There have been numerous arguments for and against the use of genetically modified organisms, GMOs, in many quarters. While genetic engineering has been part of drug manufacturing for a long time, it is the use of these techniques in food production that appears to be generating a lot of jitters. Transgenic organisms appear to generate even more controversy owing to the fact that they have genetic material obtained from other species. In a bid to get safer products, researchers are now considering using a genetically engineered organelle.
The nucleus has been the main target for genetic modification for many years. With advancing research, it has become evident that a number of processes can be undertaken on other organelles to achieve the same results. The organelles that have emerged as the most ideal are chloroplasts and mitochondria. Chloroplasts are only present in plants but mitochondria can be found in both plants and animals cells.
Mitochondria are one of the most important organelles in a cell. Without them, cells can only survive for a limited duration of time. This is because they are the powerhouse of cells and provide energy required for various biochemical reactions that are needed by the cell. Just like the nucleus, mitochondria possess their own genome. This genome is smaller that what is found in the nucleus.
One of the theories that have been advanced to explain the presence of genetic material in mitochondria proposes that they were initially independent primitive organisms. They were largely parasitic depending on other unicellular organisms for most of their functions. As they evolved over thousands of years, some of their genome was lost and they could, therefore, not exist on their own. They entered the cell and started a symbiotic relationship. This theory has also been used for chloroplasts.
Chloroplasts are cellular structures that play a critical role in food synthesis in most plant cells. Since the process is dependent of energy from sunlight, it is also refereed to as photosynthesis. They are also used in other processes such as synthesis of fatty acids and amino acids as well as taking part in the immune processes of plant cells. Chloroplasts have a DNA that has a circular conformation except in a few circumstances. Since chloroplasts are passed down to daughter cells, modifying their genome results in propagation of the new characteristic.
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.
The nucleus has been the main target for genetic modification for many years. With advancing research, it has become evident that a number of processes can be undertaken on other organelles to achieve the same results. The organelles that have emerged as the most ideal are chloroplasts and mitochondria. Chloroplasts are only present in plants but mitochondria can be found in both plants and animals cells.
Mitochondria are one of the most important organelles in a cell. Without them, cells can only survive for a limited duration of time. This is because they are the powerhouse of cells and provide energy required for various biochemical reactions that are needed by the cell. Just like the nucleus, mitochondria possess their own genome. This genome is smaller that what is found in the nucleus.
One of the theories that have been advanced to explain the presence of genetic material in mitochondria proposes that they were initially independent primitive organisms. They were largely parasitic depending on other unicellular organisms for most of their functions. As they evolved over thousands of years, some of their genome was lost and they could, therefore, not exist on their own. They entered the cell and started a symbiotic relationship. This theory has also been used for chloroplasts.
Chloroplasts are cellular structures that play a critical role in food synthesis in most plant cells. Since the process is dependent of energy from sunlight, it is also refereed to as photosynthesis. They are also used in other processes such as synthesis of fatty acids and amino acids as well as taking part in the immune processes of plant cells. Chloroplasts have a DNA that has a circular conformation except in a few circumstances. Since chloroplasts are passed down to daughter cells, modifying their genome results in propagation of the new characteristic.
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.