Download Genes

Introduction to
Biotechnology
Ms. Martinez
LSHS
2014
DIRECTIONS: COPY the
Notes in yellow.
What is DNA and Why is it
Important?

Your body contains about
40,000 genes.
 The DNA in your genes gives
instructions that makes you
who you are.
 For example, different genes
in your body determine your
eye color and your height.
Cells
 Every
living thing is made up of cells.
 There are differences between different
types of cells
The Cell Nucleus and
Chromosomes
 Inside
the cell
nucleus, 6 feet of
DNA, are packaged
in the 46
chromosomes.
What is a Gene?

Genes cluster
together to form a
chromosome.
 Chromosomes are
made up of thousands
of genes, which in turn
are made up of DNA.
Organism
Cell
Chromosome
Genes
DNA
Genes



Each of the 46
chromosomes contains
the DNA for thousands
of individual genes.
Genes are the units of
heredity.
Each gene is a segment
of double-stranded DNA
that holds the recipe for
making a specific
molecule, usually a
protein.
Review: Proteins

Proteins, which
are made up of
amino acids, are
the body’s
workhorses.
 Proteins are
essential
components of all
organs and
cellular activities.
 The
40,000 genes in
the nucleus determines
shape and shape
determines function.
How Similar are our Genes?

Human beings are 99.9%
genetically identical to each
other.
 Identical twins share the
same DNA.
 We share 98% of our genes
with chimpanzees.
 Also, 50% of our genes are
the same as cabbages.
Human Genome

Humans have about 100
trillion cells.
 Each of the 100 trillion
cells in the human body
(except Red blood
corpuscles) contains the
entire human genome.
 The Human Genome is
all the genetic
information necessary to
build a human being.
 This
information is encoded in 6 billion
base pairs of DNA.
 Where did this information come from?
 Half of the DNA came from your mother
and the half came from your father. How?
Sperm
Egg
 Each
sperm cell has 23 chromosomes.
 Each egg cell has 23 chromosomes.
 When fertilization occurs, there are now 46
chromosomes.
Sperm
Egg
What is Biotechnology?

Biotechnology applies the knowledge of
biology to enhance and improve the
environment, health, and food supply.
 Using biotechnology, scientists work to develop:



environment-friendly alternatives to fossil fuels and
plastics;
new medicines, vaccines and disease diagnostic
tools;
and higher yielding and more nutrient-rich crop plants.
Biotechnology: Medicine
 Biotechnology
can be
used in medicine.


Insulin is important for
blood sugar metabolism
and levels – diabetics do
not have enough and
therefore need an external
supply.
Insulin used to be
harvested from pigs, from
their pancreases, but now
all human insulin is
produced from bacteria
with an insulin gene
added to them
The DNA of plants and animals
can also be altered.
PLANTS
1.
disease-resistant and
insect-resistant crops
2. Hardier fruit
3. 70-75% of food in
supermarket is
genetically modified.
Genetically modified organisms are
called transgenic organisms.
TRANSGENIC ANIMALS
1.
Mice – used to study human
immune system
2.
Chickens – more resistant to
infections
3.
Cows – increase milk supply
and leaner meat
4. Goats, sheep and pigs –
produce human proteins in
their milk
Transgenic Goat
Human DNA in
a Goat Cell
.
This goat contains a human
gene that codes for a blood
clotting agent. The blood
clotting agent can be harvested
in the goat’s milk.
How is a
Transgenic Animal created?
The desired
DNA is
added to an
egg cell.