Transcript DNA Technology

DNA Technology/The New
Genetics
Frankenstein to Frosted Flakes
The most basic level:
finding genes and isolating
them
• Basic Steps
1) Extract genomic
DNA
2) Cut DNA with
Restriction Enzymes
3) Separate DNA and
Isolate desired DNA
4) Now What?
• Read order of A, T, G,
and C
• Compare with other
organisms
• Determine Amino Acid
sequence of gene
• Make More
PCR
• Recombine sequence
in library
Genetic Recombination
a.k.a Gene Cloning
• Mixing organism’s DNA
WHY?
• Transgenic organisms:
Organisms with another organisms added to
their genome
Transformation in Bacteria
Cloning of Organisms
• “Clones” definition:
• First cloned animal:
Dolly
• Clone a Mouse
Why Cloning?
Therapeutic Cloning
• Production of human
embryos for inner cell mass
(icm)
• Production of transgenic
cells (gene therapy)
Reproductive Cloning
• Cloning with the intent of
producing a new organism
So are we just a big collection of our
genes?
Short answer, yes with an if
• Single genes control
particular traits and
diseases
• Multiple genes acting
together produce
predictable ranges of
phenotypes
Long answer, no with a but
• Environment has a major
effect on gene expression
• The HGP detected 20,000 to
35,000 genes but we have
over a million distinct
proteins….what gives?
How Genes Work
• Genes must be controlled to work properly
Lac Operon
• Development and differentiation
Ethical Concerns:
• The Inner Cell Mass (ICM) of an embryo is the
desired product for the study of stem cells
• Harvesting of an ICM destroys an embryo
• New technology: Induced Pluripotent Stem
Cells (iPSs)
- trick a differentiated adult cell into becoming
a pluripotent cell
So what does all this mean?
• We can already economically sequence a human
genome.
• These technologies present a huge variety of
opportunities and dangers.
• Your generation must be aware of these
technologies as you will make the ultimate
decisions about how these technologies are used.