The advent of genetically modified organisms, GMOs, continues to generate a heated debate in many quarters all over the world. This has particularly been fuelled by the adoption of genetic engineering techniques in food production. Transgenic organisms, which are created through exchange of genetic materials between different species of organisms are likely to cause even greater divisions. The use of a genetically engineered organelle is also possible.
For a long time, nuclear transformation has been the main technique used in genetic modification. This is, however, now changing as researchers look away from this structure and consider other organelles within the plant cell. The most ideal alternatives that have emerged are mitochondria and chloroplasts. Mitochondria are found both in animal and plant cells while chloroplasts are only present in green plants.
Mitochondria are considered the powerhouse of the cell. They produce energy necessary for most of the cell processes through a process known as oxidative phosphorylation. If they fail, the cell is at risk of dying since the alternative energy production pathways can only sustain it for a limited duration of time. Mitochondria posses a genome just like the nucleus. Their genome is, however, a lot smaller.
One of the theories that attempts to explain the presence of the genetic material within this organelle claims that mitochondria were initially independent, unicellular organisms. Proponents of this theory believe that mitochondria were initially parasitic organisms but would eventually evolve over thousands of years to be incorporated into cells to become symbiotic. The ovulation led to loss of part of their genome that made it difficult for them to exist independently. The same theory can be used for chloroplasts.
Chloroplasts are organelles found in green plants. They are mostly involved in a process known as photosynthesis which entails food production in the presence of energy derived from sunlight. Other important functions include synthesis of amino and fatty acids and mediation of cellular immune responses. Chloroplasts have a DNA that is often arranged in circular pattern. This DNA is usually inherited by daughter cells after cell division and thus modifications made on it are similarly inherited.
There are a number of processes involved in modifying the genome of an organism. The first step is to isolate the gene that his to be inserted into the organism. Options at this point include synthesis of the desired gene in a laboratory or obtaining it from a living cell. A number of genes which have been identified in the past have been stored in the genetic library and can be obtained from there. To make the gene of interest active, it is combined by other elements such as the promoter and terminator regions.
Once the gene has been isolated, the next step is to have it inserted into the organelle. This may either be the mitochondria or the chloroplast depending on the organism. For bacterial organisms, this process may be aided by either electric shocking or thermal stimulation. Animal cells are modified through microinjection while plant cells may be subjected to agrobacteria mediated recombination, biolistics or electroporation.
Insertion of a genetic material into one cell only achieves a change in this cell. The next step is therefore to facilitate regeneration of the entire organism from this single cell. The process used for this in plants is known as tissue culture. In animals the cells used are usually stem cells so these would subsequently undergo cell division and cell growth.
For a long time, nuclear transformation has been the main technique used in genetic modification. This is, however, now changing as researchers look away from this structure and consider other organelles within the plant cell. The most ideal alternatives that have emerged are mitochondria and chloroplasts. Mitochondria are found both in animal and plant cells while chloroplasts are only present in green plants.
Mitochondria are considered the powerhouse of the cell. They produce energy necessary for most of the cell processes through a process known as oxidative phosphorylation. If they fail, the cell is at risk of dying since the alternative energy production pathways can only sustain it for a limited duration of time. Mitochondria posses a genome just like the nucleus. Their genome is, however, a lot smaller.
One of the theories that attempts to explain the presence of the genetic material within this organelle claims that mitochondria were initially independent, unicellular organisms. Proponents of this theory believe that mitochondria were initially parasitic organisms but would eventually evolve over thousands of years to be incorporated into cells to become symbiotic. The ovulation led to loss of part of their genome that made it difficult for them to exist independently. The same theory can be used for chloroplasts.
Chloroplasts are organelles found in green plants. They are mostly involved in a process known as photosynthesis which entails food production in the presence of energy derived from sunlight. Other important functions include synthesis of amino and fatty acids and mediation of cellular immune responses. Chloroplasts have a DNA that is often arranged in circular pattern. This DNA is usually inherited by daughter cells after cell division and thus modifications made on it are similarly inherited.
There are a number of processes involved in modifying the genome of an organism. The first step is to isolate the gene that his to be inserted into the organism. Options at this point include synthesis of the desired gene in a laboratory or obtaining it from a living cell. A number of genes which have been identified in the past have been stored in the genetic library and can be obtained from there. To make the gene of interest active, it is combined by other elements such as the promoter and terminator regions.
Once the gene has been isolated, the next step is to have it inserted into the organelle. This may either be the mitochondria or the chloroplast depending on the organism. For bacterial organisms, this process may be aided by either electric shocking or thermal stimulation. Animal cells are modified through microinjection while plant cells may be subjected to agrobacteria mediated recombination, biolistics or electroporation.
Insertion of a genetic material into one cell only achieves a change in this cell. The next step is therefore to facilitate regeneration of the entire organism from this single cell. The process used for this in plants is known as tissue culture. In animals the cells used are usually stem cells so these would subsequently undergo cell division and cell growth.
About the Author:
If you are searching for information about genetically engineered organelle, come to our web pages online today. More details are available at http://www.skinapus.com/for-patients-families now.
0 comments:
Post a Comment