Breeding and Biotechnology - Genetic Engineering

Genetic Engineering

Important Short Points

Genetic Engineering is the manipulation and transfer of genes from one organism to another organism to create a new DNA called as recombinant DNA technology

a)Presence of plasmid in bacteria that can undergo replication independently along with chromosomal DNA

b)Restriction enzymes cut or break DNA at specific sites and are also called as molecular scissors

c)DNA ligasses are the enzymes which helps in joining the broken DNA fragments

A Clone means to make a genetically exact copy of an organism

The basic steps involved in gene cloning :-

i) Isolation of desired DNA fragments by using restriction enzymes

ii) Insertion of the DNA fragment into a suitable vector (plasmid) to make rDNA

iii) Transfer of rDNA into bacterial host cells (Transformation)

iv) Selection and multiplication of recombinant host cell to get a clone

v) Expression of cloned gene in host cell

Using this strategy several enzymes are produced hormones and vaccines

a) Gene therapy refers to the replacement of defective gene by the direct transfer of functional genes into humans to treat genetic disease or disorder.

b) The genetic makeup of the "patient" cell is altered using recombinant DNA technology

1) Somatic gene therapy is the replacement of defective gene in body cells

2) Germ line gene therapy is the replacement of defective gene in germ cell (egg and sperm)