Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is genetic engineering primarily concerned with?
What is genetic engineering primarily concerned with?
What could be a potential disadvantage of selective breeding?
What could be a potential disadvantage of selective breeding?
Which of the following describes cloning?
Which of the following describes cloning?
What is the first step in human cloning as described?
What is the first step in human cloning as described?
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Which technique is NOT a method of genetic engineering?
Which technique is NOT a method of genetic engineering?
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What is one of the primary roles of PCR in genetic engineering?
What is one of the primary roles of PCR in genetic engineering?
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What was significant about Dolly the sheep in cloning history?
What was significant about Dolly the sheep in cloning history?
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What outcome does human cloning aim to achieve?
What outcome does human cloning aim to achieve?
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What is a potential medical benefit of cloning?
What is a potential medical benefit of cloning?
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Which of the following describes a risk associated with genetic cloning?
Which of the following describes a risk associated with genetic cloning?
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What is the role of restriction enzymes in gene cloning?
What is the role of restriction enzymes in gene cloning?
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Which of these is a disadvantage of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?
Which of these is a disadvantage of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?
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What is the primary goal of gene therapy?
What is the primary goal of gene therapy?
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How do plasmids function in genetic engineering?
How do plasmids function in genetic engineering?
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What technology is used to introduce a mutation into DNA?
What technology is used to introduce a mutation into DNA?
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What is the role of DNA ligase in gene cloning?
What is the role of DNA ligase in gene cloning?
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Which genetically modified organism example uses a spider gene?
Which genetically modified organism example uses a spider gene?
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What disadvantage does gene cloning face regarding genetic diversity?
What disadvantage does gene cloning face regarding genetic diversity?
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Which application of genetic engineering is used to diagnose genetic diseases?
Which application of genetic engineering is used to diagnose genetic diseases?
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Which of the following best describes the purpose of PCR?
Which of the following best describes the purpose of PCR?
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What is a concern related to the ecological impact of GMOs?
What is a concern related to the ecological impact of GMOs?
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What problem might arise during the delivery of new genes in gene therapy?
What problem might arise during the delivery of new genes in gene therapy?
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Study Notes
Genetic Engineering Overview
- Genetic engineering, also known as genetic modification, involves altering an organism's DNA. This can include changing a single base pair, removing a DNA section, or adding gene copies. It can also involve extracting DNA from one organism and incorporating it into another. This leads to a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO).
- Techniques include selective breeding, cloning (animal or human), gene cloning/splicing, DNA analysis (PCR and sequencing).
Selective Breeding
- Also called artificial selection, breeders choose organisms with desirable traits (e.g., high milk yield, muscle mass) for reproduction.
- Resulting organisms have similar genetics, potentially reducing disease resistance.
- This can hinder future variety development.
Cloning
- Clones are genetically identical organisms.
- Cloning may occur naturally (identical twins).
- Laboratory cloning is also possible.
Animal Cloning
- Dolly the sheep was the first cloned mammal.
- The process involves taking the nucleus from an adult cell and inserting it into an empty egg cell.
Human Cloning
- Human eggs and body cells have different chromosome counts (haploid and diploid, respectively).
- Human cloning is illegal.
- The process involves replacing the human egg's nucleus with a nucleus from a body cell of another individual. This creates an embryo genetically identical to the body cell donor.
Benefits and Risks of Cloning
- Benefits: producing organisms with desirable traits, increasing food supply, improved medical treatments (e.g., organ transplantation), species protection.
- Risks: reduced genetic diversity, increased susceptibility to diseases, inefficiency (high failure rates), expenses.
Gene Cloning
- Isolating and copying a gene of interest from one organism and placing it in another. This transfers a trait.
- Uses bacterial plasmids (double-stranded circular DNA).
- Restriction enzymes cut DNA at specific points.
- DNA ligase joins DNA strands.
Example: Insulin Production
- Genetic engineering produces insulin similar to human insulin, from yeast or E. coli.
- This genetic insulin was approved for human use in 1982.
- Process involves these steps:
-Cutting out the insulin gene from human DNA.
- Cutting a plasmid from bacteria.
- Inserting the human insulin gene into the bacterial plasmid.
- Inserting the plasmid back into the bacteria, enabling it to produce insulin.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
- GMOs result from inserting or deleting genes in organisms (e.g., plants).
- This is a common method for introducing insecticide resistance or other traits.
- Advantages: increased crop yields, pest and disease resistance, improved climate/soil tolerance, extended shelf life, added vitamins.
- Disadvantages: lack of long-term consumption data, effect on natural ecosystems, reduction in genetic diversity, potential for "superweeds".
Genetically Modified Animals
- Also called transgenic.
- Gene insertion occurs through recombinant DNA in eggs.
- Transgenic mice are common for biomedical research.
- Serve as disease models to improve treatment solutions (cancer, Alzheimer's).
Example: Spider Goats
- Spider genes in goats produce spider silk protein in milk.
- This silk is strong and flexible, used in bulletproof materials.
Glow-in-the-Dark Organisms
- Using a jellyfish gene to introduce fluorescence to organisms (bacteria, animals, or plants).
- Produces proteins like GFP (green fluorescence protein).
Human Gene Therapy
- Altering someone's genes to treat a disorder.
- Involves replacing a defective gene with a functional one.
- Uses carriers like viruses, plasmids to introduce genes into specific cells (e.g., bone marrow).
The CRISPR-Cas9 System
- A gene editing tool using the Cas9 enzyme ("molecular scissors") and guide RNA.
- Guide RNA directs Cas9 to a precise location on the DNA to make cuts.
- Used to add or remove DNA segments.
PCR and DNA Sequencing
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplifies DNA.
- PCR has many applications in hospitals, microbiology, and genetics labs.
- Used for disease diagnosis, strain identification, and mutation detection.
- DNA sequencing analyzes the order of DNA bases to find mutations.
- Used in genetic testing for suspected diseases or family predisposition.
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Description
Explore the fundamentals of genetic engineering, including key techniques such as selective breeding, cloning, and gene modification. Understand how these processes create Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and their implications for biodiversity and health. This quiz provides insight into the technological advances in genetics.
