Gene Splicing

Genetic Engineering
What are some applications
of Genetic Engineering
GENETIC ENGINEERING
A process that is used to alter the
genetic instructions in organisms.

SEQUENCING
Scientists can target and identify a gene.

RESTRICTION ENZYMES
Cut the desired gene with enzymes.

GENE SPLICING
The gene is combined with the DNA of
another organism and inserted to the
cell of another organism
 WHAT IS THE
R E S U LT
OF
GENETIC
ENGINEERING?

A genetically
engineered organism.
Applications of
Genetic
Engineering
Protein
01 production

Chromosome
Scientists can genetically
and Plasmid
02
alter the DNA of bacteria
to produce proteins.
How many pieces of
bacterial DNA can you
see?
Bacterial Chromosome vs. Human Chromosome
BACTERIAL HUMAN
CHROMOSOME CHROMOSOME

XY
Gene Splicing
and Recombinant DNA
 Bacteria also have PLASMIDS!
Scientists can alter the genetic instructions found in
plasmids.

PLASMIDS
- Small, circular DNA
molecules that are found in
some bacteria
 What is
Gene Splicing?
Definition
01 Process in which fragments of
DNA from one or more different
microorganism are combined to
form rDNA
rDNA
02 Recombinant DNA: The
combined DNA
Process
03 RDNA is made to function in a
within the cell of a host
organism
Two highly significant techniques:
Gene Transfer

Transferring the gene from one source to

another subject

Gene Therapy

Correcting defective gene that are responsible for

disease development
 Important terms:
enzyme that
removes one
an organism/ nitrogen base
chemical that is used unit at a time
to transport a gene to Exonucleases
the host cell.
Plasmid Host Cell Ligases

Vector Endonucleases
the cell into enzymes that cut
A circular form of enzyme that
where the new DNA molecule at join two DNA
DNA often used as some given location
a vector in genetic gene is segments
engineering. transplanted together
 1
TEXT
Paul Berg
American biochemist (1926-),

• Referred to as the “father of

genetic engineering”.

• He developed a method for

joining the DNA from two
different organisms, a
monkey virus known as SV40
and a virus called lambda
phage.
 INSULIN
- responsible for allowing
glucose in the blood to
enter cells

Produced by “Genetech”
Obtains a copy of insulin gene (can be from
natural source or manufactured)
• Inserting the insulin gene into the vector
(using the gene splicing process)

• The hybrid plasmid can now be inserted

to the host cell. (this is the manufactured
insulin that is injected to diabetic
patients)
Step 1: DNA is removed from a human
cell and insulin genes cut with
Restriction Enzymes.
Step 2: Plasmid is removed from a bacterial
cell and is cut with Restriction Enzymes.
 Step 3: Insulin Gene and Bacterial
Plasmid are spliced together to form
Recombinant DNA.
 Step 5: Bacteria undergo asexual
reproduction and are capable of producing
the protein insulin
 SCIENTISTS
GENETICALLY
A L T E R
F O O D S :

• Genetically modified foods

can be engineered to
produce natural
pesticides.
• Genetically modified foods
can be engineered to
increase their content of
vitamins.
 Advantages
• Will get improved organisms
• Can create organisms with traits not previously
thought possible
• Can remove “bad” genes
• Reduces the chance of getting “undesirable”
organisms

Effects of Gene
Splicing

Disadvantages
• Costly
• Must be performed in a lab with special equipment
• Ethical issues
• Long term negative effects
• Negative environmental impacts
• Superweeds
• Unknowns