Download DNA Technology and its Applications

We are going to study the following DNA
technologies and their real-world
applications:




DNA extraction
Recombinant DNA
Gel Electrophoresis
Polymerase Chain
Reaction



Gene Sequence Analysis
Cloning
Gene Therapy
DNA EXTRACTION
How is DNA extracted from living things?
 In class, we extracted DNA from our cheeks.
Scientists and researchers use more elaborate
techniques when extracting DNA
 Click on the following link to extract DNA from a
human online.

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/biotech/extraction
/
Recombinant (Re-com-bin-nint) DNA
& Transgenic (Trans-jen-ic) Organisms
What is recombinant DNA?
 Click on the following link to learn about
recombinant DNA:
 http://www.bioteach.ubc.ca/TeachingResources/
Applications/GMOpkgJKloseGLampard2.swf
Practical uses of recombinant DNA…
 Recombinant
(Homemade) Vaccines
(ie. Hepatitis B)
 Prevention and cure of
sickle cell anemia
 Prevention and cure of
cystic fibrosis
 Production of clotting
factors (to help stop
bleeding)
 Production of insulin (to
help with diabetes)
 Production of
recombinant
(homemade)
pharmaceuticals
 To help with issues
caused by bad genes
Another Major Application of Recombinant
DNA
Using the technology of recombinant DNA, we are able to
introduce specific genes from one organism into another.
A transgenic organism is an organism that has been
genetically engineered to contain 1 or more genes
Applications of Transgenic Organisms
 Transgenic Livestock
 Farm animals that are genetically altered to
synthesize marketable proteins.
 Mice that urinate human growth hormone (HGH)
 Goats that produce the malaria antigen for use in
vaccines
 Cows that produce a human protein in their milk
 Pigs that are genetically altered so their organs
can be transplanted into a human without
rejection
Applications of Transgenic Organisms
 Transgenic Plants


Plants that produce their own insecticides
Crops that have increased drought and heat resistance
Genetic Engineering
& GMO
Genetic Engineering is…
 The technique of removing, changing, or adding
genes (chunks of DNA) to a DNA molecule to
change the information it contains. By changing this
information, we can change the type or amount of
proteins an organism is capable of producing.
 Then, if the proteins change, the TRAIT changes,
like if the genes in your eye changed, then your eye
color can change.
 Genetic Engineering we could do this.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
 Often, the label GMO and the term "transgenic"
are used to call organisms that have received
new genes from other organisms by lab "gene
transfer" methods.
Gel Electrophoresis (Elec-tro-for-e-sis)
What is Gel Electrophoresis?

Click on the following link: DNA Interactive to answer
questions about gel electrophoresis.
What are the practical applications of gel
electrophoresis?
 DNA pieces produced by the gel
electrophoresis can be used in other
technologies like PCR, cloning and DNA
sequencing
 Or, the DNA fragments can be used by forensic
scientists (to solve crimes), conservation
biologists, taxonomists, evolutionary
biologists, etc.
How is gel electrophoresis used by
scientists?
Human DNA can be analyzed to
Provide evidence in criminal cases
Diagnose genetic diseases
Solve paternity cases
Samples of DNA can be obtained from tissue
and body fluid
Cheek cells
Skin
Hair
Blood
Semen
What are the practical applications of gel
electrophoresis?
 Conservation biologists use DNA to determine
genetic similarity among populations and individuals
 Taxonomists use DNA to help distinguish species
 Evolutionary biologists use DNA profiles to compare
similarities and differences to construct family trees
PCR
What is PCR?
 Click on the following link to learn about
Polymerase (Puh-lim-er-ace) Chain Reactions,
make sure you scroll down to see the information…

www.dnalc.org/ddnalc/resources/pcr.html
What are the practical applications of
PCR?
 PCR creates lots of pure DNA, so we can
analyze DNA samples even from only a little
bit to begin with.
DNA/Gene Sequencing
What is Gene Sequence Analysis?
 Click on the following link to learn about gene
sequencing:
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_G
enome/faq/seqfacts.shtml
Applications of DNA Sequencing
DNA Fingerprinting
http://protist.biology.washington.edu/fingerprint/d
naintro.html
If you have time, solve a crime:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sheppard/analyze.
html
Cloning
What is cloning?
Click on the following link to learn about
cloning:
www.learn.genetics.com
What are the practical applications of
cloning?

Click on the following link to look at the practical
applications of cloning:
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/cloning/whyclo
ne/
Gene Therapy
What is Gene Therapy?
 Click on the following link to learn about gene
therapy
 http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_G
enome/medicine/genetherapy.shtml