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Mysterious gene insertion technology: How do scientists precisely modify DNA?
The development of genetic engineering technology has made it possible to modify the genomes of animals and plants, allowing scientists to insert, delete and change genes in a variety of ways. Behind this ability are years of research into gene function and its manipulation. With the rapid development of genetic technology, scientists are able to perform modification operations with precision, bringing unlimited imagination space for future scientific and agricultural development.
Creating a transgenic or edited organism requires the careful execution of multiple steps, from selecting the gene to isolating and incorporating it into a suitable vector, which is then used to insert the gene into the host genome.
Genetic engineering is based on several scientific discoveries, including restriction enzymes, DNA ligases, and the development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing technologies. These tools allow genes to be manipulated not only efficiently but also with precision. Compared with the old random insertion technology, modern technology can more accurately locate the insertion point and reduce unnecessary side effects.
Traditionally, scientists have relied on techniques such as meiotic endonucleases and zinc finger nucleases, which make the gene insertion process complex and difficult to control. Since 2009, the precision offered by TALEN and CRISPR-based Cas9 systems has greatly improved all of this, significantly increasing the accuracy and efficiency of gene editing.
History of genetic engineering
Human manipulation of genes can be traced back to artificial selection in ancient agriculture. As early as 12,000 BC, people were using artificial selection to drive genetic changes in plants and animals. Over time, our understanding of how genes work has evolved, including the early work of Mendel's laws of inheritance and the landmark discovery in 1944 of DNA as the genetic material.
Dating back to 1865, Mendel's first published experimental results revealed the laws of genetic inheritance and ushered in the era of modern genetics.
Scientific and technological advances in the 20th century further promoted the development of genetics. For example, the discovery of restriction endonucleases and DNA ligases paved the way for recombinant DNA technology, which can not only splice genes, but also form new Gene combination. Later, Kary Mullis developed the PCR technology in 1983, which enabled scientists to quickly and efficiently amplify specific DNA fragments and further screen and modify them.
Select target gene
Before performing gene editing, you first need to determine the target gene to be inserted. This process is often driven by scientists' specific needs for target organisms. This may involve just one or two genes, or a more complex biosynthetic pathway. Once the genes are identified, scientists can insert genes from different organisms into bacteria for storage and modification.
Researchers identify the best candidate genes through gene screening and comparison, which promotes gene analysis and mining, thus providing support for subsequent experiments.
For example, for organisms that are not normally prone to mutation, scientists might select individuals that have naturally mutated for closer exploration. The screening of target genes will further determine their similarity with known genes based on their functions, thereby selecting the genes to be inserted. With advances in genomics, microarrays and genome sequencing have made screening significantly more efficient and easier.
Gene manipulation technology
Every process of genetic engineering involves precise modification of DNA. First, scientists need to extract DNA from cells, a process that usually relies on chemical methods to break the cells apart and separate the DNA from other cellular components using methods such as centrifugation. After extraction, the target gene needs to be separated, usually by step-wise cleavage into small fragments with the help of restriction endonucleases.
In the actual extraction and modification of genes, researchers use enzymes such as RNase to perform continuous and precise operations to ensure that the obtained DNA fragments are complete and intact, and then perform multiple screening and cloning.
In this process, in order to enable the inserted gene to be effectively expressed, it is usually necessary to add promoter and terminator regions to the constructed gene. These additional elements help regulate how genes are expressed and how they function. Once the gene is constructed, it must be inserted into the host genome, a process accomplished using different techniques, depending on the organism being targeted.
Future Outlook
The development in the field of genetic engineering has opened a new chapter in biotechnology. From transgenic plants to the establishment of animal models, gene editing technology has been widely used in many fields such as agriculture, medicine and environmental science. As technology improves, can we expect to see newer breakthroughs in genetic engineering in the future?
