Basics Conceding A Genetically Engineered Organelle
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.
The nucleus has been the main area targeted by researchers when it comes to genetic modification. Following a number of problems that have been experienced, alternative organelles which can be worked on to bring out similar effects have been sought. Both chloroplasts and mitochondria have their own genome which has made them the most obvious option. The former are only present in green plants while the latter exist in a variety of 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 vital to the process of photosynthesis. This is a process that occurs in green plants and involves the use of sunlight energy in food production by a plant cell. These structures have also been established to also play a vital role in processes such as fatty acid synthesis, amino acid synthesis and mounting immune responses by the cells. Chloroplasts posses a DNA that takes on a circular conformation in most cells. Genetic modification of this DNA is passed on to daughter cells through inheritance.
Genome modification involves several steps. The first is gene isolation. This is where the desired gene is identified and obtained either from another cell or by synthesis. Several copies of genes have been studied and isolated and are now available in the genetic library. This may serve as an alternative source. Addition of various elements such as promoter and terminator regions makes the gene active.
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.
It is worth noting that inserting a genetic material into a cell only affects that cell at the time. The cell has to be propagated so as to have a whole organism. Plant cells are regenerated through tissue culture while animal cells are allowed to just undergo cell division since the cells involved are stem cells capable of dividing.
The nucleus has been the main area targeted by researchers when it comes to genetic modification. Following a number of problems that have been experienced, alternative organelles which can be worked on to bring out similar effects have been sought. Both chloroplasts and mitochondria have their own genome which has made them the most obvious option. The former are only present in green plants while the latter exist in a variety of 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 vital to the process of photosynthesis. This is a process that occurs in green plants and involves the use of sunlight energy in food production by a plant cell. These structures have also been established to also play a vital role in processes such as fatty acid synthesis, amino acid synthesis and mounting immune responses by the cells. Chloroplasts posses a DNA that takes on a circular conformation in most cells. Genetic modification of this DNA is passed on to daughter cells through inheritance.
Genome modification involves several steps. The first is gene isolation. This is where the desired gene is identified and obtained either from another cell or by synthesis. Several copies of genes have been studied and isolated and are now available in the genetic library. This may serve as an alternative source. Addition of various elements such as promoter and terminator regions makes the gene active.
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.
It is worth noting that inserting a genetic material into a cell only affects that cell at the time. The cell has to be propagated so as to have a whole organism. Plant cells are regenerated through tissue culture while animal cells are allowed to just undergo cell division since the cells involved are stem cells capable of dividing.
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