Lesson 5: Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering - is the process of modifying genes in living organisms to produce genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) also known as transgenic organisms.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) - is the genetic material of living organisms.

Historical Background of Genetic Engineering

I. Agriculture
 Genetic engineering originated from humans’ first attempt to agricultural methods of breeding and livestock
domestication.

II. Transgenics
 In 1972, the transfer of external DNA from one organism to another was first performed in bacterial cells by
Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen.

III. GM mouse
 In 1974, the genetically modified mouse was created by Rudolf Jaenisch by incorporating viral DNA into the
mouse’s genome. This was the world’s first transgenic animal.

IV. GM tobacco
 Insertion of the antibiotic resistant gene (from soil bacterium Agrobacterium) in tobacco was performed by
Michael Bevan, Richard Flavell, and Mary-Dell Chilton. This was the world’s first transgenic plant.

V. Commercialization
 In 1976, products from GMOs were already commercialized. Examples include insulin from transgenic
bacteria and virus-resistant tobacco, which was the first GM plant to be commercialized.

General Process of Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering requires the formation of a recombinant plasmid, a combination of the plasmid (a
circular, double-stranded molecule in bacteria) and the gene of interest.

1. DNA isolation
 The two DNA fragments (i.e., plasmid and gene of interest) are isolated.

2. Ligation
 The gene of interest is inserted and permanently joined to the plasmid. The resulting DNA is called the
recombinant plasmid.
 The two DNA molecules are joined by using the enzyme DNA ligase.

3. Transformation - is the process of allowing a bacterial cell to take up an exogenous or foreign DNA.
 The recombinant DNA is inserted back to a bacterial cell through electrolysis (electric shock) that opens the
bacterial membrane. Heat shock is an alternative, which forms temporary pores in the membrane.

4. Selection
 The transformed bacteria are normally selected by using special galactose sugar called X-gal.