Friday, January 15, 2016

The Process of Gene Manipulation



The process of gene manipulation begins with gene splicing.
To splice genes there first needs to be a desired gene sequence. Many of these strands must be placed in a solution while the are still part of the rest of the strand. Then a restriction enzyme must be put in the solution to cut out the DNA sequence of the trait and sticky ends will form on both sides of the strand. Then you must get a solution of recombinant DNA and put the same restriction enzyme in the solution. This will create a gap in the recombinant DNA for the strand of the desired trait and will have the same sticky ends. Then put the desired strand in the solution and hope at least one strand finds its way into a recombinant DNA.

Gel electrophoresis is a process that separates fragments of DNA by length. First you have to place fragments of DNA into small wells in a block of gel. To get those fragments you must put the strand of DNA you started and many copies of it and get a lot of color died nucleotides and after each died nucleotide is in place the strand will no longer copy. This will cause the different lengths of the DNA strands. Once they are in the wells run he electric current through the gel surrounded by a running buffer. The electric current runs from one end to the other and since DNA is negatively charged it will pull towards the positive side. The gel is filled with small pores for the DNA to slide through, the shortest strands going the farthest, the longer strands not traveling towards the positive end as far.

Transgenic organisms are better known as GMO's, or genetically modified organisms. These couldn't be possible without splicing genes. Once the recombinant DNA is put into a cell in an organismic will come into effect. Like designer babies GMO's are also very controversial because they are not natural. In plants they spread across many farms without anyones knowledge or permission. This is a problem because it will wipe out all the natural plants and the owners loose their rights to their own crops. Animals can acquire strange but helpful traits, like goats producing spider silk or the not quite as helpful glowfish, a goldfish that glows in the dark.

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