The Plant World The Plant World and and

Genetic EngineeringGenetic Engineering

Jana Klose, Greg Lampard

UBC Biotechnology LaboratoryUBC Biotechnology Laboratory

Part IPart ITransgenic PlantsTransgenic Plants

• Biotechnology in the pastBiotechnology in the past– making bread and cheese, brewing beer

– crossbreeding plants

What Is Biotechnology?What Is Biotechnology?• Harnessing the natural biological processes Harnessing the natural biological processes

of living systems for the benefit of mankindof living systems for the benefit of mankind

• Modern biotechnologyModern biotechnology– genetic engineering

Genetic EngineeringGenetic Engineering• The process of manipulating and transferring The process of manipulating and transferring instructions carried by genes from one cell to anotherinstructions carried by genes from one cell to another

Why do scientists want to change gene Why do scientists want to change gene instructions?instructions?

• to produce needed chemicals• to carry out useful processes• to give an organism desired characteristics

DNA IS DNA IS EVERYWHERE EVERYWHERE

• GenesGenes = the coding system for instructions• A geneA gene = is a segment of DNA

Guanine(G)

Cytosine(C)

Adenine(A)

Thymine(T)

bases DNA

DNA and GenesDNA and Genes

gene

Genes and ProteinsGenes and Proteins

Gene(a piece of DNA)

traitprotein

translationtranslation

mRNA

transcriptiontranscription

Restriction enzymesRestriction enzymes

As As biological biological scissorsscissors

Plant Genetic EngineeringPlant Genetic Engineering

Transgenic PlantsTransgenic Plants• the product of plant genetic engineering

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

• the label for transgenic plants Genetically Engineered Organism (GEO) Genetically Engineered Organism (GEO)

Plant Genetic Engineering ProcessPlant Genetic Engineering Process

Cell

Extracted DNA

Cell divisionTransgenic plant

A single gene

Transformation

Plant cell

How are Transgenic Plants How are Transgenic Plants Produced?Produced?

• Agrobacterium tumefaciensAgrobacterium tumefaciens

• Gene Gun / BiolisticsGene Gun / Biolistics

• ElectroporationElectroporation

Commonly Used Methods:Commonly Used Methods:

Agrobacterium tumefaciensAgrobacterium tumefaciens

Ti plasmid

AgrobacteriumGenomic DNA

Plant cellGenomic DNA

(carries the gene of the gene of interestinterest)

+

Ti plasmid with the gene of interest

Gene of interest

Empty plasmid

Restriction enzyme AA

Restriction enzyme AA

Agrobacterium

Ti plasmid with the new gene

Plant cell

cell’s DNA

Transgenic plant Cell division

The new gene

+ Transformation

Agrobacterium tumefaciensAgrobacterium tumefaciens

““Gene Gun” TechniqueGene Gun” TechniqueDNA coated

golden particles

Gene gun

Cell division

A plant cell withthe new gene

Transgenic plant

Plant cell

Cell’s DNA

Duracell

DNA containingthe gene of interest

Plant cell

Protoplast

Electroporation Electroporation TechniqueTechniquePower supply

DNA inside the plant cell

The plant cell withthe new gene

Next Generation of Transgenic Next Generation of Transgenic CropsCrops

• Plant-based vaccines Plant-based vaccines • Enhanced nutritional contentEnhanced nutritional content• Functional foods and phytoceuticalsFunctional foods and phytoceuticals• Transgenic plants for phytoremediationTransgenic plants for phytoremediation• Plant-derived plastics and polymers Plant-derived plastics and polymers