Genetic engineering: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:34, 25 November 2006

Revision as of 01:35, 25 November 2006

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'''Genetic engineering''', '''genetic modification''' ('''GM''') and '''gene splicing''' are terms for the process of manipulating [[gene]]s, usually outside the [[organism]]'s natural [[Reproduction|reproductive process]].

It involves the isolation, manipulation and reintroduction of [[DNA]] into [[cell (biology)|cells]] or [[model organism]]s, usually to [[gene expression|express]] a [[protein]]. The aim is to introduce new characteristics or attributes physiologically or physically, such as making a [[Crop (agriculture)|crop]] resistant to a [[herbicide]], introducing a novel [[Trait (biology)|trait]], or producing a new protein or [[enzyme]]. Examples can include the production of human [[insulin]] through the use of modified [[bacteria]], the production of [[erythropoietin]] in [[Chinese Hamster Ovary cell]]s, and the production of new types of experimental mice such as the [[Oncomouse|OncoMouse]] (cancer mouse) for research, through genetic redesign.

future versions of that protein can be modified by changing the gene's underlying DNA. One way to do this is to isolate the piece of DNA containing the gene, precisely cut the gene out, and then reintroduce (splice) the gene into a different DNA segment. [[Daniel Nathans]] and [[Hamilton Smith]] received the [[1978]] [[Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine]] for their isolation of [[restriction enzyme|restriction endonucleases]], which are able to cut DNA at specific sites. Together with [[ligase]], which can join fragments of DNA together, restriction enzymes formed the initial basis of recombinant DNA technology.

Since a protein is specified by a segment of DNA called a gene, future versions of that protein can be modified by changing the gene's underlying DNA. One way to do this is to isolate the piece of DNA containing the gene, precisely cut the gene out, and then reintroduce (splice) the gene into a different DNA segment. [[Daniel Nathans]] and [[Hamilton Smith]] received the [[1978]] [[Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine]] for their isolation of [[restriction enzyme|restriction endonucleases]], which are able to cut DNA at specific sites. Together with [[ligase]], which can join fragments of DNA together, restriction enzymes formed the initial basis of recombinant DNA technology.