Biological Sciences
Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering involves manipulating an organism's genetic material to achieve specific traits or characteristics. This can be done by inserting, deleting, or modifying DNA in a targeted way. The technology has applications in agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology, and has the potential to address challenges such as disease resistance, increased crop yields, and the production of pharmaceuticals.
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9 Key excerpts on "Genetic Engineering"
eBook - PDF- Andrew S. Reynolds(Author)
- 2022(Publication Date)
- Cambridge University Press(Publisher)
Genetic Engineering Genetic Engineering refers to the manipulation of an organism’s genome by use of recombinant DNA technology. When scientists working in a lab isolate DNA sequences from the cells of one organism and insert them into the genome of another, the two DNA sequences are said to have been recom- bined. The first such laboratory recombination of DNA from separate organ- isms was achieved by Paul Berg and his team in 1972, who “spliced” together DNA from two separate viruses, the monkey virus SV40 and lambda virus. Berg had concerns about the potential risks of creating novel forms of virulent pathogens and so did not proceed beyond recombining genetic material in a lab dish (in vitro). But the following year Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen adapted Berg’s technique to create the first genetically modified organism by combining DNA from two separate strains of the bacterium E. coli. Very shortly after, they introduced genes from the frog Xenopus laevis into E. coli that was successfully transcribed into RNA. The process is commonly described as involving the “cutting” of DNA with a restriction enzyme from one source and “pasting” it with a ligase enzyme into another. The transplanted DNA is then said to be “cloned” by the host cells, as the latter replicate the newly recombined genome as they divide. The result of the transfer of DNA from one distinct species to another is also referred to as “chimeric” DNA, after the mythical beast combining features of several distinct animals. Recombinant DNA sequences can alternatively be BIOMEDICINE 141 replicated or “amplified” in a test tube using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
eBook - PDFSynthetic Biology
New Interdisciplinary Science
- Madan L. Nagpal, Oana-Maria Boldura, Cornel Balt?, Shymaa Enany, Cornel Baltă, Madan L. Nagpal, Oana-Maria Boldura, Cornel Baltă, Shymaa Enany(Authors)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- IntechOpen(Publisher)
1 Section 1 Genetic Engineering 3 Chapter 1 Introductory Chapter: The Role of Genetic Engineering Technology in the Manipulation of Genetics of Organisms and Synthetic Biology Madan L. Nagpal 1. Introduction Synthetic biology is a new interdisciplinary science that involves synthesis of biological components, systems, and organisms using Genetic Engineering technol-ogy. The manipulation of DNA or the introduction of DNA of one organism into another organism leads to synthetic biology. The manipulation of the genomes of the organisms is revolutionizing the genet-ics of the organisms. The cloning of the genes is an important Genetic Engineering technology and is required for studying the biological properties of the genes, the DNA fragments, and the organization of the genomes. Other techniques that are part of the Genetic Engineering technology are isolation of DNA, restriction diges-tion of the DNA, ligation, sequence analyses, and expression. What Genetic Engineering technology Does Turns Biology to medicine Genes off and on Controls gene expressions Produces transgenic organisms Synthetic organisms Organisms with new genes Modified genes Man-made genes and genomes Man-made organisms Imagine Man-made men and women With superintelligence Superstrength Super-synthetic biology Engineered synthetic biology The genes have specific chromosomal loci and are determined by linkage analy-sis and deletion mapping. The eukaryotic genes are too large and have introns and exons. The gene is transcribed into mRNA which is further translated into proteins, and the proteins perform various functions in the body. Synthetic Biology - New Interdisciplinary Science 4 Genes define the molecular biology of the normal as well as the abnormal states of an organism. Mutations in genes can cause serious changes in the organism. During cell division, DNA is copied, and sometimes, the copy differs in some of the deoxynucleotides, and this is called mutation.
eBook - PDF- S.S. Bhojwani, M.K. Razdan(Authors)
- 1996(Publication Date)
- Elsevier Science(Publisher)
407 Chapter 14 Genetic Engineering 14.1. INTRODUCTION Deliberate alteration of the genome of an organism by introduction of one or a few specific foreign genes is referred to as 'Genetic Engineering' or 'genetic transformation', and the modified organism is described as a 'transformed' or 'transgenic' organism. In this highly sophisticated method of genetic modification of plants the genetic material or DNA se- quence coding for a desirable trait is located in the donor organism by a variety of molecular techniques and then cut out from the parental DNA using the 'molecular scissors', restriction endonucleases. The relatively small piece of DNA, in a vector (a piece of DNA involved in the insertion of the foreign DNA into the chromosomal DNA) is then introduced into the recipient plant cells by one of several possible methods (see Section 14.2) and plants regenerated from them. Genetic transformation of plants is becoming an indispensable aid to plant physiologists and biochemists in understanding the role of individ- ual genes in the life of a plant. On the practical side, the recombinant DNA technology is ushering in the era of 'molecular breeding' of plants which offers many advantages over the established methods of foreign gene transfer into plants by sexual or, for that matter, somatic hybridi- zation (Logemann and Schell, 1993): (1) traditional breeding allows movement of genes only between closely related plants but through mo- lecular breeding the sources of new genetic material to be introduced is unlimited. For example, genes from viruses, bacteria, yeast, animals and completely unrelated plants can be added, in a functional form, to the genetic information of an established plant cultivar. (2) The addition of a useful trait by molecular breeding would not disrupt an elite phenotype which is often a problem with conventional breeding.
- Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr, , Cecie Starr, Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr(Authors)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- Cengage Learning EMEA(Publisher)
Answer: 12 on one chromosome, and 14 on the other FIGURE IT OUT: How many repeats does this individual have at the Penta D region? Genetic Engineering Process by which deliberate changes are introduced into a genome, with the intent of modifying phenotype. genetically modified organism (GMO) Organism whose genome has been modified by Genetic Engineering. transgenic Refers to a genetically modified organ- ism that carries a gene from a different species. Copyright 2021 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it. BIOTECHNOLOGY CHAPTER 11 211 11.4 Genetic Engineering LEARNING OBJECTIVES ●●● ● Explain the difference between a GMO and a transgenic organism. ●●● ● Describe some genetically engineered organisms and their uses. GMOs Traditional crossbreeding methods can alter genomes, but only if individuals with the desired traits will interbreed. Genetic Engineering takes gene swapping to an entirely different level. Genetic Engineering is a process by which deliberate changes are introduced into a genome, with the intent of modifying phenotype. An individual whose genome has been engineered is a genetically modified organism (GMO). Some GMOs are transgenic, which means a gene from a different species has been inserted into their DNA. Modified Microorganisms Most GMOs are yeast (single-celled fungi) and bacteria (Figure 11.10). Both types of cells are easily engineered, and they have the metabolic machinery to make complex organic molecules—including medically important proteins.
eBook - PDF- Colin J Sanderson(Author)
- 2007(Publication Date)
- WSPC(Publisher)
Chapter 6 Genetic Engineering “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Arthur C. Clarke , Profiles of The Future (1961) 141 The term Genetic Engineering was not coined by people who were defen-sive about their occupation. It could have been “DNA manipulation” or “cutting and splicing DNA”. The fathers of this science knew they were opening a new branch of science equivalent to aeronautical engineering or computer engineering. The first genetic engineers were aware that what they were doing would profoundly change our lives, and it has. In this chapter I want to introduce the technology. A basic understanding of how Genetic Engineering works helps to open up the big picture. It is not magic, but it is clever and not particularly difficult. It is part of under-standing how living organisms work, although it must always be remem-bered that our knowledge is incomplete and really the most exciting stuff is yet to come. The sequencing of the human genome is the basis for the future, as more organisms are sequenced and the function of more genes is determined. It will be the next generation who open up this technology in a way that I can hardly imagine. Much of Genetic Engineering depends on finding genes or parts of genes, in one part of nature and applying them in the laboratory to open up new ways of exploring life. This is done by gene cloning . Cloning has several connotations in biology, but is simply the ability to make exact copies. This might refer to a clone of cells, in which a single cell is manipulated into a container and allowed to grow. All the cells in the container are identical. Most commercial fruit trees and vines are clones because they are made from cuttings. Cloned animals are produced by taking the genome from one individual and inserting it into an egg, which has had its own genome removed. The offspring is genetically Understanding Genes & GMOs 142 identical to the donor of the DNA.
eBook - PDFEthics
Theory and Contemporary Issues, Concise Edition
- Barbara MacKinnon, Andrew Fiala, , , Barbara MacKinnon, Andrew Fiala(Authors)
- 2015(Publication Date)
- Cengage Learning EMEA(Publisher)
35 This technology could be useful for tracing out genealo-gies. But it could also raise privacy concerns, for exam-ple, among people who fear being stigmatized because of a genetic abnormality or disease. Genetically Modified Plants and Animals During the past few decades, a lively debate has sprung up in the United States and beyond about genetically modified organisms , or GMOs. While, strictly speaking, humans have been modifying the genes of plants and animals for centuries—through such practices as plant hybridization and selective animal breeding—GMOs are created through new bio-technologies such as gene splicing, radiation, or spe-cialized chemicals. These technologies often change the genetics of plants and animals that humans grow for food, in an attempt to make them hardier, larger, more flavorful, or more resistant to drought or freez-ing temperatures. Although some of these traits could be established through traditional breeding methods, some could not, and a highly profitable new industry now revolves around creating (and usually patent-ing) these new forms of life. Critics of GMOs argue that they open a “Pandora’s box” of potential risks to ecosystems and to human health. (In Greek mythology, Pandora’s seemingly minor act of opening a beautiful box releases a host of evils into the world.) In 2004, the National Acad-emy of Sciences determined that, “genetically engi-neered crops do not pose health risks that cannot also arise from crops created by other techniques, including conventional breeding.” 36 It is not the method of production that should be of concern, the NAS argued, but the resulting product. Nevertheless, there is much that the general public does not under-stand about so-called genetically modified food. Strictly speaking, Genetic Engineering involves inserting a specific gene from one organism into another in order to produce a desired trait.
eBook - PDF- John E. Smith(Author)
- 2004(Publication Date)
- Cambridge University Press(Publisher)
However, released transgenic plants will continue to be monitored, to validate these conclusions. Some recombinant genes for pest resistance produce in the plant a product that is toxic to the pest. The possible toxicity of this to humans must always be considered and will be regularly assessed by standard techniques for testing the safety of foods. 14.3 Genetic modification and food uses Modern biotechnology has its ancestral roots in the early fermentations of foods and beverages which span almost all societies. Since these early times, man has progressively applied selection procedures to encourage beneficial improvements in the individual microorganisms, plants or animals used for food production. While early methods were mainly empirical, the expand- ing knowledge of genetics allowed a new approach to selective breeding between like species. These, now conventional, genetic techniques, have become accepted worldwide and have not caused any public concern. Genetic Engineering is increasingly being applied to many breeding programmes to achieve the same aims as the traditional methods, but offering two main advantages: (1) the introduction of genes can be controlled with greater prediction and precision than by previous methods. (2) the introduction of genes into unrelated species is not possible using traditional methods. 246 Public perception of biotechnology The application of Genetic Engineering to food production is intended to enhance the useful and desirable characteristics of the organisms and to eliminate the undesirable. The overall aim of the food industry, with respect to Genetic Engineering, will be: to improve the quantity and increase the quality and properties of existing food productions, to produce new products and, of course, to improve financial returns. The consumer has always shown a willingness to pay more for better and more convenient products and to reject products that do not meet their expectations.
- Robert N. Trigiano, Dennis J. Gray, Robert N. Trigiano, Dennis J. Gray(Authors)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
423 33 Genetic Engineering Technologies Zhijian T. Li, Sadanand A. Dhekney, and D.J. Gray CONCEPTS Over the last three decades, great advancements have been made to develop transformation • methodologies. This has resulted in the identification of several reliable transformation techniques that can be used routinely to transform plant cells and to produce transgenic plants of many crop species. Genetic Engineering technologies complement conventional breeding efforts by providing • unique tools to stably incorporate foreign genetic materials and novel characteristics into target plants without the hindrance of biological barriers. Transfer of foreign DNA into plant cells and plastids can be accomplished by a variety • of biological, physical, and chemical means, among which the most commonly used are Agrobacterium -mediated transformation, protoplast-mediated transformation, and micro-projectile bombardment. The incorporation of transformation technologies into contemporary plant improvement • programs has yielded new cultivars with improved agronomic traits. Genetic Engineering of crop plants represents a major milestone in modern agricultural science. The advent of recombinant DNA technology in the early 1970s and the subsequent development of DNA transfer techniques provided exciting opportunities for plant scientists to isolate and utilize useful genes from both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms to confer novel traits on plants. Technological advancements in plant tissue culture techniques facilitated introduction of both native and foreign genes into the plant genome and the production of transgenic plants. Transgenic plants expressing novel traits now are being widely cultivated for their improved yield, quality, and other value-added characteristics. It should be noted, however, that in most instances Genetic Engineering techniques provide only an alternative approach to conventional breeding programs.
eBook - PDFUsing the Biological Literature
A Practical Guide, Fourth Edition
- Diane Schmidt(Author)
- 2014(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
127 CHAPTER 7 Genetics, Biotechnology, and Developmental Biology Genetics is “the branch of biology concerned with the study of heredity and variation.” Biotechnology is “the development of techniques for the application of biological pro-cesses to the production of materials of use in medicine and industry.” Development is “the complex process of growth and maturation that occurs in living organisms” ( Oxford Dictionary of Biology , 4th ed., 2000). This chapter also includes the study of “omics,” a suffix used to indicate studies in several fields performed on a genome-wide scale, such as proteomics or metabolomics. The more applied aspects of biotechnology and genet-ics such as plant or animal breeding and industrial biotechnology are not included. All of the subjects covered in this chapter overlap with other chapters. For instance, molecular biologists study DNA, while geneticists study genes, so Chapter 6, “Molecular and Cellular Biology”, should also be checked for information sources. Research in development may be done by geneticists, cell biologists, or physiologists, so other related resources are found in Chapter 11, “Anatomy and Physiology”. ABSTRACTS AND INDEXES Biotechnology and Bioengineering Abstracts. 1982–. Bethesda, MD: Cambridge Scientific Abstracts. Monthly. Price varies. “This database provides bibliographic coverage of ground-breaking research, applications, regulatory developments and new patents across all areas of bio-technology and bioengineering, including medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, environmental and marine biology.” Consists of the print indexes Agricultural and Environmental Biotechnology Abstracts, ASFA Marine Biotechnology Abstracts, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, Genetics Abstracts, Medical and Phar-maceutical Biotechnology Abstracts, and Microbiology Abstracts Section A: Industrial and Applied Microbiology. Genetics Abstracts. v. 1–, 1968–. Bethesda, MD: Cambridge Scientific Abstracts.
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