DNA Cloning in Agriculture

By Annie Jeyachristy Sam

DNA Cloning in Agriculture: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Crop Improvement

Dr. Sam Annie Jeyachristy

Royal College of Medicine Perak, Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL RCMP)
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Poll

Mood check:

How are you feeling today?

• 🤩 Feeling great

• 😊 Doing okay

• 😓 Struggling a bit

• 🫠 Feeling overwhelmed

• ​Describe the basic steps involved in DNA cloning.

• Recognize the use of DNA cloning in agricultural crop improvement.

• Identify the benefits and challenges of DNA cloning in sustainable farming.

• Recall real-world examples of genetically modified crops produced through cloning.

​Learning Objectives

Multiple Choice

What does genetic engineering generally involve?

• Crossing two plants to get better yield

• Using fertilizers to improve plant growth

• Altering the DNA of an organism to produce desired traits

• Studying the behavior of insects in fields

Multiple Choice

What is the primary function of DNA in living organisms?

• Provide energy for cellular functions

• Store genetic information

• Help in photosynthesis

• Maintain body temperature

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a gene?

• A type of fertilizer

• A segment of DNA that codes for a protein

• A cell organelle that produces energy

• A plant hormone

Multiple Choice

What is a plasmid?

• A root structure in legumes

• A small circular DNA molecule used in genetic engineering

• A type of soil bacteria

• A type of gene found only in plants

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a genetically modified (GM) crop?

• Bt Cotton

• Wild rice

• Organic wheat

• Natural maize

Importance in agriculture

Crop improvement, pest resistance, etc.

Definition

Production of identical copies of a DNA fragment.

Purpose

Amplify genes or DNA segments for research or application.

​Introduction

Multiple Choice

DNA cloning is the process of

• Destroying DNA fragments

• Combining two plants together

• Extracting RNA from a cell

• Producing identical copies of a DNA fragment

Multiple Choice

Which method is commonly used for DNA purification?

• PCR

• UV radiation

• Spin columns

• Alcohol evaporation

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is commonly used as a cloning vector?

• mRNA

• Ribosome

• Enzyme

• Plasmid

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a tool used in DNA cloning?

• Restriction enzymes

• DNA ligase

• Vectors

• Ribosomes

Multiple Choice

Restriction enzymes cut DNA at

• Random positions

• Specific recognition sites

• All adenine bases

• Telomeres

Multiple Choice

What enzyme is responsible for joining DNA fragments?

• Restriction enzyme

• DNA ligase

• RNA polymerase

• Helicase

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a common host used in cloning?

• Streptococcus

• E. coli

• Mycobacterium

• Rhizobium

Multiple Choice

Antibiotic resistance genes are used to

• Kill all bacteria

• Destroy foreign DNA

• Identify successful transformants

• Promote mutation

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a restriction enzyme?

• Taq polymerase

• EcoRI

• pUC19

• GFP

​Summary of DNA Cloning

Multiple Choice

What technique is used to confirm the presence of the insert?

• Western blot

• Southern blot

• Colony PCR

• SDS-PAGE

Watch this documentary film (52 min) in your free time.​

Multiple Choice

Bt Brinjal is an example of

• Chemical hybrid

• GM crop with insect resistance

• Organic farming

• Fungicide-treated plant

Multiple Choice

What is used to isolate plasmid DNA from clones?

• Phenol wash

• Miniprep kit

• Ethanol gel

• Taq polymerase

Multiple Choice

Which tool helps map genes on a plasmid?

• Microsoft Excel

• AutoCAD

• Plasmid mapping software

• Zoom

Multiple Choice

The Cartagena Protocol deals with

• Soil fertility

• Organic certification

• Biosafety of GMOs

• Export taxes

Multiple Choice

CRISPR is associated with

• Bacterial respiration

• Gene editing

• Viral infection

• Protein folding

Multiple Choice

Bt cotton contains a gene from

• Bacillus thuringiensis

• E. coli

• Rhizobium

• Yeast

Multiple Choice

DNA cloning has no role in agriculture.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Blue colonies in blue-white screening contain the desired insert.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which is a benefit of DNA cloning in agriculture?

• Increasing pesticide use

• Reducing plant growth

• Promoting genetic instability

• Improving crop nutritional content

Multiple Choice

One major public concern about GM crops is

• Higher cost of fertilizer

• Food safety and ethics

• More water usage

• Loss of color in crops

Multiple Choice

Which of the following summarizes the goal of DNA cloning?

• Remove all genes

• Replicate and use specific genes effectively

• Cause mutations

• Delay plant growth

Poll

Mood check:

How are you feeling today?

• 🤩 Feeling great

• 😊 Doing okay

• 😓 Struggling a bit

• 🫠 Feeling overwhelmed