I Am a Genetic Engineer, Now

[Eric Warwick]

Before you guys accuse me of heresy I want to explain what I did and how genetic engineering works. (I wrote this quickly, so for any confusion leave a comment. Also, there should be a lively but informed debate—give everyone the chance to read what they wrote as they read yours. Philosophical debates are fine.)  Genetic Engineering in this case was with an E.-Coli bacteria (a non-deadly strain—there are 12 strains), and a Jellyfish that lives in Puget Sound. The gene in the Jellyfish was a gene that codes for a protein—which turns the organism florescent green.

Here's how it works. In my class we learned what is aptly called the Central Dogma. The Central Dogma describes how all living things (viruses are considered non-living) use DNA to make proteins. DNA is made of nucleotides of negatively charged phosphate, deoxyribose sugar (6 carbon sugar), and a base pair. The Pairs are A, T, G, and C, and they line up A to T and G to C. We are all made of the same nucleotides—every living thing on the planet. The DNA is in a shape you know well, the double helix. This is cut by an enzyme called Helicase, and a protein called RNA polymerase makes RNA. RNA is DNA, but uses ribose (instead of deoxyribose) and uracil (instead of Thymine, or T). This allows it to get passed the Nucleus of a cell in Eukaryotic cell (or a cell which has a protective membrane over the Chromosomes/DNA). This floats into the cytoplasm and attaches to a Ribosome—which reads the RNA code. Then electric forces cause blobs of protein with Amino Acids on top to make the Amino Acids come together in the order the RNA describes. The ribosome reads the sequence and starts making proteins with an AUG reading. It ends with one of the 4 stop sequences. This then creates a protein.

In Genetic Engineering what you do is take foreign DNA and from another organism using a restriction enzyme. A restriction enzyme is a form of biological warfare for bacteria, because it chops up DNA, creating staggered ends. For example Bam H1 does this to this one type of DNA GGATC.

CCTA|G

Scientists use this knowledge to chop up DNA in other animals (non-living) to put in other organisms. For a single celled organism, like E.-Coli, they have what is called Plasmids, or, circular pieces of DNA that can be exchanged with others of the same species. If there is high pH the Bacterium with a resistance gene will copy the plasmid and exchange with other bacterium of its own species so the colony can survive. (Another reason not to use so much hand sanitizer.)Scientists use this by taking a plasmid out of the E.-Coli and putting the staggered ends of the foreign gene together giving it that gene. The production of, say, human insulin needs a promoter, so the promoter is added. Human insulin is then sucked up with a pipette and separated in a centrifuge. The production of human insulin from GMO E.-Coli has saved, literally, millions of lives.

Ok, so I used a gene called GFP (Green Florescent Protein) from a Jellyfish. This was already provided in the form of a Plasmid, which has to be put into the E.-Coli. This works by knowing the charge on a DNA molecule (negative). This is because phosphate (PO₄^-) is one of the bases for DNA. The charge on a cell membrane is also negative, thanks to the phospholipid bi-layers that make it up. So, for a DNA particle to get through a pore in the membrane you'll need to keep the bi-layers away from the pore, so that it is bigger. Also, you'll need the DNA to have a shield, so it is not repelled. What I used is a chemical called Calcium Chloride or CaCl2. This is ionic, or has two charges 2 negative, 2 positive that will coat the phospholipid bi-layers with it and the DNA, so the charges are neutralized. First the cell, however, is put into an ice bath to slow it down. Then the solution/E.-Coli is put in a hot bath (42 degrees Celsius), and back in ice to create a sort of weather system, difference of pressure, in the E.-Coli cell, so that the DNA shoots right in, and the membrane is closed up.

The bacterium now has the DNA. With the addition of arabinose (a sugar) it will share with other bacteria and will start to glow. We saw glowing today, and it was really cool!

Now here’s the part which gets me onto the controversial side. As you all, probably, know a new company has come out with genetically modified salmon. Although I’m no biologist (please chime in here if you are) I know from what I’ve learned in my class this much: the genes are isolated from mainly chinook salmon, and are put in atlantic salmon (so it grows faster and can be raised effectively) and the gene was isolated so that an enzyme (which is made in transcription and translation—see above) that regulates when growth starts up is always produced. I’m not exactly clear on how they do this, but I have an idea and I’m willing to learn. One obvious problem with a salmon that produces more food is, well, it could get out into wild fish stocks and severely mess up the ecology. Although this would be a great hit to wild fish stocks, I think evolution will take care of them eventually, perhaps in a decade (chime in if you know exactly what you are talking about—I’m unclear on the exact time it would take). This is because it would be bad to grow when there’s no food around. But, isn’t there a sustainable, on land, system where salmon can’t get out? Yes, and it produces veggies, too. I’m talking about this wonderful technology called aquaponics. I think that a “controlled” greenhouse environment is perfect for fast growing salmon. This not only helps people in the commercial business, but also the backyard aquaponic gardener.

You may now discuss this crazy idea.

[Eric Warwick]

I also reccomend that book, George. I read it in about 2 days, if that--it is a very good read!

[George]

No question about it being an interesting subject.  I recommend the book FOUR FISH, Greenberg.  Also, see the NYT article link below.  Regards.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/22/business/kakha-bendukidze-holds-f...

[Vlad Jovanovic]

Yes, there might be something you (and all of us) missed, but through no fault of your own, since NEITHER INDUSTRY NOR GOVERNMENT ARE FUNDING ANY SUCH RESEARCH AND/OR SUBSEQUENT ANAYLISIS...NOR ARE THEY GOING TO BE, APPARENTLY.

Eric, a company that I worked for here had to do an environmental impact study for a steel plants new galvanization line. As part of the study we had to include a "Failure Analysis", as in "what happens if we are wrong, and those redundant system fail..." and a hundred other "what if" type analysis' ...and this is for a stupid little steel galv line...Yet these types of analysis' are NOT being required for a Genetically Engineered animal species? Oh come on now, how the hell are we supposed to have a meaningful debate (or make meaningful informed decisions) when "half" the info on the topic is non-existent...and I'm a little short on cash right now, so I personally wont be funding such research either.

I'm not saying it's good, I'm not saying it's bad. I am definitely however saying WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DATA.

[Eric Warwick]

 First, feel free to chime in anyone reading this. @George: So, to be clear, you will do nothing about population growth, and let nature take its course. This is human life at stake. A more reasnoble posistion is to hand out birth control, or something like that, so nature does not take its course. Anyways, this was not meant to degrade your posistion with an unhealthy dose of Ad Hominem, and some Slippery Slope. However I still have a fundemental disagreement. Could you expand on some of the dangers of G.E.--there might be something I missed.

[Eric Warwick]

Sure, Vlad, I really don't think that the GE Salmon should be let out in the wild, becuase it's a bad trait to have, and will cause a drop in the Salmon population. However, closed land system should work for human consumption. Remember, we have to feed 9billion people by 2050 (possibly later).

[Vlad Jovanovic]

 If I may be allowed a flight of whimsy involving articulate Dinosaurs:

"Fellow reptiles I do not hesitate to tell you that we face grave problems. I do not hesitate to tell you that we have the answer... Size is the answer! Increase size! ... We will increase both in size and in numbers and we will continue to dominate this planet as we have done for 300 MILLION YEARS! Bigger is better and biggest is best!"

Armored models thump their tails in earth shaking applause. Herbiferous Dinos wallow and splash in swamp bog. Carnivores bare their huge fangs dripping streamers of saliva in uproar. But a wise old Din turns sadly from the TV and addresses his offspring: 

"Son, it's the end of the line. We are ugly, idiot, bellowing beasts. Some of us are sixty feet long with a brain the size of a walnut. Where can this end? In a natural history museum our bones gawked at by pimply adolescents--"Say, I wonder how big his prick was?"
---their turn". 

 - Bill Burroughs-

[Eric Warwick]

George, I suggest using a recirculating system. Also, GMO's need, not, be using industrial farming techniques. Imagine a  Salmon that can grow in your climate, because it grows twice as fast! I think we should get rid of open water/cage aquaculture all together. Bring on aquaponics. If anyone has more to say, then feel free. I LOVE a good debate.

[George]

Salmon farming already has a reputation for polluting environments and contaminating wild stocks.  There is no reason to think that farming a genetically modified version will be any better.  More industrial farming with drugs and genetic modification - what could possibly go wrong?  We have no idea and neither do they.

[Robert C. Wood]

I just remember that David Suzukie did an amazing documentry on gmo fish and food. It is propable on the net some where. 

[Robert C. Wood]

I know that here in Canada gmo fish are used only for study only, there was one fish farm in BC that was using triploid salmon in cage farm and the orcas had broken into one of the non-gmo salmon cages at that point the DFO made then remove the gmo salmon from the cage farm and now all gmo fish have to be in a inland closeed loop system inorder to get approval from the government to raise them.