Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Applications
Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
Biotechnology is the set of techniques and processes that manipulate the genetic material of living beings to obtain different substances of interest to humans and the environment. Biotechnology is used in various applications such as production (hormones, drugs, etc.), improving agricultural and animal production, bacterial pollution, and the production of alternative energies.
Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering uses various techniques of DNA manipulation with the purpose of introducing a gene into the hereditary material of another organism.
Gene Transfer Processes
- Location and extraction of the gene to be transferred.
- Insertion of the isolated gene into a vector.
- Introduction of the vector into the target cell.
Molecular Tools
- Restriction enzymes: Cut the double nucleotide chain and generate fragments with cohesive ends.
- Ligase enzymes: Join DNA fragments cut by restriction enzymes with DNA vectors.
- Vectors: Used for introducing DNA fragments of interest. There are two types: plasmids and viruses.
Substances of Great Use to Humans
- Factor VII clotting
- Growth hormone
- Interferon
- Antibiotics
Genetic Manipulations in Plants
Genetic manipulations that have been made to achieve transgenic foods of plant origin are:
- Production of herbicide-resistant varieties.
- Obtaining plants resistant to pesticides.
- Production of plants resistant to adverse weather conditions.
- Alteration of certain conditions of plant development.
- Insertion of genes for the production of substances of interest.
Applications of Genetic Engineering in Animals
Some of the main applications of genetic engineering in animals are:
- Increased animal production, especially in fish farms.
- Research in cows and goats so that their milk produces pharmacological substances.
- Pig-rearing cells that include human proteins.
- Transgenic animal models to study human diseases and replicate them to see the response.
Cloning
Cloning is a process that yields exact copies of an individual through mechanisms of asexual reproduction.
Types of Cloning
Reproductive cloning: This involves the introduction of the diploid nucleus of a somatic cell into an adult oocyte from which the nucleus has been previously removed, and that retains its DNA. After activating the division of the oocyte to achieve an embryo, it is implanted in the uterus where the pregnancy is carried out.
Therapeutic cloning: The procedure is similar to the above, but when the blastocyst or embryo stage is reached, instead of implanting it into the uterus, it is cultivated in vitro to obtain stem cells.
DNA Test Applications
- Paternity tests in cases of questionable paternity.
- Studies of DNA present in fossilized remains (fossil DNA).
- Species identification when the specimens have very similar external characteristics.
- Evolutionary relationship research.
- Forensic identification of suspects and crime victims.
The Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project was initiated with the purpose of determining the relative positions of all the nucleotides that comprise the human genome. The DNA analysis of the human genome was done in two stages: a genetic map and a physical map.
Innovative Aspects of the HGP
- The human genome consists of 25,000 to 30,000 genes.
- The similarity between the genomes of humans is 99.98%; the difference is 0.02%.
Data Provided by the HGP
- Identify the genes responsible for hereditary diseases.
- Improve the tracing of some diseases by gene therapy.
- Develop specific drugs to combat common diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, or cancer.
Risks of Biotechnology
Ecological problems are arising from the introduction of genetically modified organisms into ecosystems. Environmental groups warn that transgenic crops increase the use of toxic substances that pollute the soil, etc.