Transcript Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering What is Biotechnology?

BIOTECHNOLOGY AND
GENETIC ENGINEERING
What is Biotechnology?
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Biotechnology is the combination of biology and
technology.
It has been making many products better for many
years, including cheese, yogurt, and even bread
As scientists cracked the genetic code, they began to
incorporate biotechnology into the branch of
genetics
Selective Breeding
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A process that uses domestic
animals and new varieties of
plants with traits that are
particularly desirable
It allows the favorable trait to
remain in the population!
 Ex:
Dog breeds, race horses,
plant crops
 Stuff They Don't Want You to
Know
Genetic Engineering
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AKA Recombinant DNA
Technology
Alters genes by removing DNA
segments from one organism
and inserting them into the
DNA of a new organism
Once the DNA is inside the
new organism, the transferred
code directs the new
organism’s cells to make the
same product (protein) as the
original organism
Let’s List the Steps!
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Gene for insulin is isolated from a human pancreas
cell
Plasmid DNA is cut with a restriction enzyme
Plasmid DNA and human insulin gene are
combined
“Recombinant” DNA is inserted into a bacterial cell
Bacterial cells reproduce through mitosis and each
new daughter cell is able to produce insulin
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
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A GMO is any organism whose DNA has been
altered by genetic engineering
Commonly used in agriculture to modify our
produce and meat products
Topic currently under fierce debate!
GMOs in Agriculture
Cloning
The process of producing
genetically identical offspring
from the body cells of the parent
organism
Also called “somatic cell nuclear
transfer”
First cloned organism was “Dolly”
the sheep in 1997 in Scotland
Since then other animals such as
pigs, deer, horses, and bulls, but
never humans
Dolly News Story
The Cloning Process
DNA Fingerprinting
Also called Gel Electrophoresis
 Method of isolating and making images of
specific sequences of DNA
 This is used to test DNA left at crime scenes
and for paternity testing
 Each person’s DNA is as unique to them as their
fingerprint!
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How Does DNA Fingerprinting Work?
1. Scientist removes the parts of DNA that are the
same in all humans
2. The DNA is cut at specific places with restriction
enzymes, creating small fragments
3. The tiny pieces of DNA are put into a tray filled
with gel and the scientist applies an electric current
to the gel
4. The current pulls the DNA fragments through the
gel because DNA is negatively charged. Shorter
fragments are able to move farther through the gel
Whodunnit?