Some common genetic engineering applications A brief overview

Gene cloning Creating a gene library may be useful in:- Bacteria may be used as living laboratories for synthesising vitamins, hormones and antibiotics. The nitrogen fixing genes of bacteria may be transferred to the major food crops to boost food production without using expensive fertilizers

Transgenesis –taking genes from one organism and mixing them with the genes of another

Transgenesis can be used for gene therapy which is the alteration of the genetic make-up of an individual organism in an attempt to correct an inborn error of metabolism, ie. cure inherited diseases. in toxicology: as responsive test animals (detection of toxicants); to introduce human genes into other organisms for the study of disease processes; in molecular biology, the analysis of the regulation of gene expression; in the pharmaceutical industry, the production of human pharmaceuticals in farm animals ("pharming"); targeted production of pharmaceutical proteins, drug production and product efficacy testing; in biotechnology: as producers of specific proteins; and genetically engineered hormones to increase milk yield, meat production; genetic engineering of livestock in agriculture affecting modification of animal physiology and/or anatomy; cloning procedures to reproduce specific blood lines; to speed up the introduction of existing characters into a strain/breed for improvement and modification; developing animals specially created for use in xenografting, ie. modify the antigenic make-up of animals so that their tissues and organs can be used in transfusions and transplants.

DNA profiling

Dna profiling creating a genetic fingerprint. DNA profiling is used in a variety of ways Establishing proof of paternity or identifying siblings in humans. Agriculture and conservation. Eg. Checking that closely related endangered animals are not mated together. To establish how closely related different seed stocks are To place a suspect at the crime scene in forensic science.

Genomic analysis Where genes are on chromosomes (Gene mapping) How genes work and effect each other at the DNA level.

Xenotransplantation Moving genes from one organism to another. Organs donation without rejection Lots of applications See text book

Stem cell research Using stem cells. New cells which have not become specialised yet. These can be taken from adults or embryo’s and may be used for Replacing damaged tissue grown in the lab Studying human development Testing new drugs Screening toxins Gene therapy