Model Organisms
While there are some specific interesting examples of genetic engineering done on some organisms, there are organisms that have been extensively experimented on, due to their relatively simple genome for specific engineering purpose, their short life cycle resulting in large number of generations in short amount of time, or something else. These are called model organisms, and they have been invaluable in genetic engineering because they have helped us study a lot of different things, like metabolism, diseases, functions of novel genes, etc., which would otherwise be unethical to study on humans, but can still benefit us due to the similarity of genes involved, chemicals, etc.
Viruses and Bacteria
Viruses and bacteria have very small genomes which are amendable to genetic dissection, making them perfect model organisms for a number of different experiments. Their study has given us many insights into gene control, especially when we are talking about the proteins involved in the DNA and RNA, protein synthesis as well as metabolism (in the case of bacteria). Gene regulation has also been studied a lot because it is a complex field of genetic engineering, making it hard for exploration in organisms with complex genomes.
Viruses are also perfect targets for the study of cancer and control of cell proliferation. Also, due to their intrinsic function, transport of proteins and organelles inside the cells has also been extensively examined with them, as well as infection and immunity. This has helped us a lot, especially since it gives us some alternative possible approaches to gene therapies.
Bacteria, on the other hand, are perfect targets for experimentations on new antibiotics, especially since it is relatively easy to control their “behavior”, sensitivity or resistance, with the help of plasmids and insertions or silencing of different genes. Study of their cell cycle has also given us a lot of insight into control of cell division and phases in the life of a cell. Bacteria are also great targets for studying of the signaling mechanisms, both inside the cell and between different cells.
While there are some specific interesting examples of genetic engineering done on some organisms, there are organisms that have been extensively experimented on, due to their relatively simple genome for specific engineering purpose, their short life cycle resulting in large number of generations in short amount of time, or something else. These are called model organisms, and they have been invaluable in genetic engineering because they have helped us study a lot of different things, like metabolism, diseases, functions of novel genes, etc., which would otherwise be unethical to study on humans, but can still benefit us due to the similarity of genes involved, chemicals, etc.
Viruses and Bacteria
Viruses and bacteria have very small genomes which are amendable to genetic dissection, making them perfect model organisms for a number of different experiments. Their study has given us many insights into gene control, especially when we are talking about the proteins involved in the DNA and RNA, protein synthesis as well as metabolism (in the case of bacteria). Gene regulation has also been studied a lot because it is a complex field of genetic engineering, making it hard for exploration in organisms with complex genomes.
Viruses are also perfect targets for the study of cancer and control of cell proliferation. Also, due to their intrinsic function, transport of proteins and organelles inside the cells has also been extensively examined with them, as well as infection and immunity. This has helped us a lot, especially since it gives us some alternative possible approaches to gene therapies.
Bacteria, on the other hand, are perfect targets for experimentations on new antibiotics, especially since it is relatively easy to control their “behavior”, sensitivity or resistance, with the help of plasmids and insertions or silencing of different genes. Study of their cell cycle has also given us a lot of insight into control of cell division and phases in the life of a cell. Bacteria are also great targets for studying of the signaling mechanisms, both inside the cell and between different cells.
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