Transcript Safety - Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Biomolecular Engineering Concentration
Did you know…
Each cell contains approximately 9 feet of DNA. In
a typical meal, you eat approximately
55,000,000 cells, or about 93,205 miles of DNA!
As of 2005, 59% of Europeans believed that
tomatoes, and for that sake plants in general, do
not contain DNA.
Public misconceptions of molecular biotechnology
and genetic engineering (GE)
Then, what is biotechnology about?
•Pharmaceuticals/Medicine (insulin, gene therapy, diagnostics)
•Agriculture (improved plants and crops)
•Environmental sciences (Bioremediation)
•Food products (sweetener for soft drinks and candy)
•Forensics (DNA fingerprinting)
•Textiles (stone washed jeans)
•Basic research
Cloning Genes: Recombinant Human Insulin
1978: Scientists at Genentech cloned the gene for human insulin.
Genentech licensed the technology to Eli Lilly, where it was named "Humulin”.
1982: It became the first recombinant DNA drug approved by FDA.
transformation
Cloning and Recombinant Expression of the Human Insulin Gene
Protein engineering of laundry detergent
Subtilisin
• protease that digests proteins that stain clothing; used as an
additive to laundry detergent
• the gene encoding it was cloned and subtilisin is made
recombinantly in E. coli
Problem
• Inactivated by bleach due to oxidation of methionine at position 22
Solution
• Using site directed mutagenesis, mutate methionine 22 to alanine
to create a subtilisin enzyme that is stable and active in bleach
Flavonoid Genes in Petunia: Addition of a Limited Number of Gene
Copies May Lead to a Suppression of Gene Expression
A. R. van der Krol, L. A. Mur, M. Beld, JNM. Mol and A. R. Stuitje
THE PLANT CELL, Vol 2, Issue 4 291-299, 1990
Why is RNA interference of interest?
• Basic science: new pathway of gene regulation
• Applied science:
- Powerful tool for reverse genetics (knockdown gene and
see effect), to determine gene function, and to perform
pathway analysis
• Therapeutic uses: treatment potential for any disease
where decreasing a transcript would be beneficial (any
disease where your body makes *too much* of something)
e.g., HIV, Hepatitis B and C viruses, influenza A virus, cancer,
respiratory syncytial viral infection, neurodegenerative diseases,
such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Huntington’s
disease
Interested in Molecular Biotechnology?
• Take BIT 410 - Core Technologies
(Organic Chem and Biosci 183, pre-reqs
• Take course in Biochemistry (BCH 451)
• Minor in biotechnology at NCSU
– www.ncsu.edu/biotechnology
• Consider biomolecular engineering concentration
(CBE 551) or other life science-related
concentrations/courses (e.g., BEC, Bioprocessing)
• Do undergraduate research or get summer internship!
BIOTECHNOLOGY MINOR
BIT Undergraduate Minor
Manipulation of Recombinant DNA (BIT 410)
General cloning techniques
2 advanced modules
Molecular Biotechnology research internship
Ethics course
http://www.ncsu.edu/biotechnology
Cloning the green fluorescent protein (BIT 410)
Clontech
Jellyfish
E. coli
pure
protein
ADVANCED MODULES
•Fermentation of recombinant microorganisms
•Animal cell culture
•Real Time PCR
•RNA purification and analysis
•Plant tissue culture and transformation
•Protein purification
•Computer analysis of DNA sequences
•DNA Microarrays
•RNAi
•Genetic engineering of eukaryotic microorganisms
•Genome mapping
•New modules always under development
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
•Active learning
•Problem solving
•Hands-on experience
•Collaboration
•Responsible use of genetic technology
STATE-OF-THE-ART LABS
CAMPUS-WIDE
Biochemistry
Biological Sciences
Chemical engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Crop Science
Entomology
Fisheries and wildlife sciences
Food science
Horticultural Sciences
Immunology
Microbiology
Nutrition
Plant Biology
School of Management
Toxicology
Veterinary sciences
Wood and Paper Science
Zoology