Genetic engineering | Genetics | Biology | FuseSchool

Summary

This video script delves into the world of genetic engineering, showcasing its applications in producing human insulin. It explains how microorganisms, such as E. coli and yeast strains, are genetically modified to manufacture insulin, a crucial protein for diabetics. The script outlines the process of genetic engineering, from extracting genes with restriction enzymes to inserting them into plasmids, creating transgenic organisms. It highlights how these bacteria, now containing recombinant DNA, reproduce asexually in fermenters, producing large quantities of human insulin. The result is a revolution in insulin therapy, moving from animal-derived insulin to a more efficient and humane method.

Takeaways

• 💉 In the past, diabetics had to rely on injections of cow or pig insulin, which was not ideal.
• 🌱 Today's insulin for diabetics is human insulin, produced by microorganisms like E. coli bacteria and certain yeast strains.
• 🧬 Genetic engineering is the manipulation of an organism's DNA to change its genetic makeup.
• 🔬 A gene is a segment of DNA that codes for a specific protein, and genetic engineering involves transferring a gene from a donor to a recipient organism.
• 🔄 The recipient organism, after genetic modification, is called a transgenic or genetically modified organism (GMO).
• 🏭 Genetic engineering serves two main purposes: producing large volumes of specific proteins and giving organisms new advantageous traits.
• 🐝 An example of genetic engineering is introducing a gene from one organism to another, like making a plant insect-resistant by incorporating a bacterium's toxic gene.
• 🧬 The process of genetic engineering involves using restriction enzymes to cut and join DNA from different sources.
• 🔬 Plasmids, small circular DNA strands in bacteria, are used as vectors to insert foreign genes into bacterial cells.
• 🛠️ The modified plasmid with the desired gene is reinserted into the bacterium, creating a genetically modified organism with recombinant DNA.
• 📈 Bacteria reproduce asexually in a controlled environment, ensuring all offspring are clones with the recombinant DNA, allowing for mass production of the desired protein.
• 💊 The genetically engineered bacteria are used as 'mini factories' to produce human insulin, which is then extracted, purified, and made available for medical use.

Q & A

What was the initial method of obtaining insulin for diabetics?

Initially, diabetics had to inject insulin derived from cows or pigs into their bodies.

How is insulin produced today for diabetics?

Today, insulin is produced by microorganisms such as the E. coli bacterium and certain strains of yeast through genetic engineering.

What is genetic engineering?

Genetic engineering is the manipulation or changing of the DNA of an organism, which involves removing a gene from one organism (the donor) and transferring it to another (the recipient).

What are the two basic purposes of genetic engineering mentioned in the script?

The two basic purposes are to produce large volumes of a particular protein, such as insulin, growth hormone, or vaccines, and to give an organism an advantage it does not naturally have, such as making a plant toxic to certain insects.

What is a transgenic organism?

A transgenic organism, also known as a genetically modified organism, is one that has had a gene from a different organism introduced into it.

How is the insulin gene located in the human body?

The insulin gene is found on chromosome 11 at position 15.5.

What are restriction enzymes and what is their role in genetic engineering?

Restriction enzymes are special enzymes used to cut DNA at specific sequences. They are used to cut the insulin gene from the human chromosome and to cut open a plasmid to insert the gene.

What is a plasmid and how is it used in genetic engineering?

A plasmid is a small, circular strand of DNA found in bacteria. It is extracted from the bacterium, cut open with restriction enzymes, and used to join the insulin gene, forming recombinant DNA.

What is the role of ligase in the genetic engineering process?

Ligase is an enzyme used to complete the joining of the insulin gene to the plasmid by sealing the DNA strands together.

How are the genetically modified bacteria used to produce human insulin?

The modified bacteria, which contain recombinant DNA, are placed in a fermenter that allows for rapid asexual reproduction. The bacteria express the human insulin gene, producing human insulin that can be extracted and used by diabetics.

What is the significance of the fermenter in the production of human insulin?

The fermenter provides an environment for the genetically modified bacteria to reproduce asexually, ensuring that all offspring are clones of the original transgenic bacterium with the ability to produce human insulin.