How do the Genes Move
Gene transfer is something that has come to mind after I read about the discovery of RNAi which involved adding RNA to a plant to create more purple color in flowers. So I wondered what are the methods that we use to bring forth genes or traits that would not be there.
The first thing that comes to my mind is something I have used in a lab before which is the GFP (green fluorescent protein) protein which can be placed into bacteria cells. This protein is from a jellyfish and was isolated for use. This can be used when adding plasma which adds the gene to a bacteria cell through horizontal gene transfer. This will allow detection that the gene has been transferred into the bacteria which did not have the ability to glow before. Bacteria have mechanisms which involve transformation, transduction, and conjugation.
What I want to know is how we get these genes into eukaryotes. My search began with plants and I found that some mechanisms mentioned in a reading are organelle transfer, nuclear DNA transfer, and RNA transfer, which makes since, when we consider what DNA and RNA do. Organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts are said to have ancestry with bacteria, and this genetic information has transferred some information back and forth to now become part of our cells. RNA information is used to create proteins which usually lead to traits which show up, and we know how DNA can lead to RNA which goes to proteins.
Organelles involved in HGT (Horizontal Gene Transfer) has been observed in similar species of plants and those that are not compatible. The nucleus and chloroplasts are also known to be involved in the transfer. What surprised me is how plants are able to be involved in gene transfer just by being in close proximity. The direct contact that occurs when people grafting plants together is one way this occurs, and during symbiosis or parasitism. Perhaps this trait is special to certain plants to allow them to adapt or change faster to the environmental hazards such as insects or weather. Plants cannot put on a coat, or slap bugs away this may be their way to overcome this obstacle. Of course, they do not adapt quickly or we would be seeing plants change all the time.
Other ways plants can obtain HGTs is through viruses, insects, fungi, and parasites. As I have read parasitic plants seem to be a major way that HGT can occur in plants, and they are a major point in the study. As I compare plants to us I would find it shocking to think if I would get genes from a leach or mosquito.
I do want to add at least one way people we can add genes into another organism. I found some information about a gene gun which was first designed for plants. This is nicknamed bioballistics and uses a heavy metal coated particle which has DNA. As the name suggests it shoots into the cells and I believe the plasma will integrate itself or perhaps start producing the product it was meant to produce.
Going into this I thought I would get a more straightforward or common way of how we transfer genes or activate them in other organisms, but I found there are natural systems for this and we have some interesting ways that we get results.
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This is a very interesting blog! Gene transfer seems so simple initially but once you get into the fine details, it can be so shocking! Not many people realize the amount of work these cells do, especially for being so small. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I finished it before a conference I had to go to so I was worried it wouldn't make much since. It is amazing how much they all do and even considering the variety of cells makes it seem like the possibilities are limitless
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