BIOTECHNOLOGY ANDGENETIC ENGINEERING

BIOTECHNOLOGY

A new field of science that uses organisms or their products to improve medicine, healthcare, and food production

GENETIC ENGINEERING

When genes or pieces of DNA are taken from one organism and transferred to another organisms

BIOTECHNOLOGY

A new field of science that uses organisms or their products to improve medicine, healthcare, and food production

GENETIC ENGINEERING: PURPOSES

With DNA technology, specific or desired genes can be inserted into organisms in order to reach desired outcomes such as producing human insulin for diabetics, creating disease-resistant crops for food, or creating “glow-in-the-dark” fish as pets

Recombinant DNA – when DNA from two different organisms is joined together

TRANSGENIC ORGANISMSOrganisms that contain DNA from other, different organisms

“Genetically Modified Organisms” (GMOs)

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS ARE CALLED TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS

Ex. GloFish

The first genetically modified pet

Scientists insert desired

using restriction enzymes and DNA ligase

gene into plasmid

Recombinant DNA incorporated

into plant chromosome

Plasmidcombinedwith plantcells in culture

Plant has new DNA and produces new proteins

DNA in a bacterial

cell forms a ring called a

plasmid

Creating a Transgenic Organism

HOW DO WE ‘PICK AND CHOOSE’ DNA?WE USE RESTRICTION ENZYMESRestriction enzymes cut DNA at specific base

pair sequences

RESTRICTION ENZYMES

HOW ARE TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS (GMOS) HELPFUL?

1 – To enhance agricultureCrops such as wheat, corn, tomatoes (etc.) are

produced by biotechnology. The crops grow larger, faster, and are more disease resistant.

2 – To enhance medicineHuman insulin, human growth hormone are

produced in this way. This method of production makes these medical supplies inexpensive and plentiful.

HOW ARE TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS (GMOS) HELPFUL?

Human Cell

Gene for human growth hormone

Recombinant DNA

Gene for human growth hormone

Sticky ends

DNA recombination

DNA insertion

Bacterial Cell

Plasmid

Bacterial chromosome

Bacterial cell for containing gene for human growth hormone

BIOTECHNOLOGY: CLONING

What? Genetically identical individuals are created from a single cell

A single cell from an adult it used to grow an entirely new but genetically identical individual without the help of another parent

4. Fused cell begins dividing normally.

5. Embryo is placed inthe uterus of a foster mother.

3. Donor nucleus and empty egg cell are fused with an electric shock.

2. Donor cell taken from sheep’s udder.

1. An egg cell is taken from an adult sheep.

6. Embryo develops into an animal identical to the animal that donated the nucleus.

BIOTECHNOLOGY: CLONING

DOLLY THE SHEEP – 1ST CLONED MAMMAL

BIOTECHNOLOGY:PCR – POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION

What? Making copies of specific segments of DNA

Increases the amount of DNA when only a small amount is available

BIOTECHNOLOGY:PCR – POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION

Useful example: increasing DNA in blood if only a small drop is found at a crime scene

BIOTECHNOLOGY:PCR – POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION

PRACTICE PROBLEMWhich of the following is NOT a use

for transgenic organisms (GMOs)?

a. to produce disease-resistant crops

b. to create a genetically identical individual from one single parent

c. to produce seedless watermelons

d. to create bacteria that produce insulin for diabetics

BIOTECHNOLOGY: GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

1. What do the bands in the drawing of the agarose gel represent?

2. Which band(s) traveled slowest?

3. Which band(s) traveled fastest?

4. On the above drawing, label the positive and negative ends of the gel.

5. How many bands are shared in common by all of the individuals?

6. Are there any bands which are unique to only one individual? If so, which one? biology.arizona.edu

BIOTECHNOLOGY: GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

Gel ElectrophoresisBIOTECHNOLOGY: GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

BIOTECHNOLOGY: GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

What? DNA fragments are separated with electrophoresis and compared to one another

No two people (except identical twins) have exactly the same DNA

A child’s DNA is a combination of both parents

BIOTECHNOLOGY: DNA FINGERPRINTING

Uses: crime scene testing or forensics

BIOTECHNOLOGY: GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

Uses: crime scene testing or forensics

BIOTECHNOLOGY: GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

Uses: crime scene testing or forensics

BIOTECHNOLOGY: GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

HUMAN GENOME PROJECT

Goal: To determine the sequence of the 3 billion base pairs that make up human DNA

To identify and map the 35,000-40,000 genes on the 46 human chromosomes

Project began in 1990 and was completed in (approximately) 2003

HUMAN GENOME PROJECT

Uses: To use the information to detect and treat abnormalities that lead to diseases and disorders

Opponents are afraid that this info could lead to a future where parents could genetically select everything from eye color to intelligence in their children (ex. “designer babies”)Ex. GATTACA???

CELL DIFFERENTIATION

If we start off as one cell, how do

we grow into many different

cells that performmany different

functions?

http://jpkc.scu.edu.cn/ywwy/zbsw(E)/pic/ech12-2.jpg

CELL DIFFERENTIATION

Cell differentiation is the process by which a generic cell develops into a specific type of cell.

CELL DIFFERENTIATION

During development, cells receive different chemical signals that turn certain genes on and off.

BIOTECHNOLOGY: STEM CELL RESEARCH

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells – they have the potential to develop into any type of cell.

BACKGROUND: CELL DIFFERENTIATION

When DNA is instructed to make specific proteins, this in turn causes a cell to become a particular TYPE of cell.

Embryonic stem cells develop inearly-stage embryos and can bestimulated to develop into any of the more than 200 adult cell types.

BIOTECHNOLOGY: STEM CELL RESEARCH

STEM CELL RESEARCH

Adult stem cells existin specific locations and are used to maintain or repair the specific types of tissues where they are found

Ex. Hematopoietic stem cells can developinto any type of blood cell.

Ethics of biotechnology

and genetic engineering…

BIOETHICSBioethics: the study of standards

for what is right and what is wrong;

controls the actions of many scientists; tries to balance the needs of the people with the needs of science research

Cannot defend a study ethically unless the presumed cost is lower than expected benefit

TRANSGENICS

Are we bypassing nature?Are “designer babies”

ethical?Are there any health

hazards of genetically modified foods?

CLONING

Using cloning for reproduction (ex: technology to clone humans is similar to cloning sheep, but humans have never been cloned)

Using cloning to make embryonic stem cells for medical use

STEM CELL RESEARCH

Embryonic stem cells must be harvested from aborted fetuses; right to life debate

Research could potentially help treat many medical problems, but do we have the right to alter human lives in this manner?