Genetic

Engineering
& GMOs
Genetic Engineering
- is the process of changing the DNA in living
organisms to create something new.
- is the artificial manipulation, modification,
and recombination of DNA or other nucleic
acid molecules in order to modify an
organism or population of organisms.
 Examples
Wild
17th Banana
Century
Watermelo
Modern n
Modern
Watermelo
Banana
n
 Examples
Wild
Eggplant

Modern
Wild Corn Modern Corn Eggpla
nt
Genetic Engineering Techniques
1. Selective Breeding
Choosing organisms
with desirable
characteristics and
breeding them to
produce more
desirable ones.
Broccoli is man made.
It was made over
2000 years ago by
farmers selectively
breeding different
types of cabbage.
Genetic Engineering Techniques
2. Hybridization
Process of crossing
plants and animals with
different variation of the
same traits to create an
organism with the most
desirable trait.
Fuji is a hybrid apple. It was developed by hybridizers in Japan
by crossing a Red Delicious with a Ralls Janet – resulting in
an apple that carries the sweetness of a Red Delicious,
along with the benefits of lasting well in storage that comes
from Ralls Janet. The new hybrid apple was named Fuji
because of where it was created.
BURBANK
POTATO
(Luther Burbank)
• He crossed a
disease-resistant
plant with one that
had a large food
producing capacity
 LIGER
• are the
offspring
of a
female
tiger and
male lion.
Genetic Engineering Techniques
3. Inbreeding
Breeding of organisms
that are genetically
similar to maintain
desired traits. It keeps
each breed unique from
others.
• Inbreeding
Holstein dairy
cattle has led to
increased milk
production, but
the cows are
more difficult to
breed.
Genetic Engineering Techniques
4. Cloning
Creating an organism that is an
exact genetic copy of another.
- Unwanted chromosomes are
removed from egg cell
- Donor nucleus is inserted into
empty egg cell, get fertilized
- Chemical processes + electricity
kick starts the process.
- Embryo develops RARELY
depending on the chance of
compatibility.
Dolly, the first
cloned sheep.
She gave birth to
Bonnie. (1996)
Mira the Goat
Noto and Kaga (Cows)
Genetic Engineering Techniques
5. Gene Splicing

- Genetic material is cut and inserted

from one organism to another
-Most of the GMO’s are made through
gene splicing, and the process is done
during the process of reproduction
TRANSGENIC ORGANISM are organisms that
have been through genetic modification, and
foreign genetic material in them.
Genetic Engineering Techniques
6. Gel Electrophoresis

• separates DNA fragments by

size. It is used to study DNA
fragments of various sizes
S
 Genetically Modified
Organism (GMO)
- An organism or microorganism
whose genetic material has been
altered by means of genetic
engineering
- Genetically modified organism is
also called transgenic organism
because
there was a transfer of genes from