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Genetic engineering and its applications in the biological, industrial and medical fields
2024-08-24
Chief Researcher Yasser Marei Nayef Al-Shabani
Expert in genetic engineering and biotechnology - University of Baghdad
Upper Euphrates Basin Developing Centre / University of Anbar
Introduction:
Genetic Engineering: It is the technique of modifying the genetic material of living organisms, also called genetic modification, is a direct human manipulation of the genetic material of an organism in a way that does not occur in natural conditions This technique aims to improve the genetic traits of organisms or develop new products Any organism produced using these techniques is considered a genetically modified organism, genetic engineering relies on a set of tools and techniques, such as CRISPR-Cas9, to make subtle changes in the genome.
The last decades of the twentieth century witnessed scientific revolutions that fundamentally changed human life, foremost of which was the revolution in the field of gene engineering, which is associated with a range of biological experiments, which include gene control and bio cloning. Gene engineering is the study of gene change by adding or disabling a gene or set in an organism's genetic material to produce desirable traits or exclude undesirable traits.
How to perform genetic engineering:
Genetic engineering has been done in several ways that are mainly composed of 4 steps:
1- Isolation of the desired gene: Isolation is done by identifying the desired gene to be introduced into cells through prior information about the genes, which is obtained either through the work of libraries of complementary DNA or gDNA, and then these genes are multiplied using polymerase chain reaction.
2- Inserting or loading the desired gene into a suitable carrier such as a plasmid. Other carriers such as viral carriers or liposomes may also be used.
3- Inserting the pregnant woman into the cells of the organism to be modified, and it is done in several ways, including the DNA gun.
4- Isolation and separation of cells or organisms that have been successfully genetically modified from normal.
This is done in several ways, including: using the DNA probe to investigate the input gene or using the discriminating parameters (Selectable Marker) to investigate a resistance trait present with the pregnant woman and be distinguished by her resistance to a certain trait, such as discriminatory parameters that gain resistance to a particular antibiotic.
Genetic engineering plays a major role in many applications, the most important of which are:
Biological and agricultural applications:
1- Improved agricultural yields: Plants can be genetically modified to withstand extreme environmental conditions such as drought and salinity. It is also possible to increase the resistance of plants to diseases and pests, which reduces the need to use chemical pesticides, in addition to increasing plant productivity.
A- The genome of the cotton plant has been modified to be adapted to give new specifications and properties that did not exist before.
B- The size of the fruit can be increased by introducing a gene encoding for volumetric fruiting gigantism, which means an excessive increase in the size of the fruit.
C- In the genetic grafting processes for the production of insect-resistant plants, high accuracy in the selection of genes is taken into account, so as not to lead to poisoning of humans.
D- Increase wheat grain production by genetic engineering by increasing the number of spikes in the plant and increasing the number of grains per spike.
2- Genetically modified animals: used to develop new breeds of animals that produce more quality meat or milk containing additional nutrients. They are also used to produce typical animals for the study of human diseases.
Industrial applications:
1- Industrial Enzyme Production: Genetic engineering is used to produce enzymes used in the food industry, such as quality enzymes in the bread and dairy industry.
2- Bioenergy: Developing genetically modified microbes to efficiently convert biomass into biofuels, contributing to the production of renewable and sustainable energy sources.
3- Waste processing: The use of genetically modified microorganisms to analyse environmental pollutants and industrial waste, helping to reduce environmental pollution
4- Production of proteins of high vital value as food for livestock and poultry.
5- The production of different types of animals and plants that are characterized by their large body compared to the resulting species, and these experiments are still restricted by a number of specific laws.
6- Production of milk hormone in cattle to increase milk production.
7- Produce reformulated marine bacteria capable of eliminating pollution from large oil spills that seep into the seas and oceans decompose them into simple compounds and digest them.
8- Produce microbes that treat wastewater, eliminate harmful substances and odours and make it fit for various purposes.
Medical applications:
1- Gene therapy: This technique aims to treat genetic diseases by correcting or replacing defective genes in the patient's cells. An example is the treatment of hereditary blood diseases such as thalassemia and sickle cell anemia.
2- Product of therapeutic drugs and proteins: Genetic engineering is used to produce human insulin, clotting factors for haemophilia patients, and many other biological drugs.
3- Vaccine development: Used to develop new and more effective vaccines for infectious diseases such as HIV and influenza. Production of some drugs in large quantities: Insulin was the first human drug manufactured by genetic engineering in 1982.It was also possible through this engineering to obtain human clotting factor and clot-dissolving agents.
4- Production of hormones in ample quantities: such as human growth hormone.
5- Genetically produce interferon, a growth hormone to treat human stunting and slow growth.
6- Production of bacterial insulin instead of traditional extracted from pigs and cows.
7- Production of special synthetic vaccines. The process of producing them by conventional methods includes several hazards such as hepatitis C virus vaccine and influenza.
8- Production of pharmaceutical chemicals and antibiotics at a lower cost and at a high production rate.
9- Production of tissue plasminogen-activated enzyme that is used to prevent blood clotting inside the circulatory system for heart attack patients.
10- Production of blood plasma albumin in order to reduce the problems and risks of obtaining contaminated plasma from patient blood donors.
11- Production of a large number of vaccines and vaccines against human, animal and plant diseases.
12- Early diagnosis of some genetic diseases such as sickle cell anemia and phenolic urine.
13- Gene therapy such as: adding the gene for insulin production in the human chromosome, this leads to the possibility of the patient with diabetes mellitus always cured, and the treatment of some immunodeficiency diseases.
14- Human chorionic contraceptive vaccine: Scientists have been able to come up with a pregnancy-regulating vaccine used by women through genetic engineering techniques, which is a hormone (gonadotropin) human choriopath, which is injected by women, which stimulates the immune system to form antibodies that attack the egg before fertilization and destruction, and also stimulates the ovaries not to produce the hormone (progesterone) necessary for the ovulation process. With this vaccine, women can use an injection of the hormone instead of taking synthetic progesterone tablets daily, or using an IUD, and the resulting blood clots, weight gain, nausea and vomiting as a result of the pills causing disruption in the menstrual cycle.
Challenges and ethics: Despite the significant benefits of genetic engineering, it raises some ethical and legal issues. These issues include concerns about their impacts on the environment and biodiversity, as well as concerns about genetic modifications in humans and their potential to be used for unethical purposes such as selective enhancement of genetic traits.
Conclusion: Genetic engineering represents a revolution in science and technology, with enormous potential to improve our lives in various fields. Through its applications in biology, medicine and industry, we can address many health and environmental challenges. However, this technology must be approached with caution to ensure that it is used safely and ethically.
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