4 PICS 1 WORD

GENE
4 PICS 1 WORD

SPLICE
WHAT’S NEXT
AFTER
TRANSCRIPTION
PROCESS?
Gene Splicing

is a phenomenon in which the introns are

removed and the exons are joined
together to form mature mRNA.
 Importance:
Source of protein

One gene can lead to different mature mRNA molecules

that generate multiple functional proteins.

Thus, genes splicing enables a single gene to increase its

coding capacity.
Introns:

The areas of the gene that are spliced out are

representing noncoding regions that are
intervening sequences.
Exons:

The DNA that remains in the processed RNA is

referred to as the coding regions.
 SPLICING MECHANISM

The basic mechanism of splicing is simple. the phosphodiester bond between exon
and intron at 5' splice site is first broken, then the 3' hydroxyl group of the 5' exon,
reacts with the 3' splice site to complete the reaction.
GROUP 1
INTRONS
MECHANISMS
 SELF-SPLICING
Self-splicing occurs for rare introns that form a ribozyme,
performing the functions of the spliceosomes by RNA
alone.
There are three kinds of self-splicing introns:

o Group I
o Group II
oGroup III
1. Group 1 introns it folds in such a way that it can hold guanine
nucleotide.
2. 3’ OH group of the guanine reacts with 5’ splice site and the
Guanine nucleotide finally attaches itself of the 5’ end of the introns.
3. This attachment of guanine makes the 3- OH end of 5- exon free
4. The 3- OH group of the exons reacts with the 3’ splice site
5. This joins two exons and releases the intron competing the splicing
reaction.
GROUP 2
INTRONS
MECHANISMS
SPLICEOSOMES
 The molecules or molecular complexes
that actually splice RNA in the cellular
nucleus.

 The spliceosome is essential for cell

function and defective pre-mRNA splicing
causes disease
STRUCTURE OF
SPLICEOSOMES
 Made of small sequences of RNA bound by additional
small proteins

 The RNAs which make up the spliceosome are small

nuclear RNAs (snRNA’s)

 The snRNAs combine with proteins to comprise, small

nuclear ribonucleaprotein particles (SNURPS).
 mRNA SPLICING MECHANISM
Splicing mRNA is performed by spliceosome,
containing snRNPS designated

 U1, U2, U4, U5, U6

 (U3 is not involved in mRNA splicing)

APPLICATION OF GENE
SPLICING

 Using gene splicing technology, vaccines have been

produced.
 Another application of gene splicing technology is
related to the gene involved in Vitamin B production

Human insulin-producing genes have been spliced into

plasmids.
Genetic Engineering
 Genetic engineering creates organisms with
recombinant DNA.
Recombinant DNA: when DNA is combined
from at least two organisms.

Which techniques create recombinant DNA

1. Sexual reproduction: natural
2. selective breeding
3. Hybridization
4. Gene splicing
A. Selective breeding: when animals with desired
characteristics are mated to produce offspring with those
desired traits.
Passing of important genes to next generation.
Example: Champion race horses, cows with tender meat,
large juicy oranges on a tree.
Examples of
selective breeding:
Angus cows are bred to increase
muscle mass so that we get more
meat,

Egg-Laying Hen-produces more eggs

than the average hen
B. Hybridizations: two individuals with unlike
characteristics are crossed to produce the best in both
organisms.

Example: Luther Burbank created a disease resistant

potato called the Burbank potato.
Other Examples of
hybridization:
1. Liger: lion and tiger mix
2. Grape + apple= grapple. The fruit tastes
like grapes and looks like apple.
Cloning: creating an organism that is an exact
genetic copy of another.

Clone: group of cells or organisms that are

genetically identical as a result of asexual
reproduction
They will have the same exact DNA as the parent.
 Dolly:
Dolly was the first mammal
cloned.
She had the same exact DNA
as her mother and had no
father.
Cloning is a form of asexual
reproduction.
Only one genetic parent.
Saber Tooth Tiger extinct
Risks of cloning:
1. Decreases genetic
diversity
2. If one of your clones
gets a disease, they all
get it: same immune
system.
3. Inefficient: high failure
rate: 90%+
4. Expensive
Gene splicing: DNA is cut out of one
organism and put into another
organism

A trait will be transferred from one

organism to another.
 This picture represents gene splicing.
However, DNA is much smaller.
It’s done with high tech lab equipment since DNA,
is too small to hold or see without a microscope.
The red piece the woman is
holding is an insulin gene
from a human being. It is
being combined with DNA
from a bacteria.
Creates recombinant DNA,
something that has never
existed before.
Benefits:

- insulin is cheaper
-There are no side effects
because it is human insulin.
- We once used pig insulin
but there are side effects and
it more expensive.
How are genes cut for gene splicing?
A bacterial plasmid is used.

Plasmid: circular DNA in a bacteria cell.

It is very simple and easy to manipulate.
How is gene splicing
done?

1. A restriction enzyme
cuts the insulin gene out
of the human DNA.

2. A plasmid is removed
from a bacteria and cut
with a restriction enzyme
3. The human gene is place into the bacteria plasmid
4. The plasmid is placed back into the bacteria.
The cell now has directions (DNA) to make insulin.
That's exactly what it does.
Its human insulin, bacteria do not make insulin on their
own.

Plasmid with
insulin gene
This is called transformation: when a gene from one
organism is transferred to different organism.
The organisms that have DNA transferred to them are
called transgenic organisms.

trans: means different,

genic: refers to genes

Genetic engineering has given rise to a new technological

field called biotechnology (technology of life).
1. Transgenic (GMO) animals: genes inserted into
animals so they produce what humans need.
Why?: A way to improve the food supply:
A. Transgenic cows: gene inserted to increase milk
production.
B. Spider goat: gene from spider inserted into
goat.
Goats makes silk of the spider web in their milk.
Flexible, stronger than steel. Used in bullet proof
jackets.
C. Glow-in-the-dark
cats 
Scientist used a virus
to insert DNA from
jellyfish
The gene made the
cat produce a
fluorescent protein in
its fur.  
2. Transgenic bacteria: gene inserted into
bacteria so they produce things humans
need.
For example: insulin and clotting factors in
blood are now made by bacteria.
3. Transgenic plants: plants are given genes so they meet
human needs.
A. Transgenic corn: given a gene so corn produces a
natural pesticide.
Now they don’t have to be sprayed with cancer causing
pesticides.
25% of all corn is like this.
B. Venomous cabbage
gene from a scorpion tails inserted
into cabbage.
Cabbage now produces that
chemical.
Why? Limit pesticide use while
still preventing insects from
damaging crops.
Corporations state the toxin is
modified so it isn’t harmful to
humans.
C. Banana vaccines
virus is injected into a banana, the virus
DNA becomes part of the plant.
As the plant grows, it produces the virus
proteins — but not the disease part of the
virus.

When people eat a bite, their immune

systems creates antibodies to fight the
disease — just like a traditional vaccine

Vaccines for hepatitis and cholera

Does cloning create organisms with
recombinant DNA?
No, the DNA from one organism is copied.
DNA is not recombined.