How we can make drugs in the future? Musab and Mehroz

Genetically Modified Organisms Recombinant DNA technology Liposomes Viruses Stem cells

Microorganisms The gene for the protein is isolated using restriction enzymes which cut DNA at specific sequences and DNA ligase is used to stick the nucleotides together The gene is then copied using PCR Copies are inserted into the plasmids The plasmids are transferred into microorganisms The modified microorganism are grown in large containers so that they divide and produce lots of the useful protein, from the inserted gene The protein can then be purified and used as a drug

Animals The gene coding for the required protein is injected into the nucleus of a fertilised animal egg cell. The egg cell is then implanted into an adult animal – it grows into a whole animal that contains a copy of the gene in every cell The protein produced from the gene is normally purified from the milk of the animal

Plants The gene coding for the protein is inserted into a bacterium The bacterium infects a plant cell The bacterium inserts the gene into the plant cell DNA – the plant cell is now genetically modified The plant cell is grown into an adult plant – the whole plant contains a copy of the gene in every cell The protein produced from the gene can be purified from the plant tissues, or the protein could be delivered by eating the plant

Applications Gene products New Phenotypes Gene therapy

Benefits and Disadvantages Benefits Enzymes Food Nutrition Vaccines Cheaper drugs Disadvantages Transmission of genetic material Super weeds Unforeseen consequences Ethics