MAYAPYAP Project MELC (Managing and Enhancing Learning through Contextualization)

National High School STUDENT LEARNING GUIDE IN BIOTECHNOLOGY

Quarter III, Week 5

Lesson 5: Genetic Manipulation

MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY

No Code Available: Discuss how the genetic material are manipulated.

In this set of activities, you should:

1. determine how genetic manipulation works.
2. design own genetically manipulated organism; and
3. enumerate the processes how the genetic materials are manipulated.

WHAT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER

Figure 1. Genetically Modified Corn

https://api.ndla.no/image-
api/raw/148204901.jpg?width=1120

Good day future scientist! I hope all is well. Prepare yourself because today you will be a genetic engineer and you
will design your own genetically modified organism.
The previous lesson discussed the different tools used in genetic engineering. Today, we will explore how the
genetic materials are manipulated.
Have you heard about golden rice as source of Vitamin A? What about corn, cotton, and eggplant that kills insects?
And genetically improved tilapia (look, taste, and adaptability to different environments). Are these fact or bluff?
Every living thing is made up of the same building blocks: cells. Cells work together to make an organism function,
grow, and survive. Scientists use genetic engineering to modify cells so that the characteristics of an individual organism
may be enhanced or modified. Such engineering can be applied to any organism, from a virus to a plant.

Genetic manipulation is most used to introduce a new,

Figure 2. Genetically Modified Plant
https://www.maxpixel.net/static/photo/1x/Exp
eriment-Gmo-Plant-Science-Laboratory-
Research-5607399.jpg
…Bringing our school closer to your home…
favorable characteristic into the recipient organism, such as tolerance to
a chemical herbicide or resistance to insect attacks.
Example BT corn, cotton, and eggplant.
It can also be used to alter the organism’s genes’ activity, such
as slowing down natural decay.
What is Genetic Manipulation?
Genetic engineering is the direct manipulation of DNA within a
gene to modify an organism’s characteristics (phenotype) in a certain
way. Genes are small sections of the long DNA sequence that is ordered
into chromosomes in animal and plant cells. Adding characteristics to a
living organism, such as resistance to drought or disease, can be
achieved through modifying these genes.
DNA is the genetic code found in humans and almost all other
organisms that make them behave and appear as they do. Most DNA is
housed in the cell nucleus, but a small amount of DNA is also found in
the mitochondria – the structures within cells that convert the energy
from food into a form that cells can process and use. 1
How Genetic Engineering Works?

DNA’s double helix consists of a base pair: two

bases on opposite strands of the DNA molecule. A base
pair forms one ‘rung’ on the DNA ‘ladder’. The rule of
base pairing is that A always binds with T, and C always
binds with G. Genetic manipulation may mean changing
one base pair (A-T or C-G), removing a whole region of
DNA, or bringing in an additional copy of a gene. Gene
modification could also be extracting DNA from one Figure 3. DNA Ladder
organism’s genome and joining it with the DNA of https://www.getsmarter.com/blog/wp-
another. content/uploads/2020/02/Slot19_Infographic
-1_Desktop.png

While methods of genetic modification vary, the following process is typically used:
1. Identify the characteristic desired for the organism.
2. Isolate the characteristic from the organism that displays that trait.
3. Insert that characteristic into the desired organism.
4. Propagate the organism.

YOUR TASKS!

Reminder: DO NOT WRITE ANYTHING ON THIS STUDENT LEARNING GUIDE.

Write your answers on your answer sheet.

Enrichment Activity 1: Write TRUE if the statement is correct. Otherwise, CHANGE the underlined word to make
the statement true. (1 point each)

1. Genetic engineering can be applied to any organism.

2. Genetic mutation is most used to introduce a new, favorable characteristic into the recipient organism.
3. Scientists use genetic engineering to modify cells so that the characteristics of an individual organism may be
enhanced or modified.
4. Genetic engineering is the direct manipulation of RNA within a gene to modify an organism’s characteristics
(phenotype) in a certain way.
5. Genetic manipulation may mean changing one base pair (A-U or C-G), removing a whole region of DNA, or
bringing in an additional copy of a gene.

Enrichment Activity 2: Read about the genetically modified corn. Then, answer the following guide questions. (1
point each)
Genetically Modified Corn

Corn is the third most important crop in the Philippines in terms of area harvested and economic value. Furthermore,
some 600,000 Filipino farm households depend on corn as a major source of livelihood. The Philippines approved GM corn
for commercial use in December 2002, primarily to help farmers control the Asian corn borer, a highly destructive insect
pest that lowers yields and can destroy up to 80 percent of a crop. Farmers were using pesticides to fight the insect, which
created a human and environmental health risk and increased production costs for farmers. The GM yellow corn includes a
Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) gene that gives the crop natural resistance to the pest.

2
…Bringing our school closer to your home…
 Figure 4. Bt Corn
http://bio1100.nicerweb.com/Locked/media/ch07/07_12.jpg

• Caterpillars can damage corn crops.

• Bt extracted from a bacterium (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a pesticide that is toxic to caterpillars.
• The Bt gene can be inserted into the corn genome to yield a GMO corn with built-in pest resistance.

Guide Questions:
1. Why do corn crops are genetically modified?
2. What organism is used for the desired characteristic in corn crops?
3. What is the desired characteristic for the corn crops?
4. What gene in Bacillus thuringiensis is inserted in the corn genome?
5. Cite one benefit of genetically modified corn.

Performance Task 1: Design your own genetically modified organism. Read the procedure below. Then, copy and
complete the table. Refer on the example as your guide. (15 points)
Procedure:
1. Think of an organism that will be subject for your own gene modification.
2. State the reason why will it be subject for genetic modification.
3. Identify the characteristic desired for the organism.
4. Identify another organism that displays the desired trait.
5. State the outcome and benefit of your own genetically modified organism.

Example:
My Own Genetically Modified Organism
Illustration Illustration Illustration

Organism subject for your gene Organism that displays desired trait: Outcome of your own genetically
modification: corn plant Bacillus thuringiensis modified organism: corn plant with
built-in pest resistance
Reason for gene modification: corn Desired characteristic: poisonous to Benefit of your own genetically
plant destroyed by caterpillar caterpillars modified organism: high yields of
corn plant due to its natural
resistance to pest, environment
friendly (reduced use of pesticides)

3
…Bringing our school closer to your home…
 My Own Genetically Modified Organism
Illustration Illustration Illustration

Organism subject for your gene Organism that displays desired trait: Outcome of your own genetically
modification: modified organism:
Reason for gene modification: Desired characteristic: Benefit of your own genetically
modified organism:

*You will be rated according to the scoring rubric below:

Criteria Exemplary (5) Accomplished (3) Developing (2)

The concept or idea is very The concept or idea is The concept or idea does
Concept/ Idea
clear and understandable. incomplete. not relate to the topic.
The output exceeds the The output is somewhat
Content The output is complete.
expectation. complete.
The table is very well The table is organized but
Presentation The table is not organized.
organized. messy.

WRAP-UP ACTIVITY

Enumerate the processes how the genetic materials are manipulated. (5 points)

REFERENCES

• Experiment Gmo Plant Science Laboratory Research. (2016). Retrieved from Max Pixel:
https://www.maxpixel.net/static/photo/1x/Experiment-Gmo-Plant-Science-Laboratory-Research-5607399.jpg

• Genetically Modified Corn. (n.d.). Retrieved from NDLA: https://api.ndla.no/image-

api/raw/148204901.jpg?width=1120

• Methods and Mechanisms for Genetic Manipulation of Plants, Animals, and Microorganisms. (2020, February 19).
Retrieved from getsmarter: https://www.getsmarter.com/blog/career-advice/methods-and-mechanisms-for-genetic-
manipulation-of-plants-animals-and-microorganisms/

This Student Learning Guide will be discussed during Online Consultation on the following schedule.
6th Week of 3rd Quarter
Monday 8:00am -10:00am
Wednesday 1:00pm 3:00pm

Visit your Official Facebook Class Group.

Search MNHS (Subject Area) (Surname of your subject teacher, School Year)
Example: MNHS Biotechnology Sanchez, SY 2021-2022
4
…Bringing our school closer to your home…