ILIGAN MEDICAL CENTER COLLEGE

BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

LAYA, EXTENSION, PALA-O, ILIGAN CITY

THIRD QUARTER
MODULE 1 (1 -2 Weeks)

SUBJECT: General Biology 2

TEACHER: Vivian C. Generalao
TOPIC: Recombinant DNA
MELCs: 1. Outline the processes involved in genetic engineering.
2. Discuss the applications of recombinant DNA.

Name of Student: ____________________________________________ Section: ________

I. INTRODUCTION

Activity 1: PRE TEST

Circle the letter of your correct answer.

1. Which of the following is a circular DNA from bacteria that can hold a foreign gene?
a. Ligase b. Plasmid c. Restriction enzyme d. Protein Expression

2. Which of the following is a protein that acts as DNA scissors?

a. Ligase b. Plasmid c. Restriction enzyme d. Protein Expression

3. Which of the following is an enzymatic protein that acts as DNA glue?

a. Ligase b. Plasmid c. Restriction enzyme d. Protein Expression

4. Which of the following is a complicated series of steps that make proteins from coded
instructions in DNA?
a. Ligase b. Plasmid c. Restriction enzyme d. Protein Expression

5. A restriction enzyme is used to cut both the gene of interest and the plasmid at the
restriction sites.
a. True b. False

6. Which of the following terms describes the process of the uptake of recombinant
plasmids into bacteria cells?
a. rDNA technology c. transferrence
b. Transformation d. DNA plasmid

7. Which of the following accurately describe the steps of recombinant DNA technology
using bacteria?
a. plasmid & genes are cut --> cut DNA joined with ligase to make rDNA plasmids -->
rDNA plasmids are inserted into the bacteria --> bacteria & rDNA plasmid multiply -->
bacteria are broken open & protein is collected

b. ut DNA joined with ligase to make rDNA plasmids --> rDNA plasmids are inserted
into the bacteria --> plasmid & genes are cut -->bacteria & rDNA plasmid multiply -->
bacteria are broken open & protein is collected

c. plasmid & genes are cut -->bacteria & rDNA plasmid multiply --> bacteria are broken
open & protein is collected-->cut DNA joined with ligase to make rDNA plasmids -->
rDNA plasmids are inserted into the bacteria
 d. cut DNA joined with ligase to make rDNA plasmids --> rDNA plasmids are inserted
into the bacteria --> bacteria & rDNA plasmid multiply 

8. What is a GMO?
a. A genetically identical organism
b. An organism that has had its DNA modified by humans
c. An organism missing a chromosome
d. Epigenetics

9. When human DNA is inserted in bacterial DNA to create insulin it is called

a. viral DNA b. bacterial DNA c. recombinant DNA d. transcribed DNA

10. Companies that create GMOs can patent genes and DNA sequences.
a. True b. False

II. MOTIVATION

Activity 2: WILL THERE BE ANOTHER YOU??????…..

YES...!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fifteen years ago, scientists in Edinburgh announced to the world an incredible

breakthrough: the creation of the first cloned animal–a sheep who originated from a cell
taken from an adult mammal. Dolly’s birth sparked a vigorous debate about the
controversial technique and its potential application to humans.

DOLLY…. a female domestic sheep, and the first mammal to be cloned from an

adult somatic cell (5 July 1996 – 14 February 2003)

Copycat….!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The world's first cloned kitten, named Cc. It was created by scientists in Texas using a cell
taken from an adult tortoise shell. The photo, taken on December 22 2001 when the kitten
was seven weeks old, was made public in February 2002.

1. What do the pictures tell you?

2. What kind of animals are they?
3. What is the term used in science referring to a copycat?

III. INSTRUCTION (Discussion)

Genetic Engineering
The process of using plants or animals with specific traits to reproduce offsprings with
those traits is known as selective breeding, something that has been practiced since the
early times. Hybridization, or the process of crossing plants or animals with different
variations of the same trait in which the resulting offspring is created to have the best
traits of the parents, has been around for many years as well. However, these processes
require a long period before results could be seen and usually succeed only within a close
family of species. In the early 1970s, biologists have realized that they can manipulate and
deliberately recombine the DNA molecules from different species in the laboratory. The
technique, genetic engineering, allows genes from one organism to be transferred into
the DNA of another organism. More and more variations of the technique allow scientists
to produce more complex solutions to problems in society. The term “biotechnology” came
from the word biology and technology. It was coined in the 1970s when the first
genetically engineered bacteria were reported. Since then, biotechnology has often been
associated with genetic engineering, specifically in the development of genetically
engineered microorganisms.

Genetically Modified Organisms

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA has

been altered using genetic engineering techniques. Genetically modified animals are mainly
used for research purposes, while genetically modified plants are common in today’s food
supply.
For thousands of years, humans have used breeding methods to modify organisms. Corn,
cattle, and even dogs have been selectively bred over generations to have certain desired
traits. Within the last few decades, however, modern advances in biotechnology have
allowed scientists to directly modify the DNA of microorganisms, crops, and animals.

Conventional methods of modifying plants and animals—selective

breeding and crossbreeding—can take a long time. Moreover, selective breeding and
crossbreeding often produce mixed results, with unwanted traits appearing alongside
desired characteristics. The specific targeted modification of DNA using biotechnology has
allowed scientists to avoid this problem and improve the genetic makeup of an organism
without unwanted characteristics tagging along.

Most animals that are GMOs are produced for use in laboratory research. These animals
are used as “models” to study the function of specific genes and, typically, how the genes
relate to health and disease. Some GMO animals, however, are produced for human
consumption. Salmon, for example, has been genetically engineered to mature faster, and
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stated that these fish are safe to eat.

GMOs are perhaps most visible in the produce section. The first genetically engineered
plants to be produced for human consumption were introduced in the mid-1990s. Today,
approximately 90 percent of the corn, soybeans, and sugar beets on the market are GMOs.
Genetically engineered crops produce higher yields, have a longer shelf life, are resistant
to diseases and pests, and even taste better. These benefits are a plus for both farmers
and consumers. For example, higher yields and longer shelf life may lead to lower prices
for consumers, and pest-resistant crops means that farmers don’t need to buy and use as
many pesticides to grow quality crops. GMO crops can thus be kinder to the environment
than conventionally grown crops.

Genetically modified foods do cause controversy, however. Genetic engineering typically

changes an organism in a way that would not occur naturally. It is even common for
scientists to insert genes into an organism from an entirely different organism. This raises
the possible risk of unexpected allergic reactions to some GMO foods. Other concerns
include the possibility of the genetically engineered foreign DNA spreading to non-GMO
plants and animals. So far, none of the GMOs approved for consumption have caused any
of these problems, and GMO food sources are subject to regulations and rigorous safety
assessments. 

In the future, GMOs are likely to continue playing an important role in biomedical research.
GMO foods may provide better nutrition and perhaps even be engineered to contain
medicinal compounds to enhance human health. If GMOs can be shown to be both safe
and healthful, consumer resistance to these products will most likely diminish.

Recombinant DNA Technology

Changes in the DNA of an organism can cause changes in traits and its manipulation has
led to genetically modified organisms. With the advancement of our knowledge about the
DNA, geneticists have developed ways to produce organisms with desired traits.
Recombinant DNA technology is a technique of combining two DNA sequences from
different sources. One goal is to clone a particular gene for analysis or production of a
medically useful protein product in large quantities. Bacteria, yeasts, and cultured plant
and animal cells are usually used for recombinant DNA experiments. The first step in
recombining the DNA from different species is to produce millions of copies of a single
desirable piece of DNA through polymerase chain reaction that mimics DNA replication.

Molecular cloning is done by inserting the desired DNA fragment (gene) into a vector,
usually either from a virus or a bacterial plasmid DNA. A plasmid is a circular DNA that
contains about 3,500 base pairs that can replicate independently inside the body of a
bacterium. Special enzymes are also used to cut DNA molecules in specific regions and
paste these fragments together to insert the new DNA into foreign cells. To cut DNA
molecules, special molecular scissors are used by genetic engineers, which are actually
proteins called restriction enzymes. The cutting must be done in such a way that the DNA
fragments will have a sticky end that later on can be joined to another complementary
sticky end. In nature, any two DNA molecules with complementary sticky ends can join
together even when they are unrelated to the rest of the DNA molecules. This is the
reason why sticky ends on pieces of DNA fragments from other organisms as different as
humans, pigs, and bacteria can be recombined to form a unique organism called a
transgenic organism. Genetic engineers also add the enzyme DNA ligase, which acts as a
glue to cause strong bonds that form between two opposing ends.
Isolation of DNA

Being a nucleic acid enclosed within the nucleus, isolation of DNA is not an easy task.
Isolation of DNA is an enzymatically controlled process where the plant or animal cells are
treated with certain enzymes. Enzymes such as cellulase (plant cells), lysozyme (bacteria)
and chitinase (fungi) are used to isolate pure DNA from the cells.

Fragmentation of DNA

The isolated and purified DNA is treated with restriction endonucleases which cut the DNA
into fragments. The restriction enzymes utilized in recombinant DNA technology are
significant to detect the location at which the desired gene is introduced into the vector
genome. The restriction endonucleases are sequence-specific, typically palindrome
sequences and snip the DNA at specific points. They inspect the length of DNA and trims it
at particular sites known as the restriction site. The desired genes and the vectors are
snipped by the same restriction enzymes to acquire the complementary sticky ends. This
ensures the task of ligases for binding the required gene to the vector is easier.

Amplification of Gene of Interest

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a process to amplify the gene once the proper gene of
interest has been cut using the restriction enzymes. Through this process, multiple copies
of the gene of interest can be produced. PCR proceeds in three stages, denaturation,
annealing and extension.
Insertion of recombinant DNA into the host

The host is the final tool of rDNA technology, which consumes the vector engineered with
the desired DNA with the aid of the enzymes. Insertion of the desired recombinant DNA
into the host organism can be achieved in various ways. This includes– biolistics or the
gene gun, microinjection, alternate heating and cooling, usage of calcium ions, etc. The
successfully transformed cells or the entities pass the recombinant gene to the offspring.

Applications of Recombinant DNA Technology

 Recombinant DNA is widely used in biotechnology, medicine and research.
 The most common application of recombinant DNA is in basic research, in
which the technology is important to most current work in the biological and
biomedical sciences.
 Recombinant DNA is used to identify, map and sequence genes, and to
determine their function.
 Recombinant proteins are widely used as reagents in laboratory
experiments and to generate antibody probes for examining protein
synthesis within cells and organisms.
 Many additional practical applications of recombinant DNA are found in
industry, food production, human and veterinary medicine, agriculture, and
bioengineering.

1. DNA technology is also used to detect the presence of HIV in a person.

2. Application of recombinant DNA technology in Agriculture – For example, manufacture
of Bt-Cotton to protect the plant against ball worms.
3. Application of medicines – Insulin production by DNA recombinant technology is a
classic example.
4. Gene Therapy – It is used as an attempt to correct the gene defects which give rise to
heredity diseases.
5. Clinical diagnosis – ELISA is an example where the application of recombinant DNA is
possible.
Activity 3: Genetic Engineering
Differentiate biotechnology, genetic engineering and, recombinant DNA using a Venn
diagram. Answer the questions below.
1. What is genetic engineering?
2. How does genetic engineering provide solutions to problems in the society?
3. What are the processes involved in genetic engineering?

Activity 4: Recombinant DNA

Summarize the steps in recombinant DNA technology and answer the questions that follow.
1. How is molecular cloning being done?
2. What is a transgenic organism?
III. PRACTICE

Activity 5: GMOs
Make a graphic organizer of at least 5 GMOs, briefly explain each and, answer the
questions below.
1. What are GMOs?
2. What are some advantages of genetically modified organisms? Give at least 3.
3. What are some disadvantages of GMOs? Give at least 2.

IV. ENRICHMENT
Activity 6: Create a poster on the applications of recombinant DNA technology. You may
use Manila paper or cartolina on this.

V. EVALUATION
Activity 7: Do research on how Covid vaccines are made and discovered? What
technique/s is/are used in the production of this vaccines? Are we safe to take this or not?
Are you willing to be vaccinated with this?

Deadline of this module is on February 15, 2021.