GENETIC

ENGINEERI
NG

OBJECTIVES

Discuss the possible benefits and hazards of gene

therapy
Discuss the implications of the use of genetically
modified organisms on humans and the
environment

WHAT IS
BIOTECHNOLOGY?

Manipulation of living organisms, systems to develop

products.

Field integrates knowledge from biochemistry, chemistry,

microbiology and chemical engineering.

Includes genomics, recombinant gene technologies,

applied immunology and development of pharmaceutical,
diagnostic tests.

HISTORY
Used

in agriculture, food production and medicine for

thousands of years.

Bred

productive animals to make stronger and more

productive offspring.

Fermentation:

yeast cells to raise bread dough, ferment

alcoholic beverages.

Microbial

yogurts.

cultures; bacterial cells used to make cheeses and

APPLICATIONS
Medical
Drug

production (eg. Insulin, antibiotics)

Pharmacogenomics

response to drugs)

Gene Therapy
Genetic

(genetic inheritance and

(replace defective genes)

testing for diseases eg. Downs

Syndrome, Amniocentesis and Chorionic Villus
sampling.

APPLICATIONS
Chemical
Production

Industry
of bulk chemicals eg. Ethanol, citric acid, acetone,

butanol
Synthesis of enzymes, amino acids, alkaloids

Food

Industry

Production

of bakers yeast, cheese, yogurt, soy sauce,

flavours, colouring agents
Brewing and wine making

APPLICATIONS
Agriculture
Crop

yield

Reduce

vulnerability of crops to environmetal stresses

Increased

nutritional qualities

Improved

taste, texture or appearance of food

Reduced

dependence on fertilizers, pesticides

Production
Animal

of novel substances in crops

Biotechnology

APPLICATIONS
Environment
Bioremediation

of soil and water

polluted with chemicals

Treatment

waste

Recovery

of sewage and other organic

of heavy metals from

industrial sources

BIOTECHNOLOGY
TECHNIQUES
DNA Isolation
DNA Amplification
Restriction

Enzyme Digestion
Gel Electrophoresis
DNA Sequencing
DNA Cloning

GENETIC ENGINEERING
AND GENE THERAPY

Gene therapy and genetic engineering are two closely

related technologies that involve altering the genetic
material of organisms.
The distinction between the two is based on purpose.
Gene therapy seeks to alter genes to correct genetic
defects and thus prevent or cure genetic diseases.
Genetic engineering aims to modify the genes to
enhance the capabilities of the organism beyond what
is normal.

IMPORTANT
DEFINITIONS

Gene segment of DNA that codes for

production of a specific polypeptide
Transgene a desired gene that is artificially
inserted into an organism
Transgenic organism organism that has
gene(s) from another organism inserted in its
genome

GENETIC ENGINEERING
- FLAVR SAVR TOMATO

Flavr savr tomato (Calgene) approved for commercial sale

(1994)

Flavr Savr Tomatoes

GENETIC ENGINEERINGDOLLY

Cloning of Dolly, the sheep (1996)

First

mammal cloned from adult somatic cells

Dolly

GENETIC ENGINEERING
STEM CELLS

Embryonic Stem Cells Grown (James

Thomson,1998)

Human Stem Cell Culture

GENETIC ENGINEERING
SOYA BEANS
To

improve the general balance in grain

legumes, strong seed-specific gene control
regions were used to increase the amount
of protein in seeds.

Project

was discontinued allergenetic

GENETIC ENGINEERING POTATO

Engineering high starch potatoes
Why?
Most potatoes are processed into
chips or frozen french fries. For
these purposes, the potatoes should
ideally contain about 25% starch by
weight.
Most potatoes that are processed
contain only 21-22% starch

so more water needs to be evaporated

more fat is absorbed by the potatoes
during cooking

GENETIC ENGINEERING
GOLDEN RICE
Golden rice is similar to other varieties in
their crinkly husks but the core of the
grain is pale yellow, instead of pearly
white.
The colour is due to -carotene.

PLANT-BASED ORAL
VACCINES
Scientists are working toward developing foods
which would not only provide nutrition but also
disease protection.
plant based vaccines or edible vaccines

TRANSGENIC FISH
Atlantic

salmon expressing a growth

hormone transgene
46 times the growth rate
1020% improvement in feed conversion
efficiency relative to non-transgenic
salmon
shorter production times, reduced costs,
and improved profitability

TRANSGENIC FISH

TRANSGENIC FISH
Anti-freeze

gene from Flounder fish

transferred to trout (& bass) & from
Pacific salmon to Atlantic salmon

new commercial opportunities for

fishermen in colder waters

GENETIC ENGINEERING BT
TOXINS
Using

genes from a bacterium called Bacillus

thuringiensis.

As

part of sporulation, the bacterium, makes a

crystalline structure.

This

crystal is comprised of a small number of

proteins that have insecticidal activity.

These

proteins are referred to as Bt toxins.

22

GENETIC ENGINEERING
BT TOXINS
Various Bt strains are active against
larvae of
lepidoptera

(butterflies, moths)
coleoptera (beetles)
diptera (small flies, mosquitoes).

23

GENETIC ENGINEERING
BT TOXINS
Currently there are 3 crops on the
market that use Bt toxin expression for
insect control:
Potato:

introduced in 1995, where the

principle insect target to control is the
Colorado potato beetle
Corn: introduced in 1996, to control
European corn borer
Cotton: introduced in 1996, to control
some bollworms

24

GENETIC ENGINEERING
BT TOXINS

CURRENT PROJECTS AT THE

UWI BIOTECHNOLOGY
CENTRE

Plant tissue culture

indigenous

medicinal plant bank

Production of disease-free yam (Dioscorea sp)
plantlets
Improvements in micro-propagation methods

THE UWI BIOTECHNOLOGY

CENTRE

Plant genetic transformation

Resistance

to Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV)

Production of papaya for human consumption, either
fresh or processed Cornell University, USA & UWI,
Jamaica

Papaya

THE UWI BIOTECHNOLOGY

CENTRE

Plant Genetic Transformation

Resistance

to Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV-Is)

Production of tomatoes for human consumption, either fresh
or processed UW-Madison, Hebrew Univ., UWI

TYLCV

GENE THERAPY

This is the insertion of genes into an individuals cells

and tissues to treat a disease, especially hereditary
diseases
Treat hereditary disorder using a copy of the
functional allele
Functional allele functional proteinorganism will
recuperate
Only works with recessive alleles
Somatic cells or germinal cells (gametes) may be
targeted

STEPS IN GENE
THERAPY

1.
2.

3.
4.

The basic steps of gene therapy include:

1. the defective gene that causes a specific
condition has to be identified
2.
the site of the affected cells in the body's
tissues or organs (target cells) should be
pinpointed and isolated
3. Ex vivo insertion of gene into target cells
4. Reintroduction of transformed cells into
individual

Use of gene therapy has been limited by the

availability of safe and efficient vectors

HAEMOPHILIA A

Inability of blood to clot

Lack of clotting factor VIII

More common in males

Plasma contamination risk

HEMA genevectortarget cellsreplace

defective gene

CYSTIC FIBROSIS

Cystic fibrosis is caused by a

mutation in the cystic
fibrosis tansmembrane
regulator (CFTR) gene
Mutation is most commonly
caused by deletion of three
bases, hence an amino acid
The mutated gene causes the
production of defective CFTR
protein No ion release and
thick mucus production

CYSTIC FIBROSIS SYMPTOMS

CYSTIC FIBROSIS
Gene

therapy targets the cause and not

the symptoms of the defective CFTR gene
found on chromosome 9

Aerosol spray that delivers normal DNA to

the lung
*treatment may only last for a few
weeks because the epithelial cells
lining the respiratory tract are shed
regularly

CYSTIC FIBROSIS
-

Vectors deliver a functional copy of the defective

gene to cells
* The gene will enter the cells, but during
testing, the volunteers experienced unpleasant
side effects of the virus

CYSTIC FIBROSIS

BENEFITS OF GENE
THERAPY

Curing disorders rather than treating

Offer highly specific treatment to target tissues
without the side effects associated with
chemotherapy

HAZARDS OF GENE
THERAPY

Need to find safe vectors to deliver therapeutic

gene to affected cells
Need to regulate expression of therapeutic gene
once it is delivered to cells
If somatic cells are used in gene therapy, the
alteration is not passed on to future generations

DEBATES

Lets revisit the objectives.

Discuss the possible benefits and hazards of

gene therapy

Discuss the implications of the use of

genetically modified organisms on humans
and the environment