Genetic Engineering AQA: 3.4, 3.8.2.3 EdExcel: 7.4 OCR: 6.1.3

Notes for Teachers Choose one of slide 6 or 7 depending on whether or not you are using the worksheet The first 3 minutes of the video explain the immune system knowledge behind CAR T-cell therapy, with the second half of the video explaining the genetic engineering involved

What is genetic engineering? Genes from the chromosomes of humans and other organisms can be ‘cut out’ and transferred to other cells. Why might scientists want to do this?

Examples of Genetic Engineering For each of the examples on the next slide: Have you heard of it before? What is the benefit? What are the potential risks? How do you think it was made?

Examples of Genetic Engineering Caterpillar resistant cabbages Fluorescent fish and mice Cancer fighting immune cells Insulin-producing bacteria High-protein potatoes

Biohacking the Human Body Complete the worksheet as you watch the video

Biohacking the Human Body You will answer these questions as you watch the video: What are the advantages of CAR T-cell therapy? What are the disadvantages of CAR T-cell therapy? What are CAR T-cells programmed to do? Describe the process of creating a CAR T-cell Describe how genetic engineering is different to synthetic biology

Advantages of CAR T-cell Therapy CAR T-cells survive for years in the body Cells can attack if the cancer comes back Very high survival rate compared to other treatments Treatment is specific to the cancer

Disadvantages of CAR T-cell Therapy Treatment is very expensive Bespoke treatment can’t be used on other patients Only works on some blood cancers

Programming of a CAR T-cell Recognise and kill cancer cells using modified antibodies Make copies of themselves when they find the cancer cell Survive in the patient’s body

Making a CAR T-cell Millions of the patient’s T-cells are collected A synthetic biologist writes a new genetic code The synthetic biologist models what the new code will do A DNA printer is used to create the genetic code A vector is used to infect the T-cell and transfer the code Chemotherapy is used to destroy the patient’s existing T-cells CAR T-cells are inserted into the patient’s blood

Making a Chimeric Cell Imagine you are a scientist working with Dr Pule at University College London. He has asked your team to pitch ideas for new Chimeric Cells to be produced using his DNA printing technology. You have been asked to present responses to these questions, as well as a diagram of your potential new cell: What biological problem do you wish to address? Which two cells will you combine, and which elements will you use from each? Why have you chosen these two cells for this task? What potential advantages and disadvantages do you foresee? How would you plan a multi-phase trial to test your new cell?