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 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 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.
The next step involves insertion of the isolated gene into an organelle (mitochondria or chloroplast). If the targeted cell is a bacterium, processes such as electric shocking and thermal stimulation may be required. In animal cells, the most common technique is known as microinjection. Those used in plants include antibacterial mediated recombination, electroporation and biolistics among others.
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 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.
The next step involves insertion of the isolated gene into an organelle (mitochondria or chloroplast). If the targeted cell is a bacterium, processes such as electric shocking and thermal stimulation may be required. In animal cells, the most common technique is known as microinjection. Those used in plants include antibacterial mediated recombination, electroporation and biolistics among others.
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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