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Gene Technology
Chapter 11
11.1 Basic Steps of Genetic
Engineering
Genetic Engineering – process of
manipulating genes for practical purposes
 Recombinant DNA – DNA made from 2 or
more different organisms

Recombinant DNA
4 Steps of Genetic Engineering
Experiments

Cutting DNA
Restriction enzymes cut DNA at certain spots
 A vector that can carry the gene is used
 Plasmids are circular DNA that can replicate
independently


Recombinant DNA is made – the gene of
interest and the DNA of the vector are
combined
Gene cloning – many copies of the gene
of interest are made by the vector copying
its DNA with the gene in it
 Screening – cells that have the gene you
want are separated from those that don’t

Genetic Engineering
Human Applications of Genetic
Engineering

Human Genome Project
Identify the 3.2 billion base pairs of DNA that
makes up humans
 Large portion of DNA does not code, only 1%
to 1.5% make proteins
 Only 30,000 to 40,000 genes (much less than
expected)


Genetically Engineered Drugs and
Vaccines
Drugs – produced instead of taken from
another person
 Vaccines – contains all or part of a harmless
version of the pathogen

 Once
injected, surface proteins read by immune
system and antibodies are made
 When the real virus enters, you already have
antibodies to kill it before it can cause damage
 Natural vaccines have a small chance of giving
you infection; GE has vaccine in harmless virus
Vaccines

DNA Fingerprinting
No 2 individuals (except twins) have same
DNA
 Can look at nucleotide sequence
 Restriction enzymes cut at certain sequences
so length will be different between 2
individuals
 Pattern of dark bands will be different
 Done from blood, semen, bone, hair


Genetic Engineering in Agriculture

Improve Crops
 Drought
tolerant
 Herbicide/pest resistant
 More nutritious

Risks
 Herbicide
resistance in weeds?
 Allergies to introduced genes?
 Pests become resistant?