RECOMBINANT DNA

for General Biology 2 Grade 11

Quarter 3 / Week 1

1
 FOREWORD

The Department of Education through the Bureau of

Curriculum Development and Curriculum Standards
Development Division has crafted the Most Essential
Learning Competencies (MELCs) for teachers to address
the needs and demands of the learners brought about by
the pandemic.

This self-learning kit (SLK) will help the learners to have

full understanding on the important applications of
recombinant DNA. Learners will be able to outline the
processes involved in genetic engineering and
appreciate the important applications of recombinant
DNA.

The writer ensures that the lessons are substantial,

simple, and interactive so that Filipino learners will learn
meaningfully.

2
OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, the learners shall be able to:

K – discuss the applications of recombinant DNA.
S – outline the processes involved in genetic engineering.
A – appreciate the importance of recombinant DNA by listing
its applications in daily life.

LEARNING COMPETENCIES
• Outline the processes involved in genetic engineering
(STEM_BIO11/12-IIIa-b-6)

• Discuss the applications of recombinant DNA

(STEM_BIO11/12-IIIa-b-7)

Ma’am, why is it Good question, Cardo!

that the tomatoes The reason for that is
don’t have the the so-called
same size? recombinant DNA.

Another good
But what is
question, Cardo!
recombinant
DNA? Well, that will be
our lesson for
today.

3
I. WHAT HAPPENED
PRE-TEST
Directions: Identify the word(s) described in each item by filling in the correct
letters. Write your answers in your notebook.

1. It produces genetically engineered organisms.

R_CO_B_N_NT DNA
2. Genetically modified crops
A_R_C_LT_R_L APPLICATIONS
3. Production of antibiotics, hormones, and vaccines
M_D_C_L AP_LIC_T_ON
4. It is a molecule which contains all information necessary to
build and maintain an organism.
D_O_YR_B_N_CL_IC A_C_D
5. Production of chemical compounds of commercial
importance
_ND_STRI_L A_PL_C_TI_N
6. It is a process using recombinant DNA technology to alter the
genetic makeup of an organism.
G_N_T_C ENG_N_ER_NG
7. It is the basic unit of heredity.
G_N_S
8. It produces copies of genes or segments of DNA.
G_N_ C_O_N_NG
9. An individual that supplies living tissue to be used in another body.
D_N_R _RG_N_S_
10. A DNA nucleotide used as a vehicle to artificially carry foreign
gene/materials.
V_CT_R G_N_M_

II. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

DISCUSSION

A Brief History of Recombinant DNA

The use of recombinant (r)DNA technology to produce genetically

engineered organisms started in the early 1970s with the pioneering transfer
of genes between bacteria of the same Escherichia coli (E. coli) species.
Following these successful pilot experiments, in 1978 Cohen and colleagues
4
progressed to transfer an insulin synthesis gene into a plasmid of E. coli, with
that producing the first genetically modified organism (GMO). By 1982, this
protocol received full approval from national drug regulatory authorities,
notably the US Food and Drug Administration, thereby enabling the
economically viable mass production of human insulin, a hormone that
regulates blood sugar levels and is made naturally by beta cells in the
pancreas. This facilitated the widespread commercial availability of insulin at
a price affordable to patients with the metabolic disorders’ types 1 and 2
diabetes mellitus, who either fail to produce or to metabolize sufficient insulin.

This proof of principle demonstration of the translational medical

benefits of genetic modification pioneered a trend in biotechnology for
molecular cloning methods to transfer genes expressing desirable traits into
another host organism thereby producing favorable characteristics. This now
involves both prokaryotes such as bacteria (comparatively routine to modify
genetically by rDNA technology) and eukaryotes including yeast, plants,
insects, and mammals (comparatively complex to manipulate via rDNA
technology).

What is recombinant
DNA?

Recombinant DNA

• Molecules of DNA from two different species that are inserted into
host organism to produce new genetic combinations that are of
value to science, medicine, agriculture, and industry.
• It is often shortened to rDNA.
• It is an artificially made DNA strand that is formed by the
combination of two or more gene sequences. This new
combination may or may not occur naturally but is engineered
specifically for a purpose to be used in one of the many
applications of recombinant DNA.

5
 What are the important applications of
recombinant DNA?

The three important applications are (1) agricultural applications

(applications in crop improvement), (2) medicinal applications (applications
in medicines), and (3) industrial applications.

I. Agricultural applications (applications in crop improvement)

Genetic engineering has several potential applications in crop
improvement, such as given below:

1. Distant hybridization
With the advancement of genetic engineering, it is now possible
to transfer genes between distantly related species. The barriers of
gene transfer between species or even genera have been overcome.
The desirable genes can be transferred even from lower organisms to
higher organisms through recombinant DNA technology.

2. Development of transgenic plants

Genetically transformed plants which contain foreign genes are
called transgenic plants. Resistance to diseases, insects and pests,
herbicides, drought; metal toxicity tolerance; induction of male sterility
for plant breeding purpose; and improvement of quality can be
achieved through this recombinant DNA technology. BT-cotton
resistant to bollworms is a glaring example.

3. Development of root nodules in cereal crops

Leguminous plants have root nodules which contain nitrogen-
fixing bacteria Rhizobium. These bacteria convert the free atmospheric
nitrogen into nitrates in the root nodules. The bacterial genes
responsible for this nitrogen fixation can be transferred now to cereal
crops like wheat, rice, maize, barley, etc. through the techniques of
genetic engineering thus making these crops too capable of fixing
atmospheric nitrogen.

6
 4. Development of C4 plants
Improvement in yield can be achieved by improving the
photosynthetic efficiency of crop plants. The photosynthetic rate can
be increased by conversion of C3 plants into C4 plants, which can be
achieved either through protoplasm fusion or recombinant DNA
technology. C4 plants have higher potential rate of biomass production
than C3 plants. Most C4 plants (sorghum, sugarcane, maize, some
grasses) are grown in tropical and subtropical zones.

II. Medicinal applications (applications in medicines)

Biotechnology, especially genetic engineering, plays an important role
in the production of antibiotics, hormones, vaccines, and interferon in the
field of medicines.

1. Production of antibiotics
Penicillium and Streptomyces fungi are used for mass production
of famous antibiotics penicillin and streptomycin. Genetically efficient
strains of these fungi have been developed to greatly increase the
yield of these antibiotics.

2. Production of hormone insulin

Insulin, a hormone used by diabetics, is usually extracted from
the pancreas of cows and pigs. This insulin is slightly different in structure
from human insulin. As a result, it leads to allergic reactions in about 5%
patients. Human gene for insulin production has been incorporated
into bacterial DNA and such genetically engineered bacteria are used
for large-scale production of insulin.

3. Production of vaccines
Vaccines are now produced by transfer of antigen-coding
genes to disease-causing bacteria. Such antibodies provide protection
against the infection by the same bacteria or virus.

4. Production of interferon
Interferons are virus-induced proteins produced by virus-infected
cells. Interferons are antiviral in action and act as first line of defense
against viruses causing serious infections, including breast cancer and
lymph node malignancy. Natural interferon is produced in very small

7
quality from human blood cells. It is thus very costly also. It is now
possible to produce interferon by recombinant DNA technology at
much cheaper rate.

5. Production of enzymes
Some useful enzymes can also be produced by recombinant
DNA technique. For instance, enzyme urokinase, which is used to
dissolve blood clots, has been produced by genetically engineered
microorganisms.

6. Gene therapy
Genetic engineering may one day enable the medical scientists
to replace the defective genes responsible for hereditary diseases
(e.g., hemophilia, phenylketonuria, alkaptonuria) with normal genes.
This new system of therapy is called gene therapy.

7. Solution of disputed parentage

Disputed cases of parentage can now be solved most
accurately by recombinant technology than by blood tests.

8. Diagnosis of disease
Recombinant DNA technology has provided a broad range of
tools to help physicians in the diagnosis of diseases. Most of these
involve the construction of probes: short segments of single-stranded
DNA attached to a radioactive or fluorescent marker. Such probes are
now used for the identification of infectious agents, for instance, food
poisoning Salmonella, pus-forming Staphylococcus, hepatitis virus, HIV,
etc. By testing the DNA of prospective genetic disorder carrier parents,
their genotype can be determined and their chances of producing an
afflicted child can be predicted.

9. Production of transgenic animals

Animals which carry foreign genes are called transgenic animals.

Examples:
Cow, sheep, goat – therapeutic human proteins in their milk. Fish like
common carp, catfish, salmon and goldfish contain human growth
hormone (hGH).

8
III. Industrial applications
In industries, recombinant DNA technique will help in the production of
chemical compounds of commercial importance, improvement of existing
fermentation processes, and production of proteins from wastes. This can be
achieved by developing more efficient strains of microorganisms. Specially
developed microorganisms may be used even to clean up the pollutants.
Thus, biotechnology, especially recombinant DNA technology, has many
useful applications in crop improvement, medicines, and industry.

What is genetic
engineering?

Genetic engineering
• It is the process of using rDNA technology to alter the genetic
makeup of an organism. Traditionally, humans have manipulated
genomes indirectly by controlling breeding and selecting offspring
with desired traits.
• It involves the direct manipulation of one or more genes. Most often,
a gene from another species is added to an organism's genome to
give it a desired phenotype.
• It is the artificial modification of an organism’s genetic composition.
Genetic engineering typically involves transferring genes from one
organism into another organism of a different species to give the
latter specific traits of the former. The resulting organism is called a
transgenic or genetically modified organism (GMO).

Source: https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/dineshbhati5209000/genetically-modified-organisms-34236637

9
 Five Basic Processes in Genetic Engineering

DNA Extraction Gene Cloning

Transformation Gene Design

Backcross
Breeding

10
 Step 1: DNA extraction
The process of genetic engineering requires
the successful completion of a series of five steps.
DNA extraction is the first step in the genetic
engineering process. In order to work with DNA,
scientists must extract it from the desired organism. A
sample of an organism containing the gene of
interest is taken through a series of steps to remove
the DNA.

Step 2: Gene cloning

The second step of the genetic engineering

process is gene cloning. During DNA extraction, all of
the DNA from the organism is extracted at once.
Scientists use gene cloning to separate the single
gene of interest from the rest of the genes extracted
and make thousands of copies of it.

Step 3: Gene design

Once a gene has been cloned, genetic
engineers begin the third step, designing the
gene to work once inside a different organism.
This is done in a test tube by cutting the gene
apart with enzymes and replacing gene
regions that have been separated.

Step 4: Transformation (e.g., plants)

The modified gene is now ready for the
fourth step in the process, transformation, or
gene insertion.
Since plants have millions of cells, it
would be impossible to insert a copy of the
transgene into every cell. Therefore, tissue
culture is used to propagate masses of
undifferentiated plant cells called callus.
These are the cells to which the new
transgene will be added.

11
 The new gene is inserted into some of the cells using various
techniques. Some of the more common methods include the gene gun,
agrobacterium, microfibers, and electroporation.

The main goal of each of these methods is to transport the new

gene(s) and deliver them into the nucleus of a cell without killing it.
Transformed plant cells are then regenerated into transgenic plants. The
transgenic plants are grown to maturity in greenhouses, and the seed they
produce, which has inherited the transgene, is collected. The genetic
engineer's job is now complete. He/she will hand the transgenic seeds over to
a plant breeder who is responsible for the final step.

Step 5 : Backcross breeding (e.g., engineered

crop)
Transgenic plants are crossed with elite
breeding lines using traditional plant breeding
methods to combine the desired traits of elite parents
and the transgene into a single line. The offspring are
repeatedly crossed back to the elite line to obtain a
high-yielding transgenic line. The result will be a plant
with a yield potential close to current hybrids that
expresses the trait encoded by the new transgene.

12
III. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

POST-TEST

A. MATCHING TYPE. Match column A with column B. Write your answers in

your notebook.
A B

1. Transformation A. Crop improvement

2. DNA extraction B. Extraction of DNA from a donor
3. Recombinant DNA organism
4. Gene cloning C. Gene insertion into vector genome
5. Agricultural application D. Combination of two DNA
6. Genetic engineering molecules form new genetic
7. Gene design combination
8. Medicinal application E. Produce a genetically engineered
9. Backcross breeding product
10. Industrial application F. Production of antibiotics,
hormones, and vaccines
G. Copying of DNA from donor
organism
H. Alters the genetic makeup of an
organism
I. Designing of gene from a different
organism
J. Production of chemical
compounds

B. Read and understand each item carefully. Write your answers in your
notebook.
1. Discuss the applications of recombinant DNA.
_______________________________________________________________
2. List down at least three important applications of recombinant DNA
in daily life.
a. ____________________________________
b._____________________________________
c._____________________________________

13
 REFERENCES

https://medcraveonline.com/JABB/application-of-recombinant-
dna-technology-genetically-modified-organisms-to-the-
advancement-of-agriculture-medicine-bioremediation-and-
biotechnology-industries.html
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/dna/recombinant-dna-
technology/applications-of-recombinant-dna-technology-3-
applications/15650
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0020723800873741
9#:~:text=Genetic%20engineering%20is%20accomplished%20in,ve
ctor%20in%20an%20appropriate%20host
http://www.fao.org/3/Y4955E/y4955e06.htm
https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Genetic-Engineering
http://agbiosafety.unl.edu/education/summary.htm

https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/What-is-
Recombinant-DNA.aspx
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/genetic-engineering.asp

14
 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF NEGROS ORIENTAL

SENEN PRISCILLO P. PAULIN, CESO V

Schools Division Superintendent

FAY C. LUAREZ, TM, Ed.D., Ph.D.

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Acting CID Chief

NILITA L. RAGAY, Ed.D.

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

ROSELA R. ABIERA
Education Program Supervisor – (LRMS)

ARNOLD R. JUNGCO
PSDS-Division Science Coordinator

MARICEL S. RASID
Librarian II (LRMDS)

ELMAR L. CABRERA
PDO II (LRMDS)

RUSSEL C. CADAY
WRITER

IVANNE RAY A. GIDOR

LAY-OUT ARTIST
_________________________________
ALPHA QA TEAM
LIEZEL A. AGOR
MA. OFELIA I. BUSCATO
ANDRE ARIEL B. CADIVIDA
THOMAS JOGIE U. TOLEDO

BETA QA TEAM
LIEZEL A. AGOR
JOAN Y. BUBULI
LIELIN A. DE LA ZERNA
PETER PAUL A. PATRON
THOMAS JOGIE U. TOLEDO

DISCLAIMER

The information, activities and assessments used in this material are designed to provide
accessible learning modality to the teachers and learners of the Division of Negros Oriental. The
contents of this module are carefully researched, chosen, and evaluated to comply with the set
learning competencies. The writers and evaluator were clearly instructed to give credits to
information and illustrations used to substantiate this material. All content is subject to copyright
and may not be reproduced in any form without expressed written consent from the division.

15
SYNOPSIS B. Answers may vary

The recombinant DNA 10. J

sometimes referred to as
9. E
8. F
“genetic engineering” can 7. I
benefit people in several ways. It 6. H

has been exploited to provide

5. A
4. G
selective improvement in various 3. D

specialties that includes

2. B
1. C
agriculture, medicine, and A.
industries. Its applications have POST-TEST

been become evident to every 5. IV

situation as it has been already 4. II

applied nowadays.
3. I
2. V
1. III
However, it has always
Activity

been a topic of controversy as 10. Vector genome

the balance aims to reach 9. Donor organism

between the benefits accrued

8. Gene cloning
7. Genes
to humans and attendant 6. Genetic engineering
ethical consideration is open to
5. Industrial application
4. Deoxyribonucleic acid
debate. 3. Medicinal application
2. Agricultural application
1. Recombinant DNA
PRE-TEST

ANSWER KEY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RUSSEL C. CADAY finished his Bachelor’s Degree in
Secondary Education at Negros Oriental State
University, Bais Campus II, major in Biological Sciences in
2017. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in
Education major in General Science at Central
Philippine State University, San Carlos Campus.
Currently, he is a teacher I at Owacan Provincial
Community High School of Jimalalud District in the
Division of Negros Oriental.

16