The New Science of Life Chapter 24 Great Idea: Our new understanding of genetic mechanisms is leading to enormous technological advances in medicine and other aspects of our lives.
Jan 01, 2016
The New Science of Life
Chapter 24
Great Idea:Our new understanding of genetic mechanisms is leading to enormous technological advances in
medicine and other aspects of our lives.
Chapter Outline
• The Technology of Genes• Stem Cells, Cloning, and
Regenerative Medicine• The New Face of Medicine• Unraveling the Past: Mitochondrial
DNA
Genetic Engineering
• Genetic engineering– Foreign genes inserted– Existing genes altered
• Technique– Restriction enzymes cut DNA– Another DNA strand binds– New gene is expressed
• Examples– Insulin– Agriculture
• GMO– DOA– FDA– EPA
• Bioterrorism
DNA Fingerprinting
• DNA fingerprinting– Analysis of DNA in
human tissue– Uses
• identify criminals • identify victims
• Process– Analyze DNA sections
for repeats– Compare to individual
of interest• VNTR• STR
Stem Cells, Cloning, and Regenerative Medicine
• Gene Control– Genes on or off– Produce only copies
• Early development– Pluripotent
• Develop into any cell in body• Development
– Blastocyst• Outer cells: placenta• Inner cells: embryonic stem cells
– Gastrula • Not pluripotent• Differentiation
– Adulthood• Somatic or adult stem cells
• Stem Cell Line – Reproduce without differentiation
Computer-Assisted Drug Design
• Medicine– One or more molecules– Bond to specific molecules– Change cellular chemistry
• Research– Previous
• Search in nature– Current
• Use molecular techniques• Design drugs from scratch
• CADD– Example
• Protease inhibitors
Cancer-A Different Kind of Genetic Disease
• Normal Cell– guardianship
• Cancer– Cells reproduce without
restraint• Due to genetic defect• Usually 5-6 damaged genes
– Collection of diseases• Genetic defects
– Increase cancer probability– Lifetime risk >80%
• Cure– Surgery, radiation,
chemotherapy– Gene therapy
Gene Therapy
• Gene therapy– Replace defective gene
with healthy gene– In vivo– In vitro
• Example– SCID
• Problems– Genes inserted randomly– No proteins made
• Therapeutic viruses
DNA Repair in the Cell
• Damage– Outside cell
• Human developed• Nature
– Inside cell
• Repair mechanisms– Point defect
• Enzymes remove section
– Mismatch • Remove length of DNA• Reconstruct section