BiotechnologyGenetic Engineering

Genetic Engineering

Any technique used to identify or change a gene.Intended uses:Medical ForensicsAgriculture Farm Animals

Research Pets

Medical – gene replacement therapy – replacing a damaged or missing gene with a healthy one.

Ex. Genetic diseasesCystic fibrosis

Agriculture

Agriculture – Create crops that are: Resistant to insects – fewer pesticides needed

Resistant to herbicides – kill weeds without harming crops.

Grow faster and biggerProduce larger fruits and vegetables

CROPSCanolaCornCottonPotatoSoybeanSquashTomato

                                                                                                                                      

Research – improved vaccines and medicines.Diabetes - InsulinHemophilia – clotting factors

Sterile pests fruit flymosquito

Potential for Using Algae to Produce Human Therapeutic Proteins ShownScienceDaily (Mar. 11, 2010)

human interferon β1: used to treat Multiple Sclerosis and costs patients from $1,600 to $2,000 for a one month supplyhuman erythropoietin: increase red blood production in patients undergoing chemotherapy human proinsulin: a hormone with a multi-billion dollar market used to treat Type 1 diabetes. human vascular endothelial growth factor: treat patients suffering from pulmonary emphysemamoblility group protein B1 (HMGB1):activates immune cells and is being investigated for its potential to enhance other cancer therapies. two other proteins were domains 10 and 14 of human fibronectin, which are being investigated for their ability to mimic certain kinds of antibodies.

AnimalsCows – produce more milk, resistant to diseases

Chickens: grow faster, resistant to diseases

Pigs – more meat, resistant to diseases

Salmon – grow larger, faster

Pets Zebrafish – glowfish:

Fluorescent gene transferred from coral and squid.

Cloning pets

Forensics – DNA fingerprintingPaternity testing – who is the daddy?

Identifying suspects in criminal cases.

TechniquesUse restriction enzymes to cut DNA at specific base pair sequences.

G A A T T C G A A T T C

C T T A A G C T T A A G

Sticky ends

Bacteriaplasmid

Humangene

Recombinant DNA

Obtain plasmid from bacteriaObtain desired gene from other speciesOpen plasmid using enzymesGene is added to plasmidPlasmid + gene is absorbed by bacteriaNew bacteria strain will be expressed by bacteria

Transgenic organisms:

Organisms with DNA from another.

Gel ElectrophoresisTechnique used to breakdown DNA into smaller fragments and separate the fragments by size.Several restriction enzymes are used.DNA fragments are placed in an electrophoresis apparatus.Electricity is applied.

DNA has a negative charge and migrates toward the positive side of the apparatus.Smaller fragments move faster than larger ones.Electricity is turned off and a dye is applied. DNA is examined under UV light.

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When Genetic Engineering Goes Wrong!!!!

DangersGenes may spread from desirable crops to weeds and other plants through viruses. Beneficial insects can be killed by insect resistant plants (monarch butterfly).Plants can overgrow other crops.

Unknown effects on humans that consume genetically altered animals with super growth factors.Transferring genes may activate silent oncogenes in the genome.