Transformation is the process in which cell incorporates and expresses a new piece of genetic material derived from another organism. This new genetic information provides the organism with a new trait which is identifiable after transformation. Transformation is used in many areas of biotechnology, including mass production of proteins. For example, a healthy human gene for the hormone insulin can be put into bacteria. Under the right conditions, these bacteria can make authentic human insulin. This insulin can then be used to treat patients with diabetes. In medicine, transformation is being used to treat genetic disorders in the process called gene therapy.
Bacteria are the best suited organisms for the transformation process because they are single-cell organisms and are able of reproducing quickly, creating a fast production of daughter cells containing the desired genes. Fast production of offspring allows quickly assess if the new trait has been passed on. Bacteria naturally contain one or more small circular pieces of DNA called plasmids. Plasmid DNA usually contains genes for one or more traits that may be beneficial to bacterial survival. In nature, bacteria can transfer plasmids back and forth, allowing them to share …show more content…
coli with pGLO plasmid that codes for Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). The pGLO plasmid encodes a fluorescent protein that glows green when exposed to ultraviolet light. Following transformation, the bacteria express their newly acquired gene and produce fluorescent protein which causes them to glow brilliant green under ultraviolet light. The pGLO plasmid also contains an arabinose promoter that regulates the expression of GFP gene. The promoter determines whether the gene will be turned on or off. When arabinose is present in the growth medium, the gene is expressed. However, when arabinose is absent from the growth medium, the green protein gene is not
Bacteria are the best suited organisms for the transformation process because they are single-cell organisms and are able of reproducing quickly, creating a fast production of daughter cells containing the desired genes. Fast production of offspring allows quickly assess if the new trait has been passed on. Bacteria naturally contain one or more small circular pieces of DNA called plasmids. Plasmid DNA usually contains genes for one or more traits that may be beneficial to bacterial survival. In nature, bacteria can transfer plasmids back and forth, allowing them to share …show more content…
coli with pGLO plasmid that codes for Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). The pGLO plasmid encodes a fluorescent protein that glows green when exposed to ultraviolet light. Following transformation, the bacteria express their newly acquired gene and produce fluorescent protein which causes them to glow brilliant green under ultraviolet light. The pGLO plasmid also contains an arabinose promoter that regulates the expression of GFP gene. The promoter determines whether the gene will be turned on or off. When arabinose is present in the growth medium, the gene is expressed. However, when arabinose is absent from the growth medium, the green protein gene is not