Download Genetic Engineering

Genetic Engineering
Chapter 13-3
Standard 5c

5c: Students know how genetic
engineering (biotechnology) is used to
produce novel biomedical and
agricultural products.
Genetic Engineering


Through recent technologies and really,
really, ridiculously, really smart scientists, we
now have techniques where we can control
and change (to some extent) an organism’s
DNA.
Genetic engineering: altering the structure
of a DNA molecule by substituting genes
from another DNA molecule
Genetic Engineering




So here’s the problem: I WANT TO EAT
STRAWBERRIES ALL YEAR LONG!
But, strawberries can’t grow in the winter.
The cold weather (ice & snow) prevents
strawberries from growing.
Solution: I’ll take a gene from a cold-water
fish and put it in a strawberry. Why?
Here’s the basic process…
DNA Recombination

1.
DNA recombination is the process where
a DNA fragment (gene) from an organism is
inserted in a bacteria’s DNA. The bacteria
replicates the DNA, causing mass
production of the desired gene. Here are
the steps…
You can’t just cut DNA anywhere (could
cause damage), there are special DNA
sequences called restriction sites where
restriction enzymes cut the DNA into the
desired fragment.
DNA recombination
2.
3.
4.
5.

Once you have cut genes, place the genes
in specific bacterial DNA called plasmids.
Because of bacteria’s nature, the bacteria
will replicate… A LOT!
The bacteria will turn the DNA into a
protein.
Markers will be used to determine if the
process was successful (glow, RA, etc…)
Example: Human growth hormone gene is
transformed (put into) into a plasmid.
Bacteria then mass produces HGH for
human consumption.
DNA Recombination
Transgenic Plants





If you can take genes and put them in
bacteria, why can’t you do that with plants?
WE ALREADY HAVE!
Remember the strawberry problem?
The bacterial DNA can be inserted in
embryonic plant cells. If they take up the
DNA, they will produce the gene.
Other examples:



Soil + corn = insect-resistant crops
Tangerine + grapefruit = tangelo
firefly + tobacco = glowing tobacco
Figure 13-10 Plant Cell Transformation
Plant Cell Transformation
Section 13-3
Agrobacterium
tumefaciens
Gene to be
transferred
Cellular DNA
Inside plant cell, Agrobacterium
inserts part of its DNA into host
cell chromosome
Recombinant
plasmid
Plant cell colonies
Transformed bacteria introduce
plasmids into plant cells
Complete plant is generated
from transformed cell
Magic Tobacco



Transgenic plants began in
1986 when a scientist
named Steven Howell took
a firefly’s luciferase gene
(glowing) and inserted it in
tobacco cells.
Where did Dr. Howell do his
research?
Hint: it’s where all the good
looking people go to
college…






UCSD was named the “hottest” institution in the nation for students to
study science by Newsweek and the 2006 Kaplan/Newsweek College
Guide.
UCSD ranks 7th in the nation in National Academy of Sciences
membership. (The top universities, in rank order, are: Harvard, Stanford,
UC Berkeley, MIT, Princeton , Caltech, UCSD, Yale, Univ. of WisconsinMadison , Univ. of Chicago and Univ. of Washington.)
U.S. News and World Report ranks UCSD as 7th best public
university in the nation, and 32nd among the nation’s top 50
universities.
UCSD was ranked the 4th best university in the nation by the
Washington Monthly’s 2007 College Guide, based on the positive impact
the university has had on the country.
The journal Foreign Policy ranked UCSD 9th in the nation for
international relations studies and 10th for international public policy
studies.
The National Research Council ranks UCSD 10th in the nation in the
quality of its faculty and graduate programs. The NRC ranks
oceanography and neurosciences 1st in the nation.
Transgenic animals



Growth hormone + trout = bigger fish
Growth hormone + cattle = STEAK!
AIDS virus + mouse = AIDS research