How are transgenic organisms created in biotechnology?

Transgenic organisms are created in biotechnology by inserting foreign genes into an organism's DNA using recombinant DNA technology.

In more detail, the process of creating transgenic organisms involves several steps. Firstly, the gene of interest, which is the gene that scientists want to insert into the organism, is identified and isolated. This can be a gene from another species or a synthetic gene. The gene is then cloned to produce multiple copies.

Next, the gene is inserted into a vector. A vector is a DNA molecule used as a vehicle to artificially carry foreign genetic material into another cell. Plasmids, which are small, circular pieces of DNA found in bacteria, are often used as vectors. The gene of interest is inserted into the plasmid DNA using enzymes, creating recombinant DNA.

The recombinant DNA is then introduced into the organism. This can be done in several ways. In bacteria, the plasmid can be introduced by transformation, where the bacteria take up the plasmid from their surroundings. In plants, a bacterium called Agrobacterium tumefaciens is often used to transfer the gene. In animals, the gene can be injected into the fertilised egg or embryonic cells.

Once inside the organism, the foreign gene integrates into the organism's own DNA. The organism is now transgenic and can express the foreign gene. This means it can produce the protein that the gene codes for.

The creation of transgenic organisms has many applications in biotechnology. For example, transgenic bacteria can be used to produce human insulin, and transgenic plants can be engineered to be resistant to pests or to produce higher yields. However, the use of transgenic organisms also raises ethical and environmental concerns, such as the potential for unintended effects on ecosystems or the food chain.