripening An example is Flavr Svr Tomato; this tomato is genetically
modified to delay its ripening process by inserting an
inhibitor RNA to disrupts the expression of its gene which
produces its ripening enzymes.

Covid-19, also known as the novel coronavirus of 2019, that pandemic is affecting the whole
world today, and the most awaited answer to the problem is in the hand of the scientists and
researchers as they race to produce the vaccine that could potentially provide us with an
immunization from the said virus. One way of producing a vaccine is through recombinant
DNA technology, one of the leading group of experts at Oxford University applies new
techniques in vaccine production. Researchers were now capable of generating specific
antigens that can safely be inserted in the DNA of the host-virus, this is termed as a
recombinant viral vector vaccine. This type of vaccine posits fewer risks in clinical trials. In
your point of view as a senior high school STEM student, is genetic engineering and
recombinant DNA technology helpful to society? Why?
Let’s see how well you have enjoyed the amazing world of genetic engineering by answering
the following
questions.
1. The process of altering the genes of living a. Chromosomes
organisms to produce new traits that may have b. Deoxyribonucleic acid
application in the field of agriculture, medicine, and c. Genes
the industry is called: d. RNA
a. DNA recombinant technology
b. Genetics Cut 3. Through genetic engineering, scientists
c. Genetic Engineering developed a new technology that combines two
d. Spliced Gene Technique different fragments of DNA from two different
organisms to create new targeted trait, what is this
2. Scientists discovered that a specific fragment of new technology?
the organisms’ DNA is responsible in coding for its a. DNA recombinant technology
specific trait such as hair/skin/fur color. What is this b. Genetics Cut
fragment called? c. Genetic Engineering
d. Spliced Gene Technique

4. What is this enzyme which is vital in the process

of genetic engineering because it splits or cuts the
DNA to obtain the targeted gene?
a. Activation enzyme
b. Ligase
c. Restriction enzyme
d. Scissor enzyme

5. Name the enzyme which is used to combine or

glue two different molecules of a fragment of the
DNA.
a. Activation enzyme
b. Ligase
c. Restriction enzyme
d. Scissor enzyme

6. The process of changing or altering the

genes may be summarized in four basic steps,
which among the following steps come first?
a. Isolate the DNA from the cell and identify
the target part of the DNA
b. Cut the specific part of the DNA through
a special enzyme
c. Combine the DNA from two different sources
d. Introduce the new formed DNA to the host cell
7. The second basic step to genetic engineering is:
a. Target specific part of the DNA and cut it into
three
b. Target specific part of the DNA and let RNA
translates it
c. Target the special gene of interest and dissolve
in saltwater
d. Target the specific part of the DNA to be cut by
a specialized enzyme
8. The third basic step in genetic engineering is the
process of combining fragments of DNA from
different sources, this process may also be called:
a. Gene therapy
b. Gene combination
c. Gene recombination
d. Gene splicing
9. Once the new DNA, is formed, which is a
combination of fragments of DNA from different
sources, it is already termed as:
a. Genetically modified cell
b. Organic Compound
c. Recombinant DNA
d. DNA molecule 19
10. Lastly, the new DNA produced through genetic
engineering will be introduced to a host cell to see
how it will code for a new protein. What concept in
biology is highlighted in this step?
a. Law of inheritance
b. Law of conservation of energy
c. Central Atom of Molecules
d. Central Dogma of Molecular Biology
11. Living cells follow a specific hierarchy of
command in directing the traits of the individual.
What will happen to the new individual cell as
a new engineered DNA was introduced to it?
a. It will have a different shape to adjust to
the new code.
b. It will be destroyed as a new load of
information is unhealthy.
c. It will try to mimic its environment in order
to survive.
d. It will function according to the new set of
codes from the DNA.
12. What application of Recombinant DNA
technology is used by farmers in order to produce
a better yield in crops, a better quality of crops,
and easier pest control?
a. Agriculture
b. Agri-business
c. Industry
d. Medical Advancement
13. In the field of medical advancement, one of
the earliest developments in the field recombinant
DNA technology is the production of , which is
mainly used in the treatment of diabetes.
a. BTCorn b. Flavr-Svr Tomato c. Insulin d. Glucose
14. What bacteria is an alternative for rennet
which is used in the cheese production industry?
a. Aspergillus oryzae
b. Bacillus thuringiensis
c. Chymosin
d. Cheese Agar
15. What mold is also known as kojic mold which
is genetically improved to be used in enhanced
production of kojic acid which has many
applications in the cosmetics and beauty industry?
a. Aspergillus oryzae
b. Bacillus thuringiensis
c. Chymosin
d. Cheese mold