Genetic Engineering Applications

Using your knowledge of genetic engineering, explain how the plant and dog glow. A firefly’s gene (for the enzyme luciferase) was inserted into a tobacco plant cell, then that cell was cultured producing tobacco plants that glow!!! A genetically modified virus was used to inject the new genetic code directly into a stem cell nucleus. That nucleus was then inserted into a de-nucleated egg cell and placed in a surrogate mother. An eating, sleeping, glowing (literally) puppy!!!

Transgenic What does the word transgenic mean? Trans = across Trans = across genic = the genes genic = the genes Making organisms that contain genes from other organisms. Genetic engineering has spurred the growth of a whole new branch of biology: biotechnology!

Biotechnology Knowledge of genetics is making possible new fields of health care: Finding genes which may have mutations that can cause disease will aid in the development of preventive measures to fight disease Finding genes which may have mutations that can cause disease will aid in the development of preventive measures to fight disease Substances, such as hormones and enzymes, from genetically engineered organisms may reduce the cost and side effects of replacing missing body chemicals. Substances, such as hormones and enzymes, from genetically engineered organisms may reduce the cost and side effects of replacing missing body chemicals.

Transgenic Microorganisms Transgenic bacteria produce many important substances for health and industry, because they reproduce quickly and are easy to grow: Human forms of proteins, including insulin, growth hormone, and clotting factor Human forms of proteins, including insulin, growth hormone, and clotting factor

Future Transgenic Microorganisms In the future, transgenic microorganisms may produce: Substances to fight cancer Substances to fight cancer Raw materials for plastics or synthetic fibers Raw materials for plastics or synthetic fibers

Transgenic Plants Much of our food supply, especially beans and corn, is transgenic or genetically modified (GM). Many crop grown GM plants now contain genes that produce a natural insecticide or resistance to chemicals or diseases. Many crop grown GM plants now contain genes that produce a natural insecticide or resistance to chemicals or diseases. One of the greatest GM plant developed was a rice plant that adds vitamin A to rice!

Future Transgenic plants In the future, transgenic plants may produce: Human antibodies that can fight diseases Human antibodies that can fight diseases Foods resistant to rot and spoilage Foods resistant to rot and spoilage

Transgenic Animals Used to study genes and improve food supplies, for example: Mice with immune systems similar to humans are used to study how diseases may affect humans. Mice with immune systems similar to humans are used to study how diseases may affect humans. Livestock with extra growth hormone genes grow faster and produce leaner meat Livestock with extra growth hormone genes grow faster and produce leaner meat

Future Transgenic Animals In the future, transgenic animals may produce: Chickens resistant to bacterial infections that cause food poisoning Chickens resistant to bacterial infections that cause food poisoning Human proteins, for example, sheep and pigs that produce human proteins in their milk. Human proteins, for example, sheep and pigs that produce human proteins in their milk.

Stem Cells Stem cells are derived from human embryos before the cells differentiate. The embryonic stem cells can combine with nuclei of differentiated tissue needed. A new tissue can be cultured and used to “heal” a person by replacing damaged tissue.

Future Stem Cells? Future stem cells could be used in treating: Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s Disease Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s Disease Diabetes Diabetes Spinal Cord injuries Spinal Cord injuries

Cloning Clone = member of a population of genetically identical cells produced from a single cell Cloning unicellular organisms is easy, but it took a long time for scientists to clone a multicellular organism. Sheep, cows, pig, mice and other mammals have been cloned Sheep, cows, pig, mice and other mammals have been cloned

Cloning Section 13-4 Flowchart A body cell is taken from a donor animal. An egg cell is taken from a donor animal. The fused cell begins dividing, becoming an embryo. The nucleus is removed from the egg. The body cell and egg are fused by electric shock. The embryo is implanted into the uterus of a foster mother. The embryo develops into a cloned animal. Go to Section:

A donor cell is taken from a sheep’s udder. Donor Nucleus These two cells are fused using an electric shock. Fused Cell The fused cell begins dividing normally. Embryo The embryo is placed in the uterus of a foster mother. Foster Mother The embryo develops normally into a lamb—Dolly Cloned Lamb Egg Cell An egg cell is taken from an adult female sheep. The nucleus of the egg cell is removed. Section 13-4 Figure Cloning of the First Mammal – Dolly!!! Go to Section:

Future Clones? Clones are not necessarily transgenic, but scientists hope to use cloning to make copies of transgenic animals that produce genetically engineered substances. In the future, cloning could possibly save endangered species. Or possibly humans???  Ethical issues!!