Transcript DNA - Science-with

VI) Applications
A) Ancestry and mtDNA
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mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a second type of DNA
found in the human body.
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both mitochondria (mtDNA) and chloroplasts (cDNA) have
their own DNA which is replicated, transcribed and
translated independently of somatic and germ cells.
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support for endosymbiont theory of how eukaryotic cells
gained a mitochondria and/or chloroplast
A) Ancestry and mtDNA
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offspring get their mitochondria (and hence their
mtDNA) through the cytoplasm in the oocyte.
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mtDNA comes from your mother.
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mtDNA has a very slow mutation rate.
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by comparing the number and places of mutations in
the mtDNA of indigenous cultures from around the
world you can see how human populations related to
each other.
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this study is called the ‘Eve Hypothesis”
B) Biotechnology Products
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medical bacteria
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transgenic bacteria are being created that can produce
pharmaceutical drugs.
(transgenic organism: an organism which has a
foreign gene (a transgene) incorporated into its
genome)
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this can decrease the use of animals in the production
of drugs.
B) Biotechnology Products
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bioremediation bacteria
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transgenic bacteria are being created that can clean up
toxic waste, oil spills and act as air filters.
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at the University of Alberta scientists are using
transgenic bacteria to produce polymers for plastic.
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these bacteria produce biodegradable plastic that break
down relatively quickly in the landfill
B) Biotechnology Products
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Transgenic Plants/Genetically Modified Organisms
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transgenic plants can be created to
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resist herbicides
resist drought
grow in salt water
resist insects
be more productive.
not rot as fast
B) Biotechnology Products
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Transgenic Animals/Clones
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Dolly the sheep was the first large scale mammal to
be cloned.
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Create super cattle?
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Create animals to grow organs for humans?
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Create animals to produce pharmaceutical drugs?
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Create animals to produce resources
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goats engineered to produce spider silk in their milk.
B) Biotechnology Products
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Risks
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Environmental
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producing super organism limits diversity.
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diversity is the key survival mechanisms of life
on Earth (adaptation only comes about through
diversity)
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Health
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no one knows the long term effects of transgenic
foods and drugs because they simply have not
been around long enough
B) Biotechnology Products
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Risks
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Social and Economic
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who owns the DNA code? private business?
government?
copyrighting genetic code that could save lives?
right to privacy of your own genetic code.
creating super-babies.
B) Biotechnology Products
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Genetics and Healthcare
Prenatal Screening
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Amniocentesis
a needle withdraws a small sample of amniotic
fluid from the uterus.
the cells of the fluid are grown and allowed to
multiply.
a karotype is prepared and genetic analysis is
cared out.
B) Biotechnology Products
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Genetics and Healthcare
Prenatal Screening
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Chronic villi sampling
around the ninth week of pregnancy cells from
the chorion are removed.
cells of the chorion are fetal cells.
the chorion cells are screened for genetic
markers that are characteristics of certain
abnormalities.
B) Biotechnology Products
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Genetics and Healthcare
gene therapy
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the process of changing the function of a gene to
treat or prevent a genetic disorder.
DNA vectors (usually modified viruses) carry
foreign DNA into a target cell of a patient and
incorporated into their DNA
~ cystic fibrosis puffer.