This document discusses the history and process of genetic engineering. It begins by defining genetic engineering as any process that changes genetic material to produce new substances or functions. It then provides background on the discovery of DNA and genes in the 1950s. The document goes on to explain that genetic engineering involves combining DNA from different organisms to create recombinant DNA that can function in a host cell. It describes key techniques and tools used in genetic engineering like vectors, host cells, and enzymes. The document summarizes several important applications of genetic engineering like producing insulin, growth hormones, and treating diseases. It also discusses approaches for gene therapy and the first gene therapy treatment. Finally, the document outlines both potential benefits and ethical concerns of genetic engineering.

1. Report by: Jess Palo

2.  Any process by which genetic material is
changed in such a way as to make possible of
the production of new substances or new
functions.

3.  Prior 1950s
◦ Term “gene” was used to stand for the unit by
which some genetic characteristics passed to
generation.
 1953
◦ Englishc chemist Francis Crick & American biologist
James Watson created the DNA structure

4. Are very long chains/units made up of a
combination of simple sugar and
phosphate group.
DNA
Attached to this chains are the nitrogen base ( A, T, C, G)
CHONP

5. Each DNA has a pattern
CODONS (amino acids)
Arranged into
particular sequence
protein

6.  Is the process in which fragments of DNA
from one or more different microorganism
are combined to form rDNA (recombinant
DNA) and are made to function within the cell
of a host organism.
 2 highly significant techniques:
◦ Gene transfer
 transferring the gene from one source to another
subject.
◦ Gene therapy
 Correcting defective gene that are responsible for
disease development.

8.  Plasmid - A circular form of DNA often used as a vector in
genetic engineering.
 Vector – an organism/ chemical that is used to transport a
gene to the host cell.
 Host cell – the cell into where the new gene is transplanted
 Enzymes used:
◦ Endonucleases – enzymes that cut DNA molecule at some given
location
◦ Exonucleases – enzyme that removes one nitrogen base unit at a
time
◦ Ligases – enzyme that join two DNA segments together

9. Although the concept of gene transfer is
relatively simple, its execution presents
considerable technical obstacles.
 American biochemist Paul Berg (1926-), often referred to
as the “father of genetic engineering”.
 He developed a method for joining the DNA from two different
organisms, a monkey virus known as SV40 and a virus
called lambda phage.
 the American biochemists Stanley Cohen (1922-) at
Stanford University, and Herbert Boyer (1936-) at the
University of California and San Francisco, discovered an
enzyme that greatly increased the efficiency of the Berg
procedure.

10.  INSULIN
◦ Produced by “Genetech”, first genetic engineering
company, founded by Robert Swanson and Herbert
Boyer.
 Obtains a copy of insulin gene (can be from natural
source or manufactured)
 Inserting the insulin gene into the vector (using the
gene splicing process)
 The hybrid plasmid can now be inserted to the host
cell. ( this is the manufactured insulin that is injected
to diabetic patients)

11.  Human growth hormone
◦ For children whose growth is insufficient bc of genetic
problems
 Interleukin-2
◦ For treatment of cancer
 Factor VIII
◦ Needed by hemophiliacs for blood clotting
 Erythropoietin
◦ For treatment of anemia
 Tumor necrosis factor
◦ For treatment of tumors
 Tissue plasminogen activator
◦ Use to dissolve blood clots

12.  4 approaches
◦ A normal gene inserted to compensate for the
defective gene.
◦ Abnormal gene replaced with a normal one
◦ Abnormal gene repaired through selective reverse
mutation
◦ Change the regulation of gene pairs.

14. ◦ A vector delivers the therapeutic gene into a
patient’s target cell
◦ The target cells become infected with the viral
vector
◦ The vector’s genetic material is inserted into the
target cell
◦ Functional proteins are created from the
therapeutic gene causing the cell to return to a
normal state.

15.  The first gene therapy was performed on
September 14th 1990
◦ Ashanti DeSilva was treated for SCID
◦ Doctors removed her white blood cells, inserted the
missing gene into the WBC and then put them back
into her blood stream
◦ It strengthened her immune system, but it only
worked for a few months

16. ◦ Genetic Engineering could increase genetic
diversity, and produce more variant alleles which
could also be crossed over and implanted into other
species
◦ Another of genetic engineering is that diseases
could be prevented by detecting people that are
genetically prone to certain hereditary diseases, and
preparing for the inevitable. As well as preventing
disease, with genetic engineering infectious
diseases can be treated by implanting genes that
code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen

17. ◦ Animals and plants can be 'tailor made' to show
desirable characteristics. Genes could also be
manipulated in trees for example, to absorb more
CO2 and reduce the threat of global warming.

18. ◦ Nature is an extremely complex inter-related chain
consisting of many species linked in the food chain.
Some scientists believe that introducing genetically
modified genes may have an irreversible effect with
consequences yet unknown.
◦ Genetic engineering borderlines on many moral
issues, particularly involving religion, which
questions whether man has the right to manipulate
the laws and course of nature.

19. Thanks
for
Listening