BiotechnologyMaking the products you buy. . . better?

Historical Technologies: Applied GeneticsManipulation of the hereditary characteristics of an organism to improve or create specific traits in offspringe.g., selective breeding, hybridization

Historical Technologies: Applied GeneticsSelective breeding Allowing only those individuals with the desired traits to reproduce

Historical Technologies: Applied GeneticsHybridization crossing different individuals to bring together the best traits of both organisms Produces hybrid offspring that are often hardier than the parents

e.g., commercial chickensCommercial chicken:Grows to a large full size in only 6 weeks

Modern Technologies: Genetic EngineeringAltering an organisms genetic code (DNA) to get it to express desired traitshttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.peaceproject.com/graphics/dvds/larger/DVD51.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.peaceproject.com/books/dvd51.htm&h=425&w=301&sz=34&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=z2kXaaU36oWWsM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgenetically%2Bmodified%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DX

e.g., Bt cornBacillus thuringiensis (Bt): a bacterium that produces a caterpillar toxinThe gene for this toxin has been inserted into this corns genome, which causes it to produce the toxin

e.g., spider silkA spiders silk-making gene has been inserted into a goat, which then produces silk in its milkhttp://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/spider/goat.jpghttp://www.kevhopgood.co.uk/New%20Stuff/Spider-Goat.jpghttp://rockgardn.easystorecreator.com/images/images_919/JRFJ-Front-LG.gif

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/toons/varvel/biotech.protest.gifhttp://www.bairesbiotec.org.ar/images/speake1.jpge.g., golden riceDaffodil genes for making beta-carotene are inserted into the genome of rice

e.g., human insulinPreviously, humans with diabetes used insulin derived from the pancreas of cows and pigs (limited production)Today, most human insulin comes from human insulin-making genes transferred into simple cells such as bacteria or bakers yeast (unlimited supply)Identical to insulin made by the human pancreas

Recombinant DNA in bacteriaRecombinant DNA taking a piece of one DNA and combining it with another strand of DNAOften, fast-growing single-celled organisms are usede.g., bacteriaA piece of DNA that codes for a protein we want more of (e.g., human insulin) is spliced into the DNA of the fast-growing organismhttp://img.blogcu.com/uploads/kedicikkopekcik_insrton.jpg

Modern Technologies: Genetic EngineeringGene therapy adding a corrected copy of a gene to a person with a mutated gene to treat a diseasee.g., Cystic FibrosisDoes NOT change the persons genetic code! Effect is temporary

Restriction Enzymes:Enzymes that cut DNA at certain sequences.http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG/images/restriction.gif