Basic Outline of Genetic Engineering, where can I find one?

[azzaman333]

I have an English SAC which requires me to give a basic outline of genetic engineering, but everywhere I look is generally way too complex. Is there a good site anyone knows which would be able to help me?

(Note, I want more basic than the Wiki article if that's possible)

 

[Ecofarm]

I do not know what a "SAC" is.

The topic is way too broad.
Genetic engineering for crop "improvement".
Genetic engineering for animal "improvement".
Genetic engineering for medical reasons (gene-therapy).
Genetic engineering bio-physical mechanics and methods.
Genetic engineering law (by country?).
Genetic engineering and intellectual property rights.
Genetic engineering: the moral objection.

For a basic outline, I recommend:

Stolen Harvest: The Hijacking of the Global Food Supply

and

Biopiracy: The Plunder of Nature and Knowledge

(Vandana Shiva)

While they may not be websites, they are very short books.

 

[El_Machinae]

I have an English SAC which requires me to give a basic outline of genetic engineering, but everywhere I look is generally way too complex. Is there a good site anyone knows which would be able to help me?

(Note, I want more basic than the Wiki article if that's possible)

What part of the wiki do you stumble at?

 

[azzaman333]

I do not know what a "SAC" is.

[wiki]School-assessed coursework[/wiki]

What part of the wiki do you stumble at?

I sort of understand most of it, but I need something a little simpler to make sure I'm not thinking the wrong way. Also most websites that aren't too complex for a simple powerpoint presentation in class have a huge bias one way or another (mostly against).

 

[El_Machinae]

Tell us your simplified version, and we'll let you know if you've made a mistake!

 

[azzaman333]

Adding or removing genes from an organism to improve it in a specific way.

 

[El_Machinae]

Okay, that's good.

Usually we 'shotgun' the cells of an organism because we're not (yet) very good at making sure the genes get into the 'right places' on the chromosomes. So after the shotgun, we then use selective processes to weed out the cells that didn't integrate the genes the way we wanted them. There are a few ways of getting the genes into the cells, these are detailed on wiki.

 

[StarWorms]

Shotgun is used for sequencing prokaryotic organisms. Clong contig is for sequencing eukaryotic organisms.

Shotgun is not used for inserting genes. For that we use restriction enzymes to cut the DNA and then use ligase to join the bits back together again, after inserting the gene. Some bacteria can do this very well but E coli only has about a 1% success rate. Along with the gene insert is a gene to enable it to be resistant to an antibiotic. If the insert is expressed, it survives well in the broth. If the insert is not expressed eg. It has been placed in the middle of another gene then they are not expressed and it dies in the broth.

Try having a looking for things about the making of insulin, it's a good example of adding a gene to an organism.

 

[azzaman333]

I only need a (relatively) simple outline of genetic engineering, since this is for English rather than a Science class.

 

[Brighteye]

Genetic engineering consists of adding or knocking out genes permanently. There are a number of ways to do this, but with bacteria it's relatively easy because rather than having all their DNA in great long chromosomal strands wrapped around histone proteins with various methylations (or acetylations), they have quite a lot of DNA in small loops called plasmids.
We can extract plasmids, cut them open and insert our genes, and then incubate bacteria with them. Bacteria actually absorb plasmids; they naturally exchange DNA with each other in this way.
How simple do you need? Wikipedia looks simple to me.

 

[Ecofarm]

A "Gene Gun" is used to insert DNA. I've seen one in action (using gold particles). Perhaps this is different than the "shotgun" referred to above. Of course, there are other methods (primarily employing bacteria to do the insertion).

The fact that most, or all?, genetic engineering includes an antibiotic resistence gene is an often overlooked risk. However unlikely, if a gut-transfer (or any other transfer) of the antibiotic resistence gene occured between a pathogen and genetically modified material, a super-pathogen could emerge. Of course, the pathogen would only be resistant to an out-dated antibiotic, but they mutate alot. SARS, anyone?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_gun