2. What is Genetics?
• Genetics is the study
of genes, genetic
variation, and heredity
in organisms. It is an
important branch in
biology because
heredity is vital to
organisms' evolution.
3. Father Of Genetics
• Gregor Mendel was
an Austrian monk,
whose experiments
breeding pea plants in
the monastery garden
led to breakthroughs
in our understanding
of genetics and
heredity.
4. What is Genetic Engineering?
• The term genetic engineering initially
referred to various techniques used for the
modification or manipulation of organisms
through the processes of heredity and
reproduction. As such, the term embraced
both artificial selection and all the
interventions of biomedical techniques,
among them artificial insemination, in vitro
fertilization (e.g., “test-tube” babies),
cloning, and gene manipulation.
• Genetic engineering (also called
genetic modification) is a process that
uses laboratory-based technologies to
alter the DNA makeup of an organism.
This may involve changing a single
base pair (A-T or C-G), deleting a
region of DNA or adding a new
segment of DNA. For example, genetic
engineering may involve adding a
gene from one species to an organism
from a different species to produce a
desired trait. Used in research and
industry, genetic engineering has been
applied to the production of cancer
therapies, brewing yeasts, genetically
modified plants and livestock, and
more.
5. The Father of Genetic
Engineering
• Paul Berg (June
30,1926- February 15
2023)
• Paul Berg was an American
biochemist and professor at
Stanford University. He was the
recipient of the Nobel Prize in
Chemistry in 1980, along with
Walter Gilbert and Frederick
Sanger. The award recognized
their contributions to basic
research involving nucleic acids,
especially recombinant DNA.
6. • Genetic engineering involves the use of
molecular techniques to modify the traits
of a target organism. The modification of
traits may involve:
• 1. introduction of new traits into an
organism
• 2. enhancement of a present trait by
increasing the expression of the desired
gene
• 3. enhancement of a present trait by
disrupting the inhibition of the desired
genes’ expression.
• Genome editing is a method
for making specific changes
to the DNA of a cell or
organism. It can be used to
add, remove or alter DNA in
the genome.
7. Recombinant DNA Technology
• Recombinant DNA technology
comprises altering genetic material
outside an organism to obtain
enhanced and desired
characteristics in living organisms
or as their products. This
technology involves the insertion of
DNA fragments from a variety of
sources, having a desirable gene
sequence via appropriate vector
8. Step by Step process of
Recombinant DNA Technology
• A general outline of recombinant DNA may
be given as follows:
• 1. cutting or cleavage of DNA by restriction
enzymes (REs)
• 2. selection of an appropriate vector or
vehicle which would propagate the
recombinant DNA ( eg. circular plasmid in
bacteria with a foreign gene of interest)
• 3. ligation (join together) of the gene of
interest (eg. from animal) with the vector
(cut bacterial plasmid)
• 4. transfer of the recombinant plasmid into
a host cell (that would carry out replication
to make huge copies of the recombined
plasmid)
• 5. selection process to screen which cells
actually contain the gene of interest
• 6. sequencing of the gene to find out the
primary structure of the protein
9. Techniques of Genetic Engineering
• Cross Breeding
• Classical plant breeding uses
deliberate interbreeding (crossing)
of closely or distantly related
individuals to produce new crop
varieties or lines with desirable
properties. Plants are crossbred to
introduce traits/genes from one
variety or line into a new genetic
background.
10. • BIOLISTIC
• In this technique, a “gene gun” is used to
fire DNA-coated pellets on plant tissues.
• Cells that survive the bombardment, and
are able to take up the expression plasmid
coated pellets and acquire the ability to
express the designed protein.
• To use a gene gun, a scientist first mixes a
DNA construct with particles of a heavy
metal, usually tungsten or gold.
• Thus, this method is suitable on mostly all
cells but it is most commonly used on plants
cells
11. • Heat Shock Treatment.
• Heat Shock Treatment is a process used to transfer
plasmid DNA into bacteria cell. The target cells are
pre-treated before the procedure to increase the
pore sizes of their plasma membranes. This
pretreatment (usually with CaCl2) is said to make
the cells “competent” for accepting the plasmid
DNA. After the cells are made competent, they are
incubated with the desired plasmid at about 4°C for
about 30min. The plasmids concentrate near the
cells during this time. Afterwards, a “Heat Shock” is
done on the plasmid-cell solution by incubating it at
42°C for 1 minute then back to 4°C for 2 minutes.
The rapid rise and drop of temperature is believed
to increase and decrease the pore sizes in the
membrane. The plasmid DNA near the membrane
surface are taken into the cells by this process. The
cells that took up the plasmids acquire new traits
and are said to be “transformed”.
12. • Electroporation
• A biophysical phenomenon in which
cell membrane permeability is
increased through externally applied
pulsed electric fields. This membrane
permeability increase is used for many
applications in biotechnology, medicine
and the food industry. This technique
follows a similar methodology as Heat
Shock Treatment, but, the expansion
of the membrane pores is done
through an electric “shock”. This
method is commonly used for insertion
of genes into mammalian cells.
13. Activity Quiz
Test 1: Multiple Choice
1.____ is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in
organisms. It is an important branch in biology because heredity is vital
to organisms' evolution.
A. Genetic Engineering. B. Genetic Manipulation
C. Genetics
2._____(also called genetic modification) is a process that uses
laboratory-based technologies to modified or manipulate the DNA
makeup of an organism. h
A. Recombinant DNA. B. Genetics
C. Genetic Engineering
14. 3.This technology involves the insertion of DNA fragments from a variety of
sources, having a desirable gene sequence via appropriate vector
A. Recombinant DNA. B. Genome Editing
C.Genetic Manipulation
4. Who is the Father of Genetic Engineering?
A. Karl Marx. B. Gregor Mendel
C.Paul Berg
5. Who is the Father of Genetics?
A. James Author. B. Isaac Newton
C. Gregor Mendel
15. Test 2: Identification
• 1. ________ of DNA by restriction enzymes (REs)
• 2. ________ of an appropriate vector or vehicle which would propagate the
recombinant DNA ( eg. circular plasmid in bacteria with a foreign gene of
interest)
• 3. ________ (join together) of the gene of interest (eg. from animal) with the
vector (cut bacterial plasmid)
• 4. ________ of the recombinant plasmid into a host cell (that would carry
out replication to make huge copies of the recombined plasmid)
• 5. __________to screen which cells actually contain the gene of interest
• 6. __________ of the gene to find out the primary structure of the protein
16. _______ 7. It uses deliberate interbreeding of closely or distantly related
individuals to produce new crop varieties or lines with desirable properties.
Plants are crossbred to introduce traits/genes from one variety or line into a
new genetic background.
________8.In this technique, a “gene gun” is used to fire DNA-coated pellets
on plant tissues. Cells that survive the bombardment, and are able to take up
the expression plasmid coated pellets and acquire the ability to express the
designed protein.
________9.It is a process used to transfer plasmid DNA into bacteria cell. The
target cells are pre-treated before the procedure to increase the pore sizes of
their plasma membranes.
_________10.A biophysical phenomenon in which cell membrane permeability
is increased through externally applied pulsed electric fields.
