Bio Unit 7 Notes: Biotech & GMOs

Biotechnology: the use of organisms to develop or make useful products

GOAL: Change an organism’s DNA to give it new traits

• Benefits can include: healthier, stronger, faster growing, new variety, needed or desired traits

• Possible because ALL organisms use the same genetic code

Artificial Selection: selectively breeding organisms for a desired trait

Artificial Selection Is An Ancient Method

Crops & Animals have been bred by farmers to beLargerHealthierOr just to have a

specific look or taste

Artificial Selected Organisms Are Common

Genetic Engineering: directly changing an organisms DNA

Human Genome Project

• Sequenced and indentified all of the DNA

• Mapped where every gene is on each chromosome

ProteomicsStudy of all the proteinsREMEMBER: All DNA is transcribed but not all of it is translated to make proteins

Genetic Engineering Is New And Controversial

Genetic Engineering Changes The DNA

Recombinant DNA = DNA that contains genes from more than one organism

Transgenic Organisms = Organisms that contain genes from other species in their DNAAlso referred to as GMOs

Genetically Modified Organisms

Other Biotech - Cloning

Creating a genetic copy of an organismUseful for:

manufacturing tissueProducing more transgenic individuals

Other Biotech – Gene Therapy

Altering or Adding genes to treat a genetic disorderMany treatments are still being

testedUseful for:

DiabetesCancerHemophiliaEventually any genetic disorder

Other Biotech – Stem Cells

Stem cells have not yet specialized, so they can become any body cellUseful for replacing

tissue or organsUseful for:

Growing new organsRepairing G0 cells that

normally don’t repair after damage