Short overview about what is Genetic Engineering - Cabana & Ching

1. Genetic engineering is the process of using recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology to alter the
genetic makeup of an organism.
2. Genetic engineering involves the direct manipulation of one or more genes. Most often, a
gene from another species is added to an organism's genome to give it a desired phenotype

Basic concepts of genetic engineering:

• What is DNA? - Manelli
- DNA is a long molecule that contains each organism's unique genetic code.
• Why are proteins important? - Manelli
- Protein participates in practically every process of a cell.
• How is DNA important in Genetic Engineering? - Manelli
- DNA is the primary manipulation target for genetic engineering.
• Genetic engineering uses recombinant DNA. What is recombinant DNA?
- Recombinant DNA, molecules of DNA from two different species that are inserted into a host
organism to produce new genetic combinations that are of value to science, medicine,
agriculture, and industry.
• What is Genetically Modified Organism? - Cosme
Genetically modified organism or GMO can be defined as an organism whose genome or
genetic makeup has been artificially modified inside the laboratory using modern techniques of
genetic manipulation. Changing the genome of an organism is done to attain the desired
physiological traits or characteristics of an organism to create different combinations of plants,
animals, virus and bacterial genes that cannot be obtained using traditional crossbreeding
methods. Goats have been genetically engineered to express human lysosomes in their milk
and how pigs have been genetically engineered so they have a higher level of omega-3 by
expressing Δ12 fatty acid desaturase gene that can be found in spinach.

Genetic Engineering Vs Traditional Breeding - Manelli

Conventional or Traditional breeding relies primarily on selection, using natural processes of
sexual and asexual reproduction. Genetic engineering utilizes a process of insertion of genetic
material, via a gene gun or other direct gene introduction methods, or by a specially designed
bacterial truck, which does not occur in nature

History of Genetic Engineering - Manelli

• 1951: the term “genetic engineering” was first coined by jack williamson in his science fiction
novel Dragon’s Island.
• 1953: Building on the discoveries of chemist Rosalind Franklin, scientists James Watson and
Francis Crick identify the structure of DNA.
• 1958: DNA is Made in a Test Tube for the First Time
• 1972: Recombinant DNA (rDNA) is Created
• 1973: Biochemists Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen develop genetic engineering by inserting
DNA from one bacteria into another.
• 1982 - First Transgenic plant
A tobacco plant engineered with a yeast gene was created in 1982 by Mary Dell Chilton, a
scientist at Washington University in St. Louis, and Andrew Binns from the University of
Pennsylvania.
• 1982: Creation of human insulin to treat diabetes.
• 1990: First GE food product - Chymosin
• 1993: First GE animal drug - recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone" (rBGH)
• 1994: First whole GE food - The Flavr Savr™ tomato

Types of Genetic Engineering Techniques - Cabana

* pictures only on the process and how it was done.
• Recombinant DNA
• Gene delivering
• Electrophoration, solicitation and viral vector
• Gene editing

Process of GE involved - Cabana

* insert pic
* Important of Plasmids in GE ( discuss this during the discussion of stages)
1) Chromosomes extracted and required gene identified.
2) Gene cut out
3) Plasmid extracted
4) Plasmid cut open
5) Gene inserted into plasmid
6) Plasmid inserted into bacterial “host” cell
7) Bacterium grows and multiplies
8) Product mass-produced by duplicates of plasmid

Example : The process for making insulin through genetic engineering follows - Ching
* this is the same information included in google docs
*use this site ( https://www.ck12.org/section/genetic-engineering/)
*insert the pic from that site (figure 9.2)
1. Scientists remove DNA from a human cell nucleus and plasmid DNA from a bacterial cell.
2. The desired gene is removed from the human DNA and recombined with plasmid DNA.
3. The plasmid is put back into bacteria.
4. Scientists then grow colonies of bacteria in special vessels.
5. Scientists remove the desired proteins from the cells-in this case, insulin.
6. The insulin is purified and, then, is available for human use.

Uses or Applications of Genetic Engineering - Ching

APPLICATIONS : Transgenic Organisms and Cloning
USES:
- To make insulin from diabetic persons (before genetic engineering insulin came from pigs
and cows)
- Insulins is produced by genetically modified bacteria. the human gene able to make insulin
is inserted into bacteria
- to make growth hormone to treat dwarfs
- to prepare vaccines
- to make plant resistant disease
- to make pigs, cows, fish grow faster
- higher production of milk by cows
- make pigs leaner

Examples of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

*may kulang pa dito padagdag nalang ung human at yyng jbang trasgenic animal drug
*insert pic only
• ANTIFREEZE STRAWBERRIES
• GOATS MAKE SILK PROTEIN IN MILK
• Corn
• Salmon
• Mosquitos designed to birth weak offspring
• Glowing mice
• BT cotton

Genetic engineering in Gene therapy - Cosme

• Gene therapy refers to the introduction, removal or change in genetic material which can be
DNA or RNA into the cells of the patient to prevent or treat diseases.
• Gene therapy promises to treat wide range of diseases including cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart
disease, diabetes, hemophilia and AIDS
• The following are some of the approaches to gene therapy:
- Removing the mutated gene that produces abnormal protein
- Inactivating the mutated gene that is not functioning properly
- Introducing new genes inside the body to treat disease

Benefits of genetic engineering - Cabana

• Genetic modification is a faster and more efficient way of getting the same results as selective
breeding
• Improve crop yields or crop quality
• Introduce herbicide resistance
• Insect and pest resistance can be developed and inserted into the plants. The plant produces
toxins, which would discourage insects from eating the crop.
• Sterile insects could be created such as a mosquito. They would breed, which would lead to
infertile offspring

Possible hazards of Genetic Engineering - Manelli

• Potential Harms to Health
• Potential Environmental Harms
• Unknown harms to the environment
• Risk assessment

Interesting facts about Genetic Engineering - Ching

* add some more like who is the father of GE?
* latest chika about GE and so on
• GM researchers can build completely synthetic genomes.
• GM scientists can even build complete chromosomes in the lab
• Jian-kui HE, a Chinese scientist, claimed to have “created” the first gene-edited babies,
designed to be naturally immune to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Laws - Cosme
• Executive Order No. 430 created the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines
(NCBP), a multi-sectoral body consisting of scientists and representatives led by Undersecretary
for Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). This
sector is responsible for making policies and guidelines regarding the research, production,
importation, and distribution of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and other activities
related to genetic engineering.

Local studies about Genetic Engineering - Manelli

• The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the National Institute of Molecular Biology
and Biotechnology (BIOTECH), both in Los Baños, and the Philippine Rice Research Institute
(PhilRice) in Nueva Ecija are undertaking transgenic researches to improve the resistance of rice
varieties to insect pests
• BIOTECH and the Institute of Plant Breeding, also in the University of The Philippines Los
Baños, are undertaking a joint study to produce a local Bt corn variety resistant to the Asiatic
corn borer
• IPB-UPLB has also already started its research to produce transgenic papaya and mango with
delayed ripening characteristics.

International studies/literatures about Genetic Engineering - Cabana

Status of Genetic Engineering in Philippines setting - Ching

• More than 400,000 farmers are now planting Bt corn in the Philippines as of 2019.
• The Genomics Institute of Asia (GINA), a non-profit genetics research organization, is planning
to build the country's first human genetic engineering laboratory.
• The University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health awarded Navasero a P900
million contract to construct and design the proposed human genetic engineering research
facility.
• The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Laguna to establish GINA, a non-profit
genetics research institute.

Status of Genetic Engineering in Internation setting - Cosme

* insert pic
• Some countries have chosen a total ban of GMOs such as France, Germany, Austria, Greece,
Hungary, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Poland, Denmark, Malta,
Slovenia, Italy and Croatia
• According to World Health Organization, countries restrict GMOs in food because they are
concerned with health risk factors that come with food containing GMO consumption.
• Genetic Literacy Project has made a statement to ensure that GM products are safe. In the
year 2016, carbon emissions reduced due to GM crops, that is equivalent to removing 16.75
million cars off the road.

Conclusion - Cosme
• It can be concluded that, despite the fact that significant progress has been made in the field
of genetic engineering, our nation, the Philippines, is clearly falling short behind. We were the
first country in Asia to allow the planting of genetically modified crops, and to move towards a
regulatory framework for GE animals, but so far our progress has been hindered due to a lack of
funding.