Chapter 9: Genetic Engineering Section 9-3: Engineering New Organisms

Manipulating New Genes Genetic engineering is the cutting and splicing of DNA from different sources A transgenic organism has been transformed with genes from another organism. Transgenic animals and plants are complete organisms grown from transgenic animal and plant cells

Genetically Engineered Proteins Transgenic bacteria and yeasts have been “tricked” into producing large amounts of proteins from inserted genes Bacteria are now used to produce human insulin inexpensively for diabetics, as well as other disease-treating proteins

Transgenic Animals and Plants Transgenic plants include those resulting in tomatoes that stay fresh longer, soybeans that are resistant to weed-killing chemicals, tobacco plants that glow in the dark (p. 206)

Transgenic Plants and Animals In order to produce a transgenic animal, scientists must: Transform an animal’s egg cell Allow the transformed egg to be fertilized and mature This technique could be very useful, like creating transgenic cattle that produce more milk

Human Gene Therapy Scientists are working on experimental treatments for genetic disorders, like cystic fibrosis, by transforming viruses to make them carry healthy alleles for the CF gene These viruses were able to transform cells in the air passageways of CF patients, and improve symptoms, but the symptoms reappear over time