Biotechnology and Genetic

Engineering
Human Cloning-The Science
In The News
 Biotechnology
• Use of scientific & engineering principals
to manipulate organisms or their genes
 Products of Biotechnology
• Organisms with special biochemical,
morphological, and/or growth characteristics

• Organisms that produce useful products

• Information about an organism or tissue that

would other wise not be known
 Classical Biotechnology
• Propagation to get selected characteristics

Plants derived from wild mustard

 Techniques for Classical
Biotechnology

• Selection

• Hybridization

• Mutation
 Hybrid
• Offspring from crossing two genetically
similar varieties of a species

• Cross between two different species

 Hybrid Vigor
• Hybrid improved in certain ways over
parents
– Stronger
– With higher yields
 Important Microbiology Events
• Pasturization
– Louis Pasteur (1860s)
– Process to kill microorganisms that cause
fermentive change

• Germ theory
– Robert Koch (late 1800s)
– Germs cause infection
– Developed pure culture methods
 Antibiotics
• Alexander Fleming
(1927)

– Mold that contaminated

cultures killed bacteria

– Began process of
screening for antibiotics
 Molecular Biotechnology
• Manipulating genes
• Genetic recombination
– Exchange of DNA sequences between
molecules
Bacterial Exchange of DNA
• Transformation
• Transduction
• Conjugation
 Transformation
• Donor bacterium
– Lysed
– Releases DNA

• Recipient bacterium
– Take up DNA

• Can be induced
 Transduction
• Virus transfers DNA from donor to recipient
 Conjugation

• Donor & recipient

make contact

• DNA is transferred

• Transfer in bacteria
with plasmids
 Plasmids
• Extra chromosomal pieces of DNA

• Replicate independently

• Small portion of bacteria’s DNA

• Contain genes that promote transfer

 Engineering Gene Transfer
• Recombinant DNA technology
• Individual genes isolated and transferred
 Applications of Biotechnology

• Producing proteins for therapeutic use

• Producing vaccines
• DNA fingerprinting
• Research on genome structure & function
• Gene therapy to treat disease
• Modification of food
Producing Therapeutic Proteins
• Insert genes into bacteria
• Manipulate bacteria to produce proteins
• Purify proteins for use
Finding the Gene of Interest
• Shotgun cloning
– Isolating & purifying genomic DNA

– Cutting DNA into fragments

– Insert fragments into bacteria or yeast

– Results in complete genomic library

– Library screened to find desired gene

 DNA into Gene Fragments
• DNA clipped with restriction enzymes
– Recognize certain DNA sequences
 Cloning Genes
• Restriction fragments into bacteria or
yeast using plasmids or viruses
 Complementary DNA (cDNA)
Cloning
• Gene of interest is known

• Messenger RNA from gene available

• Use reverse transcriptase to make gene

• Can be expressed in bacterial systems

Gene Synthesis Cloning

• Desired sequence must be known

• Laboratory made gene inserted into

yeast or bacteria

• Used for insulin cloning as example

Screening for Desired Genes
 DNA Probes
• Molecule that binds to a specific gene

• Types of DNA Probe

– Molecules of RNA

– Complementary sequences of DNA

Genetically Engineered Vaccines
• Vaccines stimulate an
immune response

• Benefit of genetically
engineered vaccine
– Non pathogenic
 DNA Vaccines
• DNA sequence of pathogen injected
• Immune system develops antibodies
• Advantages
– No risk of infection
– No risk of illness from contamination
– Long lasting immune response
– Can administer many vaccines in a single shot
 DNA Fingerprinting

• DNA fragments amplified

• Fragments drawn through gel

• Bands visualized by dyes

• Humans have unique patterns

 Polymerase Chain Reaction
(PCR)

• Makes copies of DNA fragments

• Allows for analysis starting with

small samples

• Gives large number of copies

PCR can be Automated
 Electrophoresis
• Separates DNA fragments
DNA Fingerprints & Paternity
Human Genome Project

• Sequence of Human DNA

• 3 billion base pairs

• 30,000 to 40,000 genes

 Genomics
• Subdiscipline of genetics

• Mapping, sequencing, & analyzing

• Two areas
– Structural genomics
– Functional genomics
 DNA Arrays (DNA Chips)
• Allows screening of thousands of genes
 Gene Therapy
• Uses recombinant DNA to treat
genetic disorders

• Replaces defective genes

• Includes targeted gene repair

 Food Modification with
Biotechnology
• Increase yield

• Increase quality

• Modification of genes in organisms

• Example: transgenic plants

– Genetically altered
Transgenic & Cloned Animals
• Dolly
– First cloned animal
– Nuclear transfer from cell to produce embryo
Transgenic & Cloned Animals
• Bioengineered animals
– Combine desired traits
– Cow example:
• Heavy muscle
• Low fat
 Genetic Engineering
Controversy
• Potential dangers exist

• Experiments governed by National

Institute of Health

• Genetically modified foods

– Common in U.S.
– Opposed by Europe
 Arguments Against
Bioengineering
• Long term safety of engineered foods
• Spread of bioengineered genes