The process of genetic engineering in detail

Genetic Engineering

(GE)

Genetic Engineering

(GE)

Is a branch of Molecular Biology that allows us to manipulate the genome of a living being.

Purposes of GEPurposes of GE

1. Eliminating harmful genes

2. Introducing healthy genes

3. Modifying genes

Common practicesCommon practices

Recombinant DNA (rDNA)

Allows cloning a specific gene

• Diabetic people Have a faulty gene that encodes for the protein insulin

• Past: The patients would get insulin originating from human corpses or other animals injected into their system

• Present: We can clone the gene of the human insulin in bacteria.

This means that insulin can be produced in large

quantities at a much lower cost.

Prior concepts before explaining the steps

Restriction enzymes or endonuclease (EnRes)Restriction enzymes or endonuclease (EnRes)

Enzymes that can be found in bacteria

• Purpose: to destroy the DNA of the virus that try to parasitize them by cutting the DNA

• They cut the double helix of DNA at particular base sequences called palindromic sequences

• Every single EnRes cuts a specific palindromic sequence

A sequence of double helix DNA

A sequence of double helix DNA

Palindrome if it is equal to its complementary sequence read backwards

• A palindrome is usually found in proteins and is formed by 6 to 12 pairs of bases.

PlasmidPlasmid Piece of circular, double stranded DNA that is independent of the genome.

They occur naturally in bacteria. They are also extracted easily and are therefore useful in genes.

Prior concepts before explaining the steps II

Four main steps through which genetic engineering is accomplished

1. Location and isolation of the genes of interest

Obtaining the portion of DNA which contains the gene that we want to transfer is accomplished by the use of gene-splicing techniques.

2. Insertion of the genes into a cloning vector

A vehicle for transferring genetic material into a cell. The cloning vector is a bacteria plasmid. Gene cloning.

Four main steps through which genetic engineering is accomplished (II)

3. Localizing the descendants of the host cell

They contain the genes of interest, and detection of the colony that contains the gene of interest. We can locate the correct colony containing the insulin by using a biochemical test that detects the presence of insulin and its corresponding bacteria.

4. Cloning

Finally, we collect these bacteria and grow them in a culture medium.

Complete process of genetic engineering