Role of microbes in genetic engineering

Role of microbes in genetic engineering

Genetic engineering

It is the use of micro and macro-organisms to produce useful products for human beings from its extensive applications. It is a technology that has been taken from its concept to effective execution and is very attractive to biotechnologists.

Microbes for Genetic Engineering

Microorganisms such as particular bacteria and yeasts have been used broadly in genetic engineering.

The reasons are following.

•       These life-systems are comparatively simple.
•       Their genome sizes and generation times are very small, supported rapid studies of many generations.
•     They are scalable to the required extent.
•      Moreover, investigation of different microorganisms has revealed the existence of enormous metabolic diversity, which gives them utmost levels of environmental adaptability with respect to temperature, pressure, PH, minerals and nutrient un-availability.

4.The general principle of steps in genetic engineering in microbes

Globally microbes are used for two purposes.

• ·         They are use as vectors and hosts in gene transmission for the desired gene expression.
• ·         Microbes themselves are modified to perform function as producers or tools in the genetic engineering process.

The most important steps in genetic engineering are as follows:

1. Isolation of gene which is to be cloned.

2. Insertion of the gene into another piece of DNA known as a vector (Carrier) which permit it to be taken up by the recipient cell and replicated.

3. Transfer of the recombinant vectors into the microbes. It can be either by transformation or infection using viruses.

4. Selection of microbial cells having the desired recombinant vectors.

5. The growth of the transformed microbes.

6. Expression of the gene to yield the desired product.

  Applications of Microbes through Genetic Modifications

Since the beginning of molecular cloning, the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) has been serving as a host for introduced DNA sequences.

1.      Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen proclaimed for the first time in 1973, that two short pieces of bacterial DNA could be cut and pasted together and returned to E. coli. They also showed that DNA from other species could also be introduced in E. coli.

2.Their experiments dramatically illustrated the potential effect of DNA recombinant engineering on medicine and pharmacology, industry and agriculture.

3.      Genetic engineering had made the progress from the laboratory to the boardroom, as corporations produce small fortunes inserting genes into E. coli to yield insulin, growth hormones, and other valuable molecules.

4.      Scientists at Introgen Therapeutics are engineering weapons against cancer by altering some genes in adenoviruses.

5.      Special strains of the adenovirus have been changed to deploy anti-cancer genes within tumors, killing cancer cells and leaving healthy ones safe.

6.      Scientists have used Agrobacteria to deliver genomic capability to provide resistance to insects or pathogens in higher crop plants.

7.      This is an outstanding way to use the potential of bacteria in farming, resulting in saving millions in revenue for farmers globally.

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