Genetic Engineering Overview

Genetic Engineering Overview

• Genetic engineering is the process of modifying an organism's genetic material by transferring DNA from one organism to another.
• This involves a group of techniques used to cut up and join together genetic material, especially DNA from different species.
• The goal is to create new combinations of heritable genetic material.

Learning Competencies and Objectives

• The learning competency is outlining the processes involved in genetic engineering (STEM_BI011/12-Illa-b-6).
• Specific objectives include describing the processes of genetic engineering and identifying the methods for inserting plasmids into host cells.

Genes and Heredity

• Genes are segments of DNA that encode proteins and are the basic units of heredity.
• Genes provide instructions for making proteins, which determine physical characteristics.
• Examples of characteristics include hair and eye color.

Chromosomes

• Chromosomes are thread-like structures found in the nucleus of cells.
• They contain DNA and proteins (histones).
• Histones help chromosomes compact enough to fit within the nucleus.

DNA Structure and Function

• DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material in cells.
• It holds the genetic code.
• DNA is made of four chemical bases: Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Thymine (T), and Guanine (G).
• These bases form a double helix structure, which is the 'instruction manual' for the body

Alleles

• Alleles are different forms of a gene that can occupy the same location (locus) on a chromosome.
• For example, one allele might code for brown eyes and another for blue eyes.

Genotype vs. Phenotype

• Genotype is the combination of alleles an organism carries.
• Phenotype is the physical expression of these genes, like traits that can be described or measured.

Dominant and Recessive Traits

• Dominant traits are expressed even if only one copy of the dominant allele is present.
• Recessive traits are expressed only if two copies of the recessive allele are present.

Multiple Alleles

• Multiple alleles occur when there are more than two different versions of a gene for a trait within a population.
• This can lead to a variety of phenotypic traits, like blood type, eye color, and hair color.

Example Scenarios (with details)

• In guinea pigs, black fur (B) is dominant over white fur (b), and rough fur (R) is dominant over smooth fur (r). Two heterozygous guinea pigs (BbRr × BbRr) are crossed. Phenotypic ratio calculations are needed to determine results.

• In summer squash, white fruit color and disk-shaped fruit are dominant traits. Specific genotype and phenotype crosses are detailed. Information is needed to calculate resulting proportions.

Explore the fundamentals of genetic engineering, focusing on techniques for modifying DNA and creating new genetic combinations. This quiz covers the processes involved, the role of genes and chromosomes, as well as methods for plasmid insertion into host cells. Perfect for students looking to understand the basics of genetics in a STEM context.