Download Biotechnology

BIOTECHNOLOGY
DNA IDENTIFICATION
Only about 0.1% of DNA is different between individuals
in the human population
 This allows scientists to be able to identify people by
their DNA---focus on the differences.

NONCODING DNA
98% of our DNA does not code for any proteinsNoncoding DNA
 These regions contain variable number tandem repeats
(VNTR).

CACACA,CACACA,CACACA,CACACA= ind. #1
 CACACA,CACACA,CACACA,CACACA,CACACA =ind. #2


Geneticists calc. how frequently each of the repeats occur
in the general population.-how rare it is.

By identifying the VNTR’s at a number of locations in a
person’s genome, a DNA profile can be developed for each
individual in the population that is unique.
P
C
R
RESTRICTION ENZYMES

Nature’s Scissors


Because each individual will have a unique number of
places that restriction enzymes can make cuts, each
person will have a unique set of DNA fragments of
varying lengths.
How can scientists use this to make a DNA fingerprint?
DNA FINGERPRINTING
GEL ELECTROPHORESIS
How
can
DNA
fingerprinting
be
used?
ACCURACY OF DNA FINGERPRINTS

The accuracy of DNA fingerprinting depends on
the number of VNTR or STR (single tandem
repeats) loci that are used. At present the FBI
uses thirteen STR loci in its profile, with the
expected frequency of this profile to be less than
one in 100 billion. As the number of loci
analyzed increases, the probability of a
random match becomes smaller.
RECOMBINANT DNA
The process of altering the genetic material of
cells or organisms to allow them to make new
substances is called genetic engineering.
 Recombinant DNA results when DNA from two
organisms is joined

CLONING VECTORS
A clone is an exact copy of DNA
 A vector is a means of delivering the DNA into a
new cell or organism
 As that new organism divides, the new DNA is
also copied.
 Two commonly used vectors are viruses and
plasmids.

A plasmid is a small ring of DNA found in
bacteria in addition to the large bacteria
chromosome. It is copied every time the bacteria
DNA is copied.
 If a gene is inserted into the plasmid and that
plasmid is introduced back into the bacteria, the
gene is copied every time the plasmid is copied.

HUMAN GENOME PROJECT
1990 -2003
 Purpose: sequence all of the 3.3 billion bases of
DNA.
 Relate those bases to genes and their locations on
chromosomes.

FUTURE OF GENOMICS
Bioinformatics combines biological science,
computer science, and information technology to
look for underlying patterns and unifying
principles.
 Proteomics: the study of all of an organisms
proteins.
 Microarrays: show which genes are active in a
cell

GENETIC ENGINEERING
 Medical

Scientists study how genes function
 Gene

Applications
Therapy
Using recombinant DNA technology to repair
faulty genes to cure diseases such as CF,
hemophilia, Type I diabetes.
 Cloning

Making genetic copies (clones) of organisms
(such as Dolly) to use as models for studying
human diseases
 Vaccines:

new methods of making vaccines may improve
an individuals immunity to various diseases.
ETHICAL ISSUES
Who owns genetic information?
 Should genetically modified foods be permitted?
 Is it ethical to “select” the characteristics of your
offspring?
 Should humans be cloned?
