Genetic Engineering

When most people hear of genetic engineering, they

think of some new technology that is going to create a
superhuman race that will be able to perform miracles.

Genetic Engineering Misinformation

Public perception of genetic engineering
has also been strongly influenced by false
information given out in the media and over
the internet.
Genetic engineering has been incorrectly
portrayed as leading to the creation of
monster like unnatural animals and plants.

Tiger Bunny
Zebra-Ram-Kangaroo

In reality genetic engineering has

been going on for hundreds of years.
People have genetically engineered their
crops and livestock for years. They
would try to improve the taste, size,
disease resistance, and many other
traits. The methods have ranged from
simply picking out the best ones, to
manipulating genetic material. We will
look at some of the ways in which this is
done.

What is Genetic Engineering?

Genetic engineering is a process that
enables scientist to create plants, animals
and micro-organisms by manipulating
genes in a way that does not occur
spontaneously in nature.

What is Selective Breeding?

1.Animals or plants with desired traits are allowed
to reproduce so that these traits are present in
the following generations.
2.May take many generations for characteristics
to show up with consistency.
3. Over thousands of years, humans have
developed breeds of animals and plants that
have desirable characteristics.
4. Most domestic animals are a result of selective
breeding efforts.

Examples of Desirable Traits

Dogs that are good hunters
Cows that produce a lot of milk
Crops that are resistant to disease
Horses that can run fast

Genetic Engineering
Genetic Engineering involves manipulating
the DNA at the molecular level
Changes are actually made to the
organisms DNA.

How are changes made to DNA?

Many different techniques are used.
One of the most common is known as the
Recombinant DNA method.
It involves taking genes from other
organisms and inserting them into the DNA
of a bacterium.

Special Feature of Bacteria

In addition to their regular DNA many bacteria also have
a a ring-like structure made out of DNA. This is called a
plasmid.

Recombinant DNA Process

1.A small piece of DNA is cut from a DNA
molecule from one species. Special
enzymes known as restriction enzymes are
used to do the cutting.
2.The plasmid is removed from a bacterium
and the restriction enzymes are used to
cut open the plasmid.
3.The small section of foreign DNA is inserted
into the plasmid.

4.Special enzymes known as DNA ligase joins

the foreign DNA and the plasmid DNA
together.
5.The plasmid is now known as a recombinant
plasmid because it contains DNA from 2
species.
6.The recombinant plasmid is put back into
the bacterium.
7. Cell division will quickly result in many
identical transgenic bacteria.

Recombinant
DNA Process

Common Products of Recombinant DNA Technology

1.Humalin, which is human insulin for diabetics.

2.Interferon, a protein that helps the human
immune system.
3.Vaccines
4.Growth hormone
5.Antibiotics

What are Genetically Modified Organisms ?

1.They are organisms that have acquired

one or more genes through artificial
methods.
2.They are sometimes referred to a GMOs
3. They can be animals, plants or
microorganisms.

Regents Practice Question # 1

Which statement would most likely be used to describe
the procedure represented in the diagram below?

1) Enzymes are used to assemble an insulin gene, which is then

attached to bacterial DNA.
(2) Bacterial DNA is cut from a human DNA strand and inserted into a
human cell to form an insulin gene.
(3) The insulin gene is cut out of a human DNA strand using an
enzyme and inserted into bacterial DNA, resulting in a combination
of different DNA segments.
(4) A gene is deleted from bacterial DNA to produce an insulin gene,
which is then inserted into human DNA.
(

Regents Practice Question # 1 (Answer)

Which statement would most likely be used to describe
the procedure represented in the diagram below?

1) Enzymes are used to assemble an insulin gene, which is then

attached to bacterial DNA.
(2) Bacterial DNA is cut from a human DNA strand and inserted into a
human cell to form an insulin gene.
(3) The insulin gene is cut out of a human DNA strand using an
enzyme and inserted into bacterial DNA, resulting in a combination
of different DNA segments.
(4) A gene is deleted from bacterial DNA to produce an insulin gene,
which is then inserted into human DNA.
(

Regents Practice Question # 2

Plants in species A cannot fight most fungal infections. Plants in
species B make a protein that kills many fungi. One possible
way for humans to produce species A plants with the ability to
synthesize this protein would be to
(1) mutate fungal DNA and introduce the mutated DNA into
species B using a virus
(2) add DNA from species B into the soil around species A
(3) insert the gene for the protein from species B into a
chromosome in species A
(4) cross species A and a fungus to stimulate the synthesis of
this protein

Regents Practice Question # 2 (Answer)

Plants in species A cannot fight most fungal infections. Plants in
species B make a protein that kills many fungi. One possible
way for humans to produce species A plants with the ability to
synthesize this protein would be to
(1) mutate fungal DNA and introduce the mutated DNA into
species B using a virus
(2) add DNA from species B into the soil around species A
(3) insert the gene for the protein from species B into a
chromosome in species A
(4) cross species A and a fungus to stimulate the synthesis of
this protein

Regents Practice Question #3

The pedigree of Seattle Slew, a racehorse considered
by some to be one of the fastest horses that ever lived,
includes very fast horses on both his mothers side and
his fathers side. Seattle Slew most likely was a result of
(1) environmental selection
(2) alteration of DNA molecules
(3) selective breeding
(4) a sudden mutation

Regents Practice Question #3 (Answer)

The pedigree of Seattle Slew, a racehorse considered
by some to be one of the fastest horses that ever lived,
includes very fast horses on both his mothers side and
his fathers side. Seattle Slew most likely was a result of
(1) environmental selection
(2) alteration of DNA molecules
(3) selective breeding
(4) a sudden mutation

Regents Practice Question # 4

Which set of terms correctly identifies the procedure shown in the diagram
below and a substance produced by this procedure?
(1) selective breedinggrowth hormone
(2) cloningantibiotics
(3) genetic engineeringinsulin
(4) replicatingglucose

Regents Practice Question # 4 (Answer)

Which set of terms correctly identifies the procedure shown in the diagram
below and a substance produced by this procedure?
(1) selective breedinggrowth hormone
(2) cloningantibiotics
(3) genetic engineeringinsulin
(4) replicatingglucose

Regents Practice Question # 5

If a gene is inserted into the DNA of a bacterial cell,
every cell produced by that cell will have
(1) DNA that is different from that of the other cells
produced
(2) a 50% chance of having a copy of the inserted
gene
(3) a copy of the inserted gene
(4) a new type of DNA base

Regents Practice Question # 5 (Answer)

If a gene is inserted into the DNA of a bacterial cell,
every cell produced by that cell will have
(1) DNA that is different from that of the other cells
produced
(2) a 50% chance of having a copy of the inserted
gene
(3) a copy of the inserted gene
(4) a new type of DNA base

Regents Practice Question #6

In some people, the lack of a particular enzyme
causes a disease. Scientists are attempting to use
bacteria to produce this enzyme for the treatment
of people with the disease. Which row in the chart
below best describes the sequence of steps the
scientists would most likely follow?

Regents Practice Question #6 (Answer)

In some people, the lack of a particular enzyme
causes a disease. Scientists are attempting to use
bacteria to produce this enzyme for the treatment
of people with the disease. Which row in the chart
below best describes the sequence of steps the
scientists would most likely follow?

What is Cloning?
1. Cloning is the production of genetically
identical cells from a single cell.
2. It is easy to clone single cell organisms.
3. Multicellular organisms more difficult to
clone.
4. A twin is a natural clone.

Dolly the Sheep

Born: July 5, 1996
Died: February 14, 2003
Place: Edinburgh, Scotland
Dolly was the first
mammal cloned from an
adult body cell using the
process of nuclear transfer.
She lived until the age of
six and then passed away
from lung cancer.

How to Clone a Sheep!

Cloning
1. A body cell is taken from a donor animal.
2. An egg cell is taken from a donor animal.
3. The nucleus is removed from the egg.
4.The body cell and egg are fused by electric shock.
5. The fused cell begins dividing, becoming an embryo.
6. The embryo is implanted into the uterus
of a foster mother.
7. The embryo develops into a cloned animal.

How Can Cloning Be Useful?

1. Save endangered species by storing DNA and

cloning
2. Make multiple copies of a useful gene (insulin for
diabetics)
3. Clone spare parts, like organs or bone marrow
4. Create experimental groups for studying (animals)
5. Clone "special" animals, pets or horses

Regents Practice Question # 7

The diagram below represents the process used in
1996 to clone the first mammal, a sheep named Dolly.
Which statement concerning Dolly is correct?
(1) Gametes from sheep A and sheep B were united
to produce Dolly.
(2) The chromosome makeup of Dolly is identical
to that of sheep A.
(3) Both Dolly and sheep C have identical DNA.
(4) Dolly contains genes from sheep B and sheep C.

Regents Practice Question # 7 (Answer)

The diagram below represents the process used in
1996 to clone the first mammal, a sheep named Dolly.
Which statement concerning Dolly is correct?
(1) Gametes from sheep A and sheep B were united
to produce Dolly.
(2) The chromosome makeup of Dolly is identical
to that of sheep A.
(3) Both Dolly and sheep C have identical DNA.
(4) Dolly contains genes from sheep B and sheep C.

(Gel Electrophoresis)

What is DNA Fingerprinting?

1. It is a technique used to compare DNA

samples from different sources.

2.It can be used to:
solve crimes
determine paternity
establish evolutionary relationships.

Gel Electrophoresis
Diagram
DNA plus
restriction
enzyme

Power
source
Longer
fragments
Shorter
fragments

Mixture of
DNA
fragments

Gel

DNA FINGERPRINTING

Gel Electrophoresis
Photograph

DNA Fingerprinting Process

1. Each DNA sample is cut up using restriction
enzymes.
2. A few drops of each cut up sample are placed in a
well (hole) at one end of the gel material.
3. Electricity is run through the gel and it causes the
DNA molecules to move along the gel.
4. Shorter DNA fragments travel farther through the gel
and longer ones stay closer to the wells.
5. The gel is treated with a stain to make the DNA
visible under ultraviolet light.

Regents Review Question # 8

DNA electrophoresis is used to study evolutionary relationships of species.
The diagram below shows the results of DNA electrophoresis for four different
Animal species. Which species has the most DNA in common with species A?

(1) X and Y, only

(2) Y, only
(3) Z, only
(4) X, Y, and Z

Regents Review Question # 8 (Answer)

DNA electrophoresis is used to study evolutionary relationships of species.
The diagram below shows the results of DNA electrophoresis for four different
Animal species. Which species has the most DNA in common with species A?

(1) X and Y, only

(2) Y, only
(3) Z, only
(4) X, Y, and Z