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3.10: Genetic Engineering

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    Andrea Bierema

    Learning Objectives

    Students will be able to

    • Define DNA sequencing.
    • Describe examples and mechanisms of genetic engineering.
    • Define genetically modified organisms (i.e., GMO).
    • Explain how CRISPR is used.
    • Describe the role of Cas9 and the guide RNA in CRISPR.
    • Identify key steps and their variations in CRISPR.

    A variety of biotechnologies exist including cloning organisms, sequencing DNA, and modifying DNA. Although there is a wide range of molecular biotechnologies, this chapter first introduces DNA sequencing and then describes changes to the genome, which results in changes in proteins or protein synthesis: genetic engineering.

    DNA Sequencing

    The main theme of this chapter is genetic engineering, but before, we can change the DNA, we must first sequence it. Therefore, this chapter begins with an introduction to DNA sequencing.

    DNA sequencing is the process of working out the exact order of the four bases, A, C, T, and G in a strand of DNA.

    Human chromosomes range in size from about 50,000,000 to 300,000,000 base pairs and each human being has 46 (23 pairs) of these chromosomes. This means we have approximately 3.2 billion bases of DNA in total!

    At present, we can’t sequence a genome, or even a single chromosome, from start to finish. We have to break it up into smaller, more manageable chunks, or fragments. The order and number of bases in these fragments of DNA are then identified through techniques that label each base individually (in modern techniques the bases are labeled with different colors). From this information, scientists are able to work out the sequence of the DNA and find out lots of other interesting things about our genetic makeup.

    Series of line graphs with 4 different colored lines. Whichever color is tallest at any point, the corresponding DNA base is labeled on the X-axis.
    Results of a computational DNA sequence analysis. Note that each color represents a different base (A, T, C, and G), the color of each peak designates the base in the sequence and that the DNA sequence is labeled on the X axis.

    Early DNA sequencing was technically challenging and slow. Resources were expensive, and the reactions required complex conditions to work. It, therefore, took several years to sequence just one or two genes!

    Over the last decade, DNA sequencing technologies have developed rapidly. We can now sequence an entire human genome, all 3.2 billion letters, in a matter of hours and for much less money.

    Introduction to Genetic Engineering

    Genetic engineering refers to the direct manipulation of DNA to alter an organism’s characteristics (phenotype) in a particular way. This may mean changing one base pair (A-T or C-G), deleting a whole region of DNA, or introducing an additional copy of a gene. It may also mean extracting DNA from another organism’s genome and combining it with the DNA of that individual. It has been used by scientists to enhance or modify the characteristics of an individual organism from a virus to sheep, to possibly humans. For example, genetic engineering can be used to produce plants that have a higher nutritional value or can tolerate exposure to herbicides.

    We can change an organism’s characteristics by introducing new pieces of DNA into their genomes. This could be:

    • DNA from the same species.
    • DNA from a different species.
    • DNA made synthetically in the lab.

    There are several techniques that can be used to modify a genome, including:

    An interactive H5P element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here:
    https://openbooks.lib.msu.edu/isb202/?p=140#h5p-124

    Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

    Genetically modified (GM) organisms are organisms that have had their genomes changed in a way that does not happen naturally. By changing an organism’s genome, we change the resulting proteins, which change their characteristics. Any organism can be genetically modified, but laws restrict the creation of genetically modified humans, and the production and distribution of other GMOs are tightly regulated.

    Exercise

    Learn more about the process of creating GMOs by going through Connecting Concepts’ Interactive lesson on developing a genetically modified canola plant.

    The first genetically modified organism was created in 1973 and was a bacterium. Then in 1974, the same techniques were applied to mice. The first genetically-modified foods were made available in 1994.

    What is not a GMO? The genomes of organisms change naturally over time, and these natural changes are not classified as GMO (otherwise, everything would be classified as a GMO). Examples of natural changes include:

    • when organisms mate, offspring get bits of DNA from both parents
    • mutations arise as a result of mistakes when DNA is copied
    • environmental factors like UV radiation can create changes in DNA.

    The following video describes how genetically modified plants are made and which qualities may be desired.

    Thumbnail for the embedded element "How to Make a Genetically Modified Plant"

    A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: https://openbooks.lib.msu.edu/isb202/?p=140

    What does it look like when a needle is inserted into a cell?

    If you are curious how a cell reacts to a needle, then watch the quick video below!

    A video element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can watch it online here: https://openbooks.lib.msu.edu/isb202/?p=140

    Time-lapse movie (sped up 10x) of a glass microneedle being inserted into an egg cell. The object in the cell being moved is a metaphase spindle. The spindle is made visible by the use of polarizing optics. Video created by Inoue, S. is licensed CC BY-NC-SA. doi:10.7295/W9CIL11958

    An Example of Genetic Engineering: Insulin Production

    Normally, insulin is produced in the pancreas, but in people with type 1 diabetes, there is a problem with insulin production. People with diabetes, therefore, have to inject insulin to control their blood sugar levels. Genetic engineering has been used to produce a type of insulin in yeast and in bacteria like E. coli that is very similar to our own. This genetically modified insulin, Humulin was licensed for human use in 1982.

    To produce genetically-engineered insulin, a small, circular DNA called a plasmid is extracted from the bacteria or yeast cell. A small section is then cut out of the circular plasmid by restriction enzymes that act as “molecular scissors.” The gene for human insulin is inserted into the gap in the plasmid, creating a genetically modified plasmid.

    This genetically modified plasmid is introduced into a new bacteria or yeast cell. This cell divides rapidly and starts making insulin. To create large amounts of the cells, the genetically modified bacteria or yeast are grown in large fermentation vessels that contain all the nutrients they need. The more the cells divide, the more insulin is produced. When fermentation is complete, the mixture is filtered to release the insulin. The insulin is then purified and packaged into bottles and insulin pens for distribution to patients with diabetes.

    1. Bacterium with plasmid; 2. restriction enzymes cuts plasmid; 3. human insulin gene in plasmid; 4. a genetically modified bacterium; 5. bacteria and insulin proteins; 6. fermentation chamber; 7. purification chamber; 8. insulin in jars ready for distribution
    An illustration showing how genetic modfication is used to produce insulin in bacteria.

    Mosquitos and the Lethal Gene

    For another example of genetic engineering, check out HHMI Biointeractive‘s “Genetically Modified Mosquitos” video.

    CRISPR

    CRISPR-Cas9 is a genome-editing tool that is creating a buzz in the science world. It is faster, cheaper, and more accurate than previous techniques of editing DNA and has a wide range of potential applications. It can remove, add, and alter sections of the DNA sequence.

    The CRISPR-Cas9 system consists of two key molecules that introduce a mutation into the DNA. These are:

    An interactive H5P element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here:
    https://openbooks.lib.msu.edu/isb202/?p=140#h5p-125

    Watch the following videos to learn about the CRISPR-Cas9 process.

    An interactive H5P element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here:
    https://openbooks.lib.msu.edu/isb202/?p=140#h5p-126

    For closed captioning or to view the full transcript of the above video, click on the “YouTube” link in the video (or click here) and view the video on YouTube.

    An interactive H5P element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here:
    https://openbooks.lib.msu.edu/isb202/?p=140#h5p-127

    For closed captioning or to view the full transcript of the above video, click on the “YouTube” link in the video (or click here) and view the video on YouTube.

    In addition to the videos above, HHMI Biointeractive CRISPR Cas-9 Mechanism and Applications interactive is a great illustration!

    The following is an overview of the different ways in which DNA is edited:

    An interactive H5P element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here:
    https://openbooks.lib.msu.edu/isb202/?p=140#h5p-128

    Exercise

    Check your understanding of the CRISPR process!

    An interactive H5P element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here:
    https://openbooks.lib.msu.edu/isb202/?p=140#h5p-129

    Exercise

    Want to learn more about what this looks like in a laboratory? Check out this simulation and this scrolling interactive from LabXchange!

    Attributions

    This chapter is a modified derivative of the following articles:

    “What is CRISPR-Cas9?” by yourgenome, Genome Research Limited, 2021, CC-BY 4.0.

    “What is DNA sequencing?” by yourgenome, Genome Research Limited, 2021, CC-BY 4.0.

    “What is a GMO?” by yourgenome, Genome Research Limited, 2017, CC-BY 4.0.

    “What is genetic engineering?” by yourgenome, Genome Research Limited, 2017, CC-BY 4.0.

    3.10: Genetic Engineering is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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