Cell Biology Sub-Topic (1.5) Genetic Engineering On completion of this subtopic I will be able to state that Genetic information can be transferred from one cell to another by genetic engineering. Bacteria and viruses are used to transfer genetic material from one organism to another. Bacteria have one large chromosome in a ring and contain smaller rings of DNA called plasmids. Genetic engineering is the transfer of DNA from one type of organism to another artificially. The stages in genetic engineering include: 1. Identifying a section of DNA on a chromosome that contains the required gene. 2. Cutting the required gene from the chromosome using a special enzyme that acts as chemical scissors and releases the gene. 3. Extracting the plasmid from the bacterial cell. 4. Opening up the plasmid using the same special enzyme that acts as chemical scissors. 5. Inserting the required gene into the plasmid using an enzyme that seals the gene into place. 6. Inserting the altered plasmid into the host cell. 7. Growing the genetically modified (GM) organisms. Genetic engineering is used for the commercial production of medicines. such as insulin, human growth hormone and factor VIII. Genetic engineering is used for the commercial production of crops with disease resistance such as potatoes resistant to the Potato Blight virus or tomatoes with a longer shelf life. Duncanrig Secondary 2017 page 1 of 7
Transfer of genetic material between organisms Genetic Engineering Genetic engineering is the transfer of DNA from one type of organism to another artificially. The ability to move DNA into an organism and alter its genotype is used to introduce desirable characteristics to the phenotype of the organism or to allow it to produce a substance of use to mankind. The first organisms to have this done successfully were bacteria. The new organisms are said to have been genetically modified (GM). Chromosomal material of a bacterium Bacteria have one large chromosome in a ring and smaller rings called plasmids. The chromosome and the plasmids are made up of genes. The genes code for certain proteins e.g. enzymes. If a useful gene is removed from one organism and inserted into a plasmid, the bacterium will now be able to produce that protein. Label the diagram of the bacterium below to show the large circular chromosome and plasmids. bacterium Duncanrig Secondary 2017 page 2 of 7
Genetic engineering: The process Complete the diagrams below by writing a description in each box to show the stages in the genetic engineering process. Use the information at the start of this sub-topic to help. animal cell nucleus Chromosome with required gene Stage 1: Stage 2: bacterium plasmid Stage 3: Stage 4: Duncanrig Secondary 2017 page 3 of 7
Stage 5: bacterial (host) cell Stage 6: Stage 7: protein (e.g. insulin) is produced by duplicates of plasmids inside bacterial cells protein (e.g. insulin) is extracted and purified Duncanrig Secondary 2017 page 4 of 7
Commercial applications of genetic engineering Insulin is a hormone (made of p ) which controls the levels of g (sugar) in the blood. Insulin is normally made by cells in the p _. Without insulin, the glucose in the blood is not taken up by the cells, which need the sugar for e _. A person with type 1 diabetes does not make insulin so needs to have insulin injected from another source to keep them healthy. Traditionally, in the days before genetic engineering, people with diabetes were treated with pig or beef insulin. While this did solve the problem, it was not ideal. Some patients suffered strong s _ e when using a _ derived insulin. Vegetarians would obviously prefer not to be using a medication obtained from an animal. In recent years, there has been an i _ in the number of patients with diabetes as the population has increased and people are living longer this means more insulin is required and would mean using more and more animals. In the 1980 s, insulin was made using genetic engineering by taking a copy of the insulin gene from a human cell and putting it into a bacterial cell. This makes it possible to make l quantities of insulin quickly and less people suffer sideeffects. Scientists have used genetic engineering to add genes to a variety of organisms which has made possible the production of a wide range of organisms with useful characteristics or ability to produce useful substances to mankind. They have introduced genes that make plants h for humans to eat or to improve crop y _ by introducing r _ to disease. Traits can also be introduced that enable them produce chemicals which p them from harmful insects or herbicides. Duncanrig Secondary 2017 page 5 of 7
Chose two GM crop species from the list below and add these to the table. Using the class resources research the genetic modification of these organisms and use the information to complete the table. List: golden rice, rape seed oil, tomatoes, disease resistant potatoes Product of genetic engineering Human growth hormone Use of the product (food or medicinal use: give detail) Impact on society Factor VIII Duncanrig Secondary 2017 page 6 of 7
Advantages of genetic engineering. From your research write down some of the advantages of genetic engineering. 1: 2: 3: 4: In the table below write down the references you have used during your research. Product of genetic engineering References Human growth hormone Factor VIII Duncanrig Secondary 2017 page 7 of 7