James Añora Paredes Grade 10 Aquino SCIENCE 10

SCIENCE 10 QTR 3
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MDL 5 > (TITLE)
GENETIC ENGINEERING
> It is the process of using recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology to alter the genetic
makeup of an organism. Traditionally, humans have manipulated genomes indirectly
by controlling breeding and selecting offspring with desired traits. 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.

Tools used in Genetic Engineering:

1. Restriction enzymes
>are used enzymes used to cut the DNA at
specific places

Different enzymes cut DNA at specific base

sequences known as recognition site.
For example:
1. One restriction enzyme will cut the DNA at the base
sequence. GAATTC
2. Another enzyme cuts at the sequence. GATC

IF DNA from the two different organisms is cut with

the same restriction enzyme, the cuts ends from both sources will be complementary and can easily stick together.

2. DNA Ligase
>an enzyme which acts like a glue sticking foreign DNA to DNA of the cloning vector.

 Will work if the DNA from the two DNA sources has been cut with the same restriction enzyme
i.e. sticky ends of cut DNA will be complementary together.

The process Involved in Genetic Engineering:

1. Isolation
2. Cutting
3. Insertion (Ligation)
4. Transformation
5. Expression

 The following will explain how a human gene is inserted into a bacterium so that the bacterium
can produce a human insulin.
James Añora Paredes Grade 10 Aquino SCIENCE 10

Applications of Genetic Engineering

You must know that genetic engineering can be applied into three: one involving a plant, one involving
an animal, and one for micro-organism.

Plants: Weed-killer resistant crops

 Many types of crop plants have added bacterial genes to them
 These genes make the plant certain to weed-killers (bacterium)
 This means that weed killers kills the weeds without affecting the
transgenic plants.

Animals:
There is a growing trend in experimenting with inserting human genes into the DNA of other mammals.
The transgenic animals formed in this way will then produce a human protein and secrete into their milk
or even into their eggs.

Sheep produce human-clotting factor

 A human gene has been inserted into a DNA of a sheep.
 This allows the adult sheep to produce a clotting chemical needed by hemophiliacs to clot their
blood.
 Produced in the milk of the sheep

Pharming: is the production of pharmaceuticals by genetically modified animals i.e. sheep, cows, goats,
etc. refers to using transgenic animals (animals that carry foreign genes in their genome) to
produce drugs or other products beneficial to humans. As a consequence, the host animals then
make the pharmaceutical product in large quantity, which can then be purified and used as a drug
product.

Micro-organisms: Bacteria makes insulin

James Añora Paredes Grade 10 Aquino SCIENCE 10
 The human insulin gene has been inserted to a bacteria (E. coli)
 This allows the bacterium to produce insulin for use by diabetics.

Ethical issues in Genetic Engineering

The release of GMOs into the environment

 Danger of releasing of GMO’s into the environment
 GMO’s grown in bioreactors does not provoke much fear
 GMO’s grown outdoors – fears of foreign genes they contain being spread to other plants.

GMO’s as a food source:

Outlined below are some fears associated with the use of a GMO’s as a food source:
 Cannibalism
- eating an animal containing a human genes is a form of cannibalism.
- feeding GMO’s containing human genes to animals that would be later be eaten by humans

 Religious reasons
- eating cow gene that are inserted to sheep would be offensive to HINDUs

 Offensive to vegetarians/ vegans

- eating animal genes contained in food plants would be a serious concern

Animal Welfare
 There is a serious concern that animals will suffer as a result of being genetically modified
 Use of growth hormones may cause limb deformation and arthritis as animals grow.
James Añora Paredes Grade 10 Aquino SCIENCE 10

Genetic Engineering in Humans:

The following issues are a cause of concern:

 If tests are carried out for genetic diseases, who is entitled to see the results?
 Tests on unborn babies – could this lead to abortion if a disease is shown to be present?
 Insurance and lending companies – will they insists on genetic tests before they will insure/lend money
to a person?
 Need for legal controls over the uses to which a human cell can be put.
 Development and expansion in eugenics.