Genetic Engineering

Genetically Modified Organisms

(GMO’s)

• The manipulation of genetic material for “practical”

purposes

• Involves the changing of DNA in an organism

• An organism whose genetic make up has been

altered using genetic engineering techniques

• Goal is to add new material to an organisms genome

How it Works:

1. Using Recombinant DNA Technology, DNA from

different sources in an organism (or another organism

of the same species) is extracted

2. The DNA is recombined into a single molecule to

create a new set of genes

3. The DNA is transferred back into the organism giving

it modified or new genes

Transgenic Organisms

Examples of GMO’s:

• A gene coding for an insect resistant protein is isolated

and developed by Monsanto Corporation which in turn

inserts the gene into various strains of canola, wheat,

corn, flax, grains, barley etc.

• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) that has had

DNA inserted into its genome from a different species

• Has a wider practical implication in that a desirable or

favourable trait from one species can be isolated and

inserted into another species using recombinant DNA

technology

Examples of Transgenic Organisms:

• The production of Pharmaceutical Drugs involves the

genes from strains of bacteria being introduced into

different strains of bacteria

• A frost – resistance gene engineered in bacteria has been

successfully introduced into the genomes of orange and

lemon trees.

• There are a wide array of transgenic plants

– Genes for pesticide resistance, insect resistance, bacteria

resistance and drought resistance have been isolated and

engineered from other species and introduced into various plant

genomes

Wilder Examples of Transgenic Organisms:

• Recent developments in transgenic organisms involve

introducing Human DNA into non – human species

• Transgenic Fish have been given a gene sequence for

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) to produce

dramatically larger fish

• Transgenic Bacteria engineered with Human gene

sequences can produce insulin, clotting factors and

human growth hormone

• “Glo – Fish”

– The product of inserting a fluorescence gene from Jellyfish into

species of fish

Even Wilder Examples of Transgenic Organisms:

• Sheep have been genetically modified with Human

DNA sequences in order to produce tissues and organs

that mimic human tissue and could be used for

transplant purposes

• The “Chimera” is a transgenic organism with 2 or

more populations of genetically distinct cells (has a mix

of tissues from two different species)

– Formed by fusing two zygotes together

• Monsanto has developed and patented a number of

Genetically Modified and Transgenic Organisms

– Developed “Terminator” strains which are transgenic

organisms that are only reproductively viable for one

generation

– Developed “Traitor” strains in which the engineered traits

are only activated if an “activator” chemical is applied

Is there anything wrong or dangerous with Genetically Modifying an Organism?

Should GMO used for food be identified?

Can a GMO be “copyrighted” or “trademarked”?

Cloning Organisms (Reproductive Cloning)

Methods:

1. Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

• The creation of a new and genetically identical

organism asexually

How it Works

1. A nucleus from a Donor Adult Somatic Cell is

transferred into an Egg Cell with no nucleus

2. If the new egg divides, it is transferred into the uterus

of a surrogate mother

3. The host cell (egg) “reprograms” the nucleus of the

donor somatic cell

4. An electric shock is applied to the egg which triggers it

to divide and eventually form a blastocyst

5. The blastocyst develops into an embryo genetically

identical to the donor

Drawbacks:

• This process puts a large stress on the egg

• Process has a 10% success rate

• Process requires a large source of eggs

2. Embryo Twinning

• Low tech cloning method

• An embryo is extracted from an organism and placed in

a Petri Dish or In Vitro (test tube) where it is induced to

divide (by separation or through the use of hormones)

• Cloned embryos are then placed into a surrogate mother

Is there anything wrong or dangerous with the use of Cloning?

Can a Clone be created for “spare parts”?

If a clone can be created should Genomes be “copyrighted” or “trademarked”?