What are the objectives of genetic engineering? How is a gene transplanted?

  • Objectives of Genetic Engineering:

    • Improved Crop Varieties: Genetic engineering allows for the development of crops with enhanced traits like drought resistance, pest resistance, and improved nutritional content (e.g., Golden Rice with increased vitamin A).
    • Medical Advances: It can be used to produce recombinant proteins, vaccines, and hormones (e.g., insulin production in bacteria).
    • Industrial Applications: Genetic engineering can be applied to enhance the productivity of microorganisms in producing biofuels, enzymes, and other industrially relevant compounds.
    • Gene Therapy: It provides potential cures for genetic diseases by correcting defective genes.
    • Research and Study: It allows for better understanding of genetic functions by altering specific genes in organisms.

  • Gene Transplantation Process: Gene transplantation involves several steps:

    1. Isolation of the Gene: The desired gene is first isolated from the source organism, using techniques like restriction enzyme digestion or PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction).
    2. Insertion into a Vector: The gene is inserted into a vector (such as a plasmid or viral DNA), which is a carrier used to transfer the gene into the target organism.
    3. Transformation or Transfection: The recombinant vector is introduced into the host organism’s cells. This can be done via various methods, such as:
      • Electroporation: Using an electric field to make the cell membrane permeable.
      • Microinjection: Directly injecting the gene into the cell.
      • Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation: In plants, the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens is used to transfer the gene.
    4. Selection and Cloning: The transformed organism is selected, often through antibiotic resistance markers, and cloned to generate a population of cells containing the new gene.
    5. Expression of the Gene: Finally, the organism is grown under controlled conditions to express the desired gene product.

Related Questions:

  1. What is the importance of biotechnology?
  2. Describe fermentation in yeast and bacteria.
  3. Describe the process of fermentation. What is the procedure for using a fermenter?
  4. Name the organism used in fermentation for making bread, alcohol, cheese, and yogurt.
  5. Name the medical products produced by large-scale fermentation.
  6. How has genetic engineering improved the quality of agricultural yield?
  7. Microbes are commonly used in biotechnology. What are the advantages of each of them?
  8. Give three examples of traditional foods made with the help of microbes.
  9. Yogurt manufacture requires a temperature of around 40°C. Explain precisely why this is the best temperature to use.
  10. The diagram shows an important step of genetic engineering. Name the structures P, Q, and R. What is the next step of this process?
  11. The flowchart is showing anaerobic respiration. Identify the processes A, B, and C. Name the products (i) and (ii) produced by these processes.
  12. Name the structure through which the exchange of gases can take place in plants.
  13. Name the ways through which a plant can obtain oxygen.
  14. Why should one not sleep under a tree at night?
  15. Why would very wet soil be dangerous to plants
  16. Why do plants not need a specialized respiratory system?
  17. How does the exchange of gases take place in alveoli?
  18. What is the effect of exercise on the rate of breathing?
  19. Compare inspired air and expired air.
  20. How do viral infections like COVID-19 affect bronchi?