- DNA ^0 Genetic Engg.pptxIdentify a specific gene responsible for a trait

🧫 Basic Concept
Every living organism has DNA — the code that controls how it grows, functions, and looks.
Scientists can now:
Identify a specific gene responsible for a trait (e.g., insulin production)
Isolate it from one organism (like human DNA)
Insert it into another organism (like bacteria)
So that the new organism now produces that same trait or protein

1. Advancements in DNA & Genetic Engineering YOGITA VERMA MSC (N)

2. Can we edit life? If you could remove a disease from your family forever - by editing a single gene, Wo uld you do it? Eg - Diabetes Every living thing, from a tiny bacterium to a blue whale, carries  DNA , the  code of life . Just like a computer runs on code written in 0s and 1s, life runs on a  biological code  made up of  A, T, G, and C  — the four bases of DNA.

3. DNA & Genetic Engineering DNA = Deoxy ribonucleic Acid It stores genetic instructions that decide how you look, grow, and function The Code That Makes You, YOU!

4. What is DNA? Deoxy R ibo Nucleic Acid. It is the  genetic material  found inside every cell that carries the instructions for how living things grow, look, and function. It looks like a  twisted ladder  — called a  double helix . Each step of this ladder is made of four   A (Adenine) T (Thymine) G (Guanine) C (Cytosine) . These letters form words and sentences — which are  genes  — that tell our cells what to do

5. What Is Genetic Engineering? Genetic Engineering  is the process of  modifying an organism’s DNA  to change its characteristics in a desired way. It’s like editing a word document - replacing a “wrong letter” in life’s code to fix or enhance it. Example: Inserting a drought-resistance gene into rice. Creating insulin-producing bacteria for diabetic patients.

6. Imagine if you could grow a mango tree that gives chocolate-flavoured mangoes or a rose that glows in the dark like a firefly! Sounds like science fiction, right? Well, it’s real! It’s called  genetic engineering!

7. BASICS The Cell – The Smallest Unit of Life. Every living thing a plant/animal/humans is made of cells. Your skin, muscles, blood, and brain, all are built from millions of cells.

8. DNA – The Instruction Manual Inside Each Cell Inside every cell, there’s a nucleus (the control room). Inside that nucleus lives DNA (Deoxy ribo Nucleic Acid), a long, twisted molecule that stores all the instructions for life. DNA is the book of instructions that tells the cell how to build and run your body.

9. Gene – A Small Chapter of the DNA Book DNA is super long & divided into small sections called genes. Each gene gives one specific instruction For example: One gene tells your eyes to be brown Another helps your hair to be curly.

10. Protein – The Final Product The cell reads the gene’s instructions and makes proteins (tiny molecules) that build your body. Eg - Proteins make up your skin, muscles, hair etc

11. Think of your body as a super-smart computer Every computer needs software to tell it what to do, right? Well, DNA is your body’s software! It’s the code that tells every cell how to work — how to make your eyes blue, your hair curly, or your muscles strong. Each small piece of this code is called a gene. The cell reads these genes and makes proteins — tiny builders that do all the work inside you. So, DNA = Software Genes = Codes or Apps Proteins = The results you see on screen

12. ADVANCEMENT IN DNA – GENETIC ENGINEERING Genetic Engineering is the process of changing or adding genes in living things to make them work better or to create something new. “It’s like editing a recipe — if the cake is too dry, you tweak the ingredients! In science, if a plant is weak against insects, scientists can add a gene to make it stronger.” It is Genetic Modification(GM)

13. BIOLUMINISCENCE These trees are glowing plants for sustainable, off-grid lighting. It is done either by inserting  light-producing genes from organisms like fireflies into tree DNA  or by infusing wood with  glowing fungi

14. Genetically Modified (GM) Crops Scientists insert new genes to improve yield, nutrition, or resistance. Examples: Bt Cotton (India’s first GM crop, 2002) – produces its own pest-killing protein. Golden Rice – enriched with Vitamin A to fight malnutrition. GM Mustard (Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11) – developed in India for higher yield. India Data: Over 95% of cotton grown in India today is Bt cotton — making India one of the world’s top cotton exporters

15. Agriculture Traditional cotton – Bollworm affected. Bt Cotton fights insect pests " Bt " - Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterium from which the gene was introduced into the cotton plant through genetic engineering. This allows the cotton plant to produce its own insecticidal protein, which protects it from certain pests like the bollworm. Made India a 2nd largest cotton producer in World . ICAR & IARI  developing gene-edited crops for drought, pest, and heat resistance.

16. CRISPR-Cas9 Technology: A  gene-editing tool  that can cut and replace specific parts of DNA. C lustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9 Cas9 protein– Molecular Scissors that cut DNA Applications: Cure genetic diseases like  sickle cell anaemia  and  thalassemia . Create pest-resistant crops.

17. Genetic Engineering in Mosquitoes Scientists use  CRISPR-Cas9  (gene editing tool) to: Make mosquitoes resistant  to the malaria parasite — by adding genes that destroy  Plasmodium  in their gut. Male-only mosquitoes  edit fertility genes so only males are born

18. Human Genome Project: Scientists read the entire DNA code of humans - 3 billion letters , helping us understand diseases better. it aimed to sequence and map all the genes (the human genome) to provide a fundamental "blueprint" of human life . Cure diseases like cancer and genetic disorders.

19. Genome India Project (2020–present) India’s own version of the Human Genome Project. Aim: to sequence the DNA of 10,000 Indians to study genetic diversity and disease patterns unique to India. Coordinated by Bangalore-based Centre for Brain Research (IISc).

20. Synthetic Biology: Scientists now design new forms of life to clean oil spills, eat plastic & make biofuels. It combines biology and engineering to design and create new biological parts, systems & functions not found in nature or to redesign existing ones Eg – Lab grown meat where meat is produced by culturing animal cells in labs thus growing animal flesh, molecularly identical to that of conventional meat .

21. Term Meaning Example DNA Code of life Found in all living things Genetic Engineering Changing existing genes Making crops insect-resistant Synthetic Biology Designing new life Glowing plants, plastic-eating bacteria

22. Engineered Bacteria That Produce Fuel Scientists modified bacteria and algae to  make biofuel  — a clean, renewable energy source Eg - IISc Bengaluru - Designed microbes that make biofuels IIT Delhi developed Synthetic bacteria that purify wastewater, helps to purify wastewater, river and lakes

23. Artificial DNA (XNA) Scientists made a  new type of DNA  called  XNA (Xeno Nucleic Acid)  — that doesn’t exist in nature. G enetically engineered DNA created using synthetic biology techniques, allowing for the design and synthesis of custom DNA sequences, genes These new life forms could one day help design  smart medicines  or  tiny robots inside the body!

24. De-Extinction

25. De Extinction Colossal Biosciences is a company working on the de-extinction of the  woolly mammoth,  Tasmanian tiger, dodo &   dire wolf  using genetic engineering technologies like CRISPR

26. Indian scientists at the National Dairy Research Institute cloned a buffalo named Garima, making India one of the few countries to achieve animal cloning It is to accelerate the multiplication of superior buffaloes, addressing the shortage of elite bulls and improving the quality and quantity of milk production. 

27. Designer Baby   It is a child whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected or modified usually before birth to ensure specific traits or to remove genetic disorders. The original idea was not to create superhumans but to eliminate genetic diseases but recently it is for adding traits It involves genetic engineering of embryos — using advanced tools like CRISPR-Cas9 to edit DNA even before the baby is born Steps - Scientists take an embryo (a fertilized egg).  Using CRISPR-Cas9 — a molecular “scissor” — they cut the DNA at a specific spot. The faulty gene is either removed, repaired, or replaced with a healthy one. The edited embryo is implanted into the mother’s womb.

28. Chinese researcher  He Jiankui  claimed to have created the first gene-edited twins —  Lulu and Nana  — by modifying a gene ( CCR5 ) to make them  HIV-resistant. Scientists worldwide condemned it as  ethically reckless. The experiment violated safety norms — unknown long-term effects. He Jiankui was  jailed  for illegal medical practice

29. Benefits Explanation Example Better Crops Plants can be made to resist insects, drought, or diseases. Bt Cotton More Nutritious Food Scientists can add vitamins and minerals to crops. Golden Rice with Vitamin A Cure for Diseases Faulty genes can be fixed or replaced using gene therapy. Curing disease Making Medicines Bacteria can be modified to make insulin, vaccines, and antibiotics. Insulin for diabetics Environmental Protection Engineered bacteria can clean oil spills or eat plastic! Plastic-eating microbes Animal Improvements Animals can be made to produce more milk or grow faster. High-yield cows or fish Solve World Hunger Crops that grow faster and survive harsh climates can help feed everyone. Drought-resistant crops

30. Concerns Explanation Example Ethical Issues Some people feel it’s “playing with nature” or life itself. Designer babies debate Unknown Health Risks We still don’t know if GM foods have long-term side effects. Some people fear allergies from GM crops Environmental Risk Modified plants or animals might harm natural species or upset ecosystems. Superweeds or cross-breeding Expensive Technology Developing and testing GM crops or medicines costs a lot of money. Poor farmers can’t afford new seeds Loss of Diversity If everyone grows the same GM crop, we may lose natural varieties. Fewer traditional seeds Misuse of Technology DNA editing could be used for wrong purposes - like cloning humans or making harmful bio-weapons. Biotech misuse

31. Summary DNA ( carries all the instructions that make every living thing unique. Genes  are small parts of DNA that decide traits like eye colour, height, or hair type. Proteins  are made from gene instructions — they build and repair your body. Genetic Engineering  means  changing or adding genes  to improve plants, animals, or humans — for example, making  Bt Cotton ,  Golden Rice. It helps fight diseases, grow better food, and protect the environment but must be used safely and ethically. Synthetic Biology  goes a step further it means  designing and creating new life forms  using DNA like building blocks. Examples: glowing plants, lab-grown meat and biofuel-producing microbes.

32. Thank You