Producing drugs using genetically modified organisms (GMOs) Flashcards
What is genetic engineering
-Genetic engineering is a technique used to deliberately modify a specific characteristic in an organism
How does genetic engineering work (basic summary of what happens)
-Genetic engineering involves removing a gene that codes for a desired characteristic from one organism and then transferring it to another organism, where the desired gene is expressed
-This is then called a genetically modified organism (GMO)
Process of moving a desired gene to another micro organism
-Restriction enzymes are used to remove the gene that codes for the desired protein from the genome of an organism
-The gene is then copied using the polymerase chain reaction
-The enzyme DNA polymerase is used to join free nucleotides with the new strand of DNA that is complimentary to the original DNA strand
-The copies of the gene are then inserted into small loops of DNA called plasmids
-The joining of the desired gene with the plasmids is catalysed by the enzyme DNA Ligase
-the plasmids then transfer the copies of the desired gene to other microorganisms
What happens after the desired gene is transferred to another micro organism
-The microorganisms are grown in large fermenters filled with nutrients
-This enables them to multiply quickly and produce large quantities of the new protein
-The protein can then be isolated, packaged and distributed
Examples of medicinal proteins produced by genetically modified bacteria
-Human blood clotting factors
-Human insulin
Genetically modified plants process (bacterium)
-Once the desired gene has been inserted into the plasmids and transferred into the bacterial cells, the bacterium can then be used to infect plant cells
-The bacterium acts as a vector for the introduction of the gene into the pant’s DNA
-The gene is transferred into the plant cell nucleus
-The plant cell is then stimulated to multiply and to grow into an adult plant
-In this adult plant, each cell will have the gene that codes for the desired protein
-The protein can then be isolated from the plant tissues or the plant can be eaten to deliver the drug
Gene Gun
“Gene gun” involves tiny pellets being coated with the desired DNA and fired into plant cells
Examples of medicinal porteins produced by GMPs
-Human insulin
-Cholera vaccine
Genetically Modified Animals Process
-The gene that codes for the desired protein is injected into the nucleus of a zygote
-This modified zygote is then implanted into the uterus of a surrogate animal, where it develops
-Every cell in the modified animal will contain a copy of the gene that codes for the desired protein
-The protein can then be purified e.g from the milk of the animal
Examples of medicinal proteins produced by genetically modified animals (GMAs)
-Human blood clotting proteins can be produced from the milk of genetically modified animals
Benefits of genetic engineering
-Crops can be genetically modified to produce a higher yield with increased nutritional value, reducing famine
-Crops can be modified to be resistant to pests,reducing the use of pesticides and therefore decreasing environmental damage
-Diseases can be treated with human proteins produced by GMOs rather than animal proteins, this reduces the risk of an allergic reaction and increases the effectiveness of medication
-Genetically modified organisms guarantee a low cost and high supply of some human medications
risks of genetic engineering
-there are concerns about the long term impact of using genetically modified food organisms on human health
-some are concerned that pests may develop a resistance to the modified crop defences, leading to increased use of pesticides
-genetically modified crops are usually grown in large fields, creating monocultures that are bad for biodiversity
-some people have moral objections to genetically modifying animals for the sole purpose of benefitting humans
