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Module 10

Science of Genetics and its application

Learning Outcome

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. Explain the basics of genetic engineering;

2. List several present day applications of genetic engineering;
3. Describe general techniques used by genetic engineers to modify DNA;
4. Analyze the benefits and drawbacks of manipulating an organism's DNA.

Introduction

A basic understanding of protein synthesis and DNA's role in the cell/body

is helpful so students can follow how changes in DNA result in major changes in
the characteristics of organisms.

Genetic engineering is the alteration of an organism’s genotype using

recombinant DNA technology to modify an organism’s DNA to achieve desirable
traits. The addition of foreign DNA in the form of recombinant DNA vectors
generated by molecular cloning is the most common method of genetic
engineering. The organism that receives the recombinant DNA is called
a genetically modified organism (GMO). If the foreign DNA that is introduced
comes from a different species, the host organism is called transgenic. Bacteria,
plants, and animals have been genetically modified since the early 1970s for
academic, medical, agricultural, and industrial purposes. In the US, GMOs such
as Roundup-ready soybeans and borer-resistant corn are part of many common
processed foods.

Gene targeting is the use of recombinant DNA vectors to alter the

expression of a particular gene, either by introducing mutations in a gene, or by
eliminating the expression of a certain gene by deleting a part or all of the gene
sequence from the genome of an organism.

Pre-Requisite Knowledge
A basic understanding of protein synthesis and DNA's role in the cell/body
is helpful so you could follow how changes in DNA result in major changes in the
characteristics of organisms.
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Lesson

What is the difference between the mice in these two groups?

(Left-purple hands) The mouse on the left is genetically modified so that a gene
affecting hair growth has been “knocked out.” The mouse on the right is a normal
mouse.
(Right-three mice) The middle mouse is a normal mouse, and the other two are
genetically modified to express enhanced green fluorescent protein.

What is Genetic Engineering (GE)?

Direct modification of an organism’s genome, which is the list of specific

traits (genes) stored in the DNA.

Organisms created by genetic engineering are called genetically modified

organisms (GMOs).

What is the GMO process?

All genetic changes affect the protein synthesis of the organism. By

changing which proteins are produced, genetic engineers can affect the overall
traits of the organism. Genetic modification can be completed by a number of
different methods:

* Inserting new genetic material randomly or in targeted locations

* Direct replacement of genes (recombination)
* Removal of genes
* Mutation of existing genes
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Applications of Gene Therapy

Genetically Modified Bacteria

Bacteria are the most common GMOs because their simple structure
permits easy manipulation of their DNA. One of the most interesting uses for
genetically modified bacteria is the production of hydrocarbons (plastics and
fuels) usually only found in fossil fuels. Cyanobacteria have been modified to
produce plastic (polyethylene) and fuel (butanol) as by-products of
photosynthesis
E. Coli bacteria have been modified to produce diesel fuel.

Genetically Modified Plants

Common reasons to Genetically Modify Plants

* Insect resistant * Higher yield

* Herbicide resistant * Faster growth
* Drought/freeze resistant * Improved nutrition
* Disease resistant * Longer shelf life
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Examples:
Insect resistant corn

One common modified crop is Bt-

corn. A gene from the Bt bacteria is
added so the corn produces a protein
that is poisonous to certain insects but
not humans.

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.
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Genetically Modified Animals

Common reasons to Genetically Modify Animals

* Protein tracking * Disease detection (BLI)

* Novelty pets * Increase production of
growth
hormones
* Production of uncommon products from specific animals
* Treating and preventing diseases

Examples:
Bioluminescent Animals

Gene of a bioluminescent fungus is

genetically integrated to rats that would
make them visible even in darkness.

Fast Growing Salmon

Genes from two other fish cause this

salmon to continually produce growth
hormones.
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Less Smelly Cows

Modifying bacteria responsible for methane

production in cattle results in 25% less-
flatulent cows.

Could Spiderman Be Real?

Web-Producing Goats

Spider genes in goats enable the production of

spider silk in goat milk
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Gene Therapy

Types:
*Somatic - transfer of a section of DNA to any cell of the body that doesn’t
produce sperm or eggs. Effects of gene therapy will not be passed onto the
patient’s children.

*Germline - transfer of a section of DNA to cells that produce eggs or sperm.

Effects of gene therapy will be passed onto the patient’s children and subsequent
generations.

Gene Therapy Techniques

Gene augmentation therapy

* This is used to treat diseases caused by a mutation that stops a gene
from producing a functioning product, such as a protein.
* This therapy adds DNA containing a functional version of the lost gene
back into the cell.
* The new gene produces a functioning product at sufficient levels to
replace the protein that was originally missing.
* This is only successful if the effects of the disease are reversible or have
not resulted in lasting damage to the body.

Gene inhibition therapy

* Suitable for the treatment of infectious diseases, cancer and inherited
disease caused by inappropriate gene activity.
* The aim is to introduce a gene whose product either:
- inhibits the expression of another gene
- interferes with the activity of the product of another gene.
* The basis of this therapy is to eliminate the activity of a gene that
encourages the growth of disease-related cells.

Common Genetically Modified Organism Concerns

* Risk to human health; unsafe to eat

* Harm to the environment and wildlife
* Increased pesticide and herbicide use
* Farmers’ health
* Seed and pollen drift
* Creation of herbicide-resistant super weeds
Xenotransplantation and Cloning
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Xenotransplantation - procedure that involves the transplantation, implantation or

infusion into a human recipient of either (a) live cells, tissues, or organs from a
nonhuman animal source, or (b) human body fluids, cells, tissues or organs that
have had ex vivo contact with live nonhuman animal cells, tissues or organs.

Cloning - process of taking genetic information from one living thing and creating
identical copies of it.

Assessment

Name: _____________________________ Date: _____________

Directions: Fill in the blanks the necessary ideas to complete the flow chart.

Flow Chart
Genetic

Engineering
Methods to modify genes
Replacement
of genes
(recombinatio
n) Creates genetically
modified
organisms(GMOs)

Use of GM bacteria Use of GM plants Use of GM animals

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Reflection

Reflect on this “Gene therapy is still in its infancy,but it is believed that as it

matures, it will become an effective treatment for the myriad of genetic diseases
that affect humanity.”

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Assignment

Watch the movie “What Happened to Monday” and make a reflective

essay on how does the movie related to genetic engineering?
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References

Biology by Miller and Levine, copyright 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc

Biology. Provided by: OpenStax CNX. Retrieved

from: http://cnx.org/contents/185cbf87
c72e-48f5-b51e-f14f21b5eabd@10.8. License: CC BY:
Attribution. License Terms: retrievedfrom http://cnx.org/contents/185cbf87-
c72e-48f5-b51e-f14f21b5eabd@10.8

Modification of DNA profiling. Provided by: Wikipedia. Located

at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_profiling. License: CC BY-SA:
Attribution-ShareAlike

DNA Fingerprinting. Authored by: Bozeman Science. Located

at: https://youtu.be/DbR9xMXuK7c. License: All Rights Reserved. License
Terms: Standard YouTube License

Website

www.TeachEngineering.org