Saturday 23 February 2019

What You Should Know Concerning A Genetically Engineered Organelle

By Nancy Burns


Organelles are small structures, which perform specific functions in a cell. They are embedded within the cytoplasm of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Organelles are analogous to the internal organs of the body. They are specialized and carry out functions that allow cells to function normally like generating energy for cells and controlling the growth as well as reproduction of cells. Fundamental processes like cell respiration and photosynthesis also take place in the organelles. Some examples of the organelles found in animal and plant cells include the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, Golgi complex, lysosomes, chloroplast and vacuoles.

Genetic engineering makes it possible to modify organelles. Through genetic engineering, researchers are able to change the structure of the genes. This purposeful modification involves direct manipulation of the genetic profiles of organisms. The cells that have a genetically engineered organelle function differently. One or more traits that were not present in the organism can be identified.

There are multiple copies of organelles in cells and they have their own DNA. When an artificial chromosome or foreign gene is inserted into an organelle, the cell multiplies it, leading to the production of new cells with many copies of the inserted gene. In certain situations that can be induced, the cells of plants also raise the number of copies of their organelles. For this reason, the genetically engineered organelles can secure many copies of the inserted DNA, leading to a high level of expression of the engineered genes.

One significant advantage of genetically engineering an organelle, especially the plant chloroplast is making the engineered plants produce more. This enables farmers to grow more food at an affordable rate. When food is more affordable, it is easier to feed hungry populations around the world.

Another essential promise for genetically engineered organelles for the biotech industry is that the foreign DNA can be passed to the next generation. The organelles are transferred through maternal inheritance as matching copies. Female animals transfer matching copies to their offspring and plants to all the seeds they produce, without changes. This can ensure the stability of genetically engineered traits from one generation to the other.

The genetic engineering of organelles also enables researchers to change the way plants and animals grow. Maturity can take place faster. Plants can also mature even if the typical growing conditions are absent.

Genetic modification also helps to create resistance to typical forms of organism death. For instance, it is possible to include pest resistance to the genetic profiles of plants so that they may mature as crops without further additives. The genetic profiles of animals can also be modified to mitigate the risks of common health concerns which can affect the species or breed.

Genetic modification of organelles also enables researchers to create specific characteristics in plants and animals, making them better for use or eating. For instance, genetic modification can make animals produce more milk or have more muscle tissue. Through genetic engineering, researchers can also create new products by bringing different profiles together. An example is modifying the genetic profile of potato plants so that the nutrients per kilo calorie in potatoes will be higher.




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