Transcript Genetic engineering - Hialeah Senior High School

Biotechnology
Genetic Engineering
Genetic Engineering
Any technique used to
identify or change a gene.
Intended uses:
 Medical
Forensics
 Agriculture
Farm
Animals
 Research
Pets
Medical – gene
replacement therapy
– replacing a
damaged or missing
gene with a healthy
one.
 Ex. Genetic diseases
Cystic fibrosis

Agriculture

Agriculture – Create crops that
are:
Resistant to insects – fewer
pesticides needed
Resistant to herbicides – kill
weeds without harming crops.
Grow faster and bigger
Produce larger fruits and
vegetables
CROPS
Canola
Corn
Cotton
Potato
Soybean
Squash
Tomato

Research – improved
vaccines and medicines.
Diabetes - Insulin
Hemophilia – clotting
factors
Sterile pests
fruit fly
mosquito
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 supply
human 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 emphysema
moblility 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.

Animals
Cows – 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
fingerprinting
Paternity testing – who
is the daddy?
Identifying suspects in
criminal cases.
Techniques
Use restriction enzymes to cut
DNA at specific base pair
sequences.
GAATTC
CTTAAG
G
AATTC
CTTAA
G
Sticky ends
Bacteria
plasmid
Human
gene
Recombinant
DNA
Obtain plasmid from bacteria
Obtain desired gene from other
species
Open plasmid using enzymes
Gene is added to plasmid
Plasmid + gene is absorbed by
bacteria
New bacteria strain will be
expressed by bacteria
Transgenic organisms:
Organisms with DNA
from another.
Gel Electrophoresis
Technique 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.
(+)
(-)
When Genetic
Engineering Goes
Wrong!!!!
Dangers
Genes 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.