Genetic Technology

Genetic Technology

What are some uses of DNA Technology?

I. Genetic EngineeringI. Genetic Engineering

involves building recombinant DNA involves building recombinant DNA

(DNA made from 2 or more different (DNA made from 2 or more different organisms)organisms)

Example: using bacterial cells to produce Example: using bacterial cells to produce human insulinhuman insulin

Steps in Genetic Engineering

1. DNA is cut using restriction enzymes. Both the gene of interest and a vector are cut. (vectors transfer DNA, and can be viruses or plasmids)

2. Recombinant DNA is produced

II. Restriction EnzymesDifferent restriction enzymes cut DNA in

different ways.

Some cut straight across and leave “blunt ends”

Some make staggered cuts and leave “sticky ends”

Topic One

• How it relates to your audience

III. DNA Fingerprint• Can be produced

from blood, saliva, or body tissue

• Used for solving crimes, establishing maternity/paternity, studying ancient DNA, and diagnosing genetic disorders

(mother) (child 1) (child 2) (father)

Months after the tsunami in Indonesia, this lost baby was reunited with his parents.

How is a DNA fingerprint produced?

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sheppard/analyze.html

• A DNA sample is cut with restriction enzymes

• Gel electrophoresis is used to separate DNA fragments by size.

• Electrical current pulls DNA fragments through a gel

• DNA has a negative charge, so the fragments move toward the positive pole

Larger fragments move shorter distances; smaller fragments move greater distances

• How is DNA fingerprinting used to solve crimes?

Problem Solving

Establishing Paternity

A baby gorilla is born at the zoo. There are 4 adult males in the population that may be its father. DNA fingerprinting is done to establish the correct father, so that for future generations, the gene pool is kept as varied as possible.

Mother Baby Male 1 Male 2 Male 3 Male 4

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Below is a DNA fingerprint for a father and his four children.

• Which DNA is the father’s?

IV. Genetic Engineering in Medicine and Society

A. Medicines Insulin to treat diabetes Human growth hormone

B. Vaccines Harmless cowpox virus engineered to fight

herpes Working on a vaccine to protect against

malaria

C. Gene Therapy: putting a healthy copy of a gene into cells of a person whose gene is defective. Currently used to treat:

hemophilia cystic fibrosis cancer

V. Cloning

Cloning is the creation of an organism that is an exact genetic copy of another

http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/cloning/whatiscloning/

http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/cloning/clickandclone/