Artificial gene synthesis is a biological engineering process that enables scientists to rewrite and create genes. The ability to rewrite genes is substantial, and many applications of this technology can be seen from agriculture to medicine. Specifically, scientists are able to revolutionize the way we obtain insulin as well as many other impactful advancements
E. Coli to Insulin:
This application of gene engineering follows the Central Dogma of molecular biology, where DNA is transcribed into RNA and then translated to protein. Following this principle, scientists looked into manipulating this mechanism by editing plasmid DNA, a circular DNA that can be found in E.Coli. This differs from normal DNA in that it can replicate independently and is separate from the chromosome DNA. With gene synthesis, we can build human insulin genes in a lab, and replace a section of the plasmid DNA with said genes. Once this is successful, scientists will incubate and start mass-producing insulin. The bacteria’s cellular machinery will recognize this DNA as its own and begin translating mRNA into proteins. Finally, extracting the DNA and purifying it will yield insulin, the life saving hormone that can be produced sustainably using gene synthesis.
Additional Example:
Gene synthesis works with all kinds of DNA, such as with the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), which is a protein that stems from jellyfish cells—using the same process mentioned in the previous paragraph, replacing the human insulin gene with the gene that codes for GFP. This protein is often used as a proof of concept, as gene expression is visible through its fluorescence under ultraviolet light. This discovery has also curated many discoveries in cancer, helping monitor DNA and protein localization and assisting researchers in identifying how cancer spreads.
Artificial gene synthesis can make insulin production sustainable, providing diabetes treatment to millions of people, and has enabled us to visualize previously invisible components, aiding cancer research. All in all, this process has transformed the field of biotechnology and molecular biology and permitted the discovery of life saving medicine and technology.
References
Riggs, Arthur D. “Making, Cloning, and the Expression of Human Insulin Genes in Bacteria: The Path to Humulin.” NCBI, 19 December 2020, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8152450/. Accessed 6 July 2023.
Zou, Yawen. “Green Fluorescent Protein | The Embryo Project Encyclopedia.” The Embryo Project Encyclopedia, 11 June 2014, https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/green-fluorescent-protein. Accessed 6 July 2023.Wendt, D. (n.d.). How did they make insulin from recombinant DNA?. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
“How Did They Make Insulin from Recombinant DNA?” U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 2020, www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/fromdnatobeer/exhibition-interactive/recombinant-DNA/recombinant-dna-technology-alternative.html.
Swaminathan, Sowmya. “GFP: The Green Revolution.” Nature News, 1 Oct. 2009, www.nature.com/articles/milelight18#:~:text=GFP%20was%20first%20discovered%20fortuitously,victoria.
M;, Zimmer. “GFP: From Jellyfish to The Nobel Prize and Beyond.” Chemical Society Reviews, 28 Oct. 2009, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19771329/#:~:text=On%20December%2010%2C%202008%20Osamu,science%20and%20medicine%20is%20described.
Sundaram, Jeyashree. “GFP Applications.” News, 26 Feb. 2019, www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/GFP-Applications.aspx#:~:text=GFP%20and%20its%20derivatives%20with,and%20in%20various%20biological%20selections.
“The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2008.” NobelPrize.Org, www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2008/press-release/#:~:text=With%20the%20aid%20of%20GFP,or%20how%20cancer%20cells%20spread. Accessed 9 July 2023.
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