Download Biotechnology Power Point

Biotechnology
• the combination of biology and technology
has been making many products better for
many years.
• Products such as bread, cheese, and yogurt
by using the best ingredients to make the
best products.
Selective Breeding
• many meat products have been bred to
contain less fat.
• In addition, many of the fruits and
vegetables we consume have been
selectively bred to be larger, sweeter,
hardier, and even juicier.
How do farmers selectively breed
their livestock and crops?
• Out of thousands of bean plants, they might
select a plant that produces many pods and
then breed it with a bean plant that resists
fungus infections; hoping for a plant which
produces many pods and is resistant to
fungus infections.
Genetic Engineering
• A new technology that humans can use in
order to alter genetic instructions (DNA) in
organisms.
• Usually done to give them more desirable
traits.
• Aka: Gene Manipulation.
Is this a new technology?
• The idea of altering the DNA is new; the idea to
alter organisms is not new.
• Old Technology = select the best plants or animals
and breed them with a desirable mate (Example:
race horses or dogs) Aka: Selective Breeding.
• New Technology = scientists could add better
genes (pieces of DNA) to an organism to give it
better traits like bigger muscles. Aka: Genetic
Engineering.
How is it done?
DNA
Animal
cell
DNA
(AKA:
plasmid)
Bacterial
cell
Recombinant
DNA
Restriction
Enzyme
(cuts the
DNA)
1. a restriction enzyme is used to cut a segment of DNA
from a human cell. (This segment has the desired gene)
2. a circular piece is cut away from the bacteria’s DNA.
3. when the piece of human DNA is mixed with the
bacteria’s DNA, they join in a closed loop.
4. The closed loop is inserted into another bacteria cell.
5. The DNA produces the mRNA with the correct sequence
of bases, which in turn leads to the production of the
correct protein. The DNA, RNA and protein will be
produced every time the cell divides.
How is Gene Engineering used?
• It is used to produce human insulin for Diabetics:
• Previously, diabetics injected horse insulin, which
would lower their blood sugar levels.
• Now, scientists can inject insulin-producing genes
into bacteria, and the bacteria produce the insulin,
which diabetics can use.
• This is a cheaper way to obtain insulin because it
can be produced in greater amounts and there are
smaller risks of side effects since the gene making
the insulin is a human gene.
• It is also used to create fruits and vegetables
with desirable characteristics: such as a
tomato with a gene inserted that prevents the
tomato from freezing (that scientists took the
gene out of a flounder cell)
• NOTE: there is a fear that if this technology is in
the wrong hands it can be used improperly…such
as producing “designer babies.”
• Parents would be able to select the best traits for
the baby and then have the genes inserted into the
zygote (when it’s only one cell big - like in the
movie GATTACA).
ANY COLOR
EYES, HAIR
OR SKIN YOU
WANT!
Cloning
• The process of making a genetically identical
organism through nonsexual means.
• Scientists have had limited success cloning
animals. It took 276 attempts to successfully clone
Dolly the sheep and she didn’t live very long…she
aged too fast and then died.
How does it work?
Frog Egg
Cell
(½ DNA)
Remove
nucleus
Frog Egg
Cell
(NO DNA)
Frog Egg
Cell
Put in the
right
conditions
(Temp, nutrients,
pH, etc)
Frog Skin
Cell
(Complete
DNA)
Remove
nucleus
Frog Nucleus
(Complete
DNA)
Frog Skin
Nucleus
(Complete DNA)
Divides by
mitosis and
grows into a
baby organism
DNA Fingerprinting
(aka: Electrophoresis)
• The key to DNA evidence lies in comparing the DNA
left at the scene of a crime with a suspect's DNA.
• The scientist removes the parts of the DNA that is the
same in all humans.
• Then, they cut the DNA at specific places with
restriction enzymes.
• The tiny pieces of DNA are put into a tray filled with
gel and the scientist applies a current to the gel.
• The current “pulls” the fragments of DNA through
the gel.
• It is just like Chromatography (the smaller pieces
travel the farthest and the bigger pieces barely
move at all).
• The DNA pieces form “bands” and the scientist
compares these bands to bands from another
person’s DNA or to DNA left at the scene.
Paternity Testing
• Using DNA fingerprinting and electrophoresis to
determine the parents of a child.
• It is important to remember that the child’s DNA
came from both of the parents…50% from mom;
50% from dad…and the DNA fingerprint should
reflect this.
DADDY!