GMOs | Genetics | Biology | FuseSchool

Summary

This video script delves into the world of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), explaining how DNA modification allows for the alteration of an organism's characteristics. It outlines the process of genetic engineering, using bacteria and plasmids to insert genes like human insulin into other species. The script highlights examples such as spider goats, which produce milk containing spider silk, and glow-in-the-dark animals used in medical research. It also touches on the benefits of GMOs in agriculture, like pest-resistant crops and nutritional enhancements, emphasizing the potential of genetic modification to save lives and advance scientific discovery.

Takeaways

• 🧬 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have had their DNA artificially modified by humans using modern genetic engineering techniques.
• 🌱 Humans have been altering plant and animal genomes for thousands of years through selective breeding, but modern techniques have accelerated this process.
• 🌾 Common uses of genetic engineering include crops, farm animals, and soil bacteria, with the goal of enhancing characteristics like pest resistance or nutritional content.
• 🐑 Spider goats are an example of a GMO, where the spider silk gene is inserted into their DNA, resulting in milk that contains spider silk, a material as strong as steel but extremely light.
• 💉 The process of genetic modification involves using bacteria and their plasmids, which are small circular DNA molecules that can carry genes and be easily transferred between bacteria.
• 🔪 The main technique for genetic modification involves cutting a desired gene from a source organism and inserting it into a bacterial plasmid.
• 🧬 Once the gene is inserted into the plasmid, the modified plasmid is reintroduced into a bacterial cell, which then produces the desired protein, such as human insulin.
• 💊 Human insulin produced by genetically modified bacteria is filtered, purified, and used for treating diabetes, demonstrating the life-saving potential of GMOs.
• 🐭 Glow-in-the-dark mice and fish are examples of GMOs used in medical research, where the ability to see certain cells in the dark has led to scientific discoveries in treating various diseases.
• 🌿 GMO crops can be engineered to have enhanced nutritional benefits, such as additional vitamin A, contributing to improved public health.
• 📺 The script encourages viewers to learn more about GMOs and to engage with the content by liking, subscribing, and commenting with questions.

Q & A

What are genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms whose DNA has been artificially altered by humans using modern genetic engineering techniques to change their characteristics.

How have humans been altering the genomes of plants and animals traditionally?

Humans have been altering the genomes of plants and animals for thousands of years through selective breeding.

What are the three most common uses of genetic engineering mentioned in the script?

The three most common uses of genetic engineering mentioned are for crops, farm animals, and soil bacteria.

What is the purpose of genetically modifying a cotton plant?

A cotton plant might be genetically modified to be pest-resistant, which can improve the quality and yield of the cotton used for textiles like t-shirts.

How are bacteria utilized in the process of genetic modification?

Bacteria are used in genetic modification because of their plasmids, which are small, circular pieces of DNA that can be easily manipulated and used to transfer genes between organisms.

Can you explain the process of inserting a human insulin gene into bacteria as described in the script?

The process involves cutting the human insulin gene from a human cell, attaching it to a bacterial plasmid, and then reintroducing the modified plasmid into a bacterial cell. The bacteria then produce human insulin, which can be harvested and used for medical purposes.

What is unique about spider goats mentioned in the script?

Spider goats are genetically modified goats that have had the spider silk gene inserted into their DNA, allowing them to produce milk containing spider silk when they lactate.

What are some properties of spider silk produced by spider goats?

Spider silk is incredibly strong, comparable to steel, yet extremely light. A strand long enough to circle the Earth would weigh less than 500 grams.

Why are glow-in-the-dark animals useful for scientific research?

Glow-in-the-dark animals, such as mice and fish, are useful for medical research because their cells can be seen under UV light, aiding in the study of diseases like cancer, Parkinson's, and spinal cord injuries.

How can genetically modified crops benefit consumers?

Genetically modified crops can be made more pest-resistant and can be enhanced to have nutritional benefits, such as increased vitamin A content.

What is the script's suggestion for those who want to learn more about genetically modified crops?

The script suggests watching a specific video for more information on genetically modified crops.

Outlines

00:00

🧬 Genetic Modification Basics

This paragraph introduces genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and explains how DNA modification can alter an organism's characteristics. It highlights that humans have been altering genomes through selective breeding for thousands of years, but modern genetic engineering techniques have accelerated this process. The paragraph also mentions three common uses of genetic engineering: crops, farm animals, and soil bacteria. Examples include pest-resistant cotton plants, bacteria used for producing medicines, and GM crops for consumption. Additionally, it touches on unusual genetically modified organisms like spider goats and glow-in-the-dark mice, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of how genetic modification occurs.

Keywords

💡Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, are organisms whose DNA has been artificially altered using genetic engineering techniques. This manipulation allows for the introduction of specific genes from one species into another, potentially unrelated species. In the video, GMOs are discussed in the context of crops, farm animals, and soil bacteria, highlighting their potential for pest resistance, nutritional benefits, and medical applications. The script mentions cotton plants modified for pest resistance and bacteria modified to produce life-saving medicines, illustrating the broad applications of genetic modification.

💡DNA

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. It contains the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of an organism. In the video, the modification of DNA is central to the concept of GMOs, as it involves altering the genome to change an organism's characteristics. The script explains that humans have been altering genomes through selective breeding for thousands of years, but modern genetic engineering allows for more precise and rapid changes.

💡Genome

A genome is the complete set of genetic material of an organism. It includes all of the DNA, genes, and regulatory elements necessary for the organism to function. The video discusses how changing an organism's genome through genetic modification can alter its characteristics. For example, the script mentions the modification of the cotton plant genome to make it pest-resistant, demonstrating the direct impact of genome changes on an organism's traits.

💡Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is a technique used to modify an organism's genes by adding, deleting, or changing DNA sequences. This process allows for the creation of GMOs. The video script explains that advances in genetic engineering enable the incorporation of specific new genes from one species into another, speeding up the process of genetic alteration compared to traditional selective breeding. The example of human insulin production through genetic modification of bacteria illustrates the practical applications of this technology.

💡Plasmids

Plasmids are small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria and some other organisms. They are used in genetic engineering as vectors to carry and introduce new genes into an organism. The video script describes plasmids as 'tiny bits of DNA' that can be easily passed between bacteria, making them crucial for genetic modification. The process of inserting the human insulin gene into a bacterial plasmid and then reintroducing it into a bacterial cell is detailed in the script, highlighting their role in producing human insulin.

💡Human Insulin

Human insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels. In the context of the video, human insulin is mentioned as an example of a product that can be produced through genetic modification. The script explains how the gene for human insulin is inserted into a bacterial plasmid, which is then reintroduced into a bacterial cell. These bacteria produce the insulin protein, which is then extracted and purified for use in treating diabetes, demonstrating the medical applications of genetic engineering.

💡Spider Goats

Spider goats are a type of genetically modified organism mentioned in the video script. They have been modified to include the spider silk gene in their DNA. This results in the production of spider silk in their milk when they lactate. The script describes spider silk as being incredibly strong and lightweight, with potential applications in various industries. The example of spider goats illustrates the innovative uses of genetic modification in creating new materials.

💡Glow-in-the-Dark Organisms

The video script discusses the creation of organisms that glow in the dark, such as mice and fish, through genetic modification. These organisms have been modified to include genes that cause them to emit light under ultraviolet light, similar to bioluminescent properties found in some marine organisms. The script explains that this modification has been used for medical research, aiding in the study of diseases like cancer, Parkinson's, and spinal cord injuries. The glow-in-the-dark feature serves as a visual tool in these research contexts.

💡Pest Resistance

Pest resistance in plants is a trait that has been engineered through genetic modification to protect crops from damage by pests. The video script mentions that crops can be genetically modified to be more pest-resistant, which can reduce the need for chemical pesticides and increase crop yields. This is an example of how genetic modification can be used to improve agricultural practices and enhance food security.

💡Nutritional Benefits

Nutritional benefits refer to enhancements in the nutritional content of crops through genetic modification. The video script discusses how GMOs can be engineered to have additional nutritional benefits, such as increased vitamin A content. This can help address nutritional deficiencies in certain populations and improve overall health. The example of crops being modified for nutritional benefits shows the potential of genetic modification to contribute to public health.

Highlights

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have had their DNA artificially modified by humans using modern genetic manipulation techniques.

Changing the genome of an organism allows us to change its characteristics.

Humans have been artificially altering genomes of plants and animals for thousands of years through selective breeding.

Advances in genetic engineering enable faster incorporation of specific new genes from one species into another.

Crops, farm animals, and soil bacteria are three of the most common uses of genetic engineering.

Genetically modified cotton plants can be pest-resistant.

Bacteria can be modified to produce life-saving medicines.

GM crops are well-known for their potential nutritional benefits.

Spider goats are an example of a genetically modified organism with the spider silk gene inserted into their DNA.

Spider silk is incredibly strong and light, with potential for thousands of uses.

Genetic modification can introduce genes that glow under UV light for medical research.

Glow-in-the-dark mice and fish have helped in research into treating cancer, Parkinson's, and spinal cord injuries.

Glow-in-the-dark cats have been used for HIV research.

Crops can be genetically modified to be more pest-resistant and have nutritional benefits like additional vitamin A.

The process of genetic modification involves cutting genes, inserting them into bacterial plasmids, and reintroducing them into bacterial cells.

Bacteria divide rapidly, allowing for the production of large amounts of modified proteins, such as human insulin.

Human insulin produced through genetic modification can be used by people with diabetes.

Genetic modification has significant practical applications in medicine, agriculture, and research.

Transcripts

[Music]

genetically modified organisms or gmos

have had their dna artificially modified

by humans

using modern genetic manipulation

techniques

by changing the dna so changing the

genome of an organism means we can

change its characteristics

humans have been artificially altering

the genomes of plants and animals for

thousands of years by selective breeding

today with advances in genetic

engineering techniques means we can

speed this process up by incorporating

specific new genes from one species into

a completely unrelated species

crops farm animals and soil bacteria are

three of the most common uses of genetic

engineering to make gmos

the cotton plant that grows the cotton

for your t-shirt might have been

genetically modified to be pest

resistant

or the bacteria modified to produce

life-saving medicines

as well as the better known gm crops

that we eat

and then there's some wacky organisms

like spider goats and glow-in-the-dark

mice

firstly let's find out how genetic

modification happens

the short answer is there are a couple

of different ways

there are several techniques that can be

used to modify a genome but the main one

relies on bacteria

bacteria are single celled organisms

that don't have a nucleus like our cells

but instead have one main circle of dna

called the circular chromosome and lots

of tiny circles of dna called plasmids

in gmos it's all about the plasmids they

are really useful tiny bits of dna that

can contain one or several genes

the cool thing about plasmids is that

they can be passed between bacteria as

easily as shaking hands

so plasmids are a super important part

of how genetic modification happens

let's go through the steps using the

human insulin gene as an example

first we cut the gene for human insulin

from a human cell using an enzyme

we then use the same enzyme to cut the

circular bacterial plasmid open and

stick the insulin gene and the plasmid

together then we put the modified

plasmid back into a bacterial cell

and we wait

but not for too long as bacteria cells

divide roughly once every 30 minutes

and a little while later we have

millions of bacteria producing the human

insulin protein and excreting it

the human insulin is filtered out and

purified and can then be used by people

with diabetes

how simple is that for saving lives

spider goats are also a great example of

a genetically modified organism

they aren't as scary as they sound

they're goats that have had the spider

silk gene inserted into their dna so

when female goats lactate produce breast

milk

the milk contains spider silk

the spider silk is pretty incredible

it's as strong as steel

but so light that a strand long enough

to circle the earth would weigh less

than 500 grams

so there are thousands of uses for a

such unique material

scientists have used genetic

modification to introduce genes that

glow under uv light such as from

jellyfish into other animals for medical

research

this may seem totally useless but

actually being able to see certain cells

in the dark has led to a lot of

scientific discoveries glow-in-the-dark

mice and fish have helped scientists

make new breakthrough research into

treating cancer parkinson's and spinal

cord injuries

and glow-in-the-dark cats have been used

for hiv research crops can also be

genetically modified to make them more

pest resistant

to have nutritional benefit like

additional vitamin a

to learn about gm crops watch this video

so there we have genetically modified

organisms that have had their dna

modified some different uses

if you liked the video give it a thumbs

up and don't forget to subscribe comment

below if you have any questions why not

check out our fusco app as well until

next time