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Biotechnology
Cloning
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Production of genetically identical copies
of DNA, cells or organisms
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Asexual reproduction
Gene therapy – genes used to modify a
human
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Transgenic organisms
Steps of Genetic Engineering
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Cohen and Boyer
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1973 1st successful GE experiment
frog rRNA into E. coli
Steps:
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Cleave DNA
Recombinant DNA
Clone DNA
Screen DNA
Recombinant DNA
rDNA – contains DNA from 2 or more
sources
 Vector (plasmid or virus) used to transfer
gene of interest to host cell
 Restrictive enzymes and DNA ligase
are used to cut and seal the ends of the
gene of interest.
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Bacteria cells do not have introns.
 For successful genetic engineering exp.,
the gene must not introns.
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RNA transcriptase can make DNA from mRNA
= cDNA (DNA without introns)
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Creates copies of small segments of DNA
 Uses DNA polymerase and nucleotides
 Only needs small sample
 Can be used to study phylogeny of human
populations
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DNA fingerprinting
Usually follows PCR
 Add restrictive enzymes to sample of DNA
to make many different sized fragments
 Gel electrophoresis is used to separate the
fragments
 If two banding patterns match, likelihood
the DNA came from same person
 Used in convicting criminals, detecting
cancer, viral infections or genetic
disorders, identifying remains of bodies
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Biotechnology products
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Genetically modified in order to produce a
product desired by humans!!!
Transgenic Bacteria
Insulin, clottng factor VIII, human growth
hormone, t-PA, hepatitis B vaccine
 Frost resistant strawberries, root
protection from insects
 Enhancing ability to degrade substances
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Clean up oil, remove sulfur from coal, clean up
toxic wastes
Self destruct when job is done
Transgenic plants
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Foreign genes are placed in immature
plant embryos or protoplasts (plant cells
with cell wall removed)
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Pomato (potatoes and tomatoes)
Cotton, corn and potatoes resistant to pests
Soybeans – herbicide resistant
Producing human proteins (hormones, clotting
factors and antibodies)
Transgenic Animals
Insert genes into the eggs of animals
 Can be done by hand or by vortex mixing
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bGH – bovine growth hormone – makes larger
fish, cows, pigs, rabbits, sheep
Gene pharming – use of transgenic farm
animals to make pharaceuticals
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Genes that code for medical proteins are put
into animal DNA and appear in milk
Genomics
Study of genomes – genes
 Human genome project – sequenced the
base pairs in the DNA of the human
chromosome.
 HapMap Project
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Goal – catalog common sequence differences
that occur in humans, find risk for specific
illnesses
Haplotypes – patterns of sequence differences
Genetic profile
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Identify the complete genotype of an
individual, including mutations
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DNA chip produced by a quick swab
Can help with the way we live our lives,
preventive measures
Proteomics
Study of the structure, function and
interaction of cellular proteins
 Human proteome – translation of genes
into proteins
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Bioinformatics
Application of computer technologies to
the study of the genome
 Goal – find cause/effect relationship
between genetic profiles and genetic
disorders caused by multifactorial genes.
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Gene Therapy
Insertion of genetic material into human
cells for the treatment of a disorder.
 Ex Vivo Gene Therapy
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Cells are removed, manipulated, then replaced
Used in treatment of SCID and
hypercholesterolemia
In Vivo Gene Therapy
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Directly insert healthy genes to replace faulty
ones
Cystic fibrosis, VEGF, gene p53 and cancer