GENETIC
TECHNOLOGIES
Mrs. Stewart
Honors Biology

STANDARDS:
 TSW evaluate the scientific and ethical concerns surrounding DNA/genetic technologies
:
 Evaluate DNA fingerprinting, recombinant
DNA technology and genetic engineering.

PURPOSE OF GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES
 Processing DNA from the scene of a crime
 Improve food crops
 Determine if a person “carries” the gene for a particular disorder
 Determine if a person has the gene that will cause a particular disorder before symptoms begin
 Identify the father of a child
 Research treatments and cures for genetic diseases

DNA IDENTIFICATION
 Every person shares 99.9% of the same
DNA.
 .01% variations can be used to identify an individual

TWO KINDS OF FINGERPRINTS

WHAT IS DNA FINGERPRINTING?
 A technique used by scientists to distinguish between individuals by using the .01% variations in their DNA
Non-coding regions of DNA contain repetitive sequences. Each person has a different number of these varying sequences.
(VNTR = Variable Number Tandem Repeats)

STEPS IN DNA IDENTIFICATION
 Copy the DNA billions of times = PCR
 Cut it with restriction enzymes
 Sort the DNA using gel electrophoresis
PCR animation
Gel Electrophoresis Virtual Labs

USING FRAGMENTS TO IDENTIFY
 Was the suspect at the crime scene?

PATERNITY TESTING
 By comparing the DNA profile of a mother and her child, it is possible to identify the biological father.

PATERNITY TEST

USING DNA FINGERPRINTING FOR
IDENTIFICATION

ACCURACY OF DNA PROFILING
• 13 different locations for VNTR are analyzed
• The probability that 2 individuals (not identical twins) all the same VNTR is 1 in 100 billion
• There are only ~6.5 billion people on the planet

WHAT GOOD ARE BACTERIA?

BACTERIAL CELL

HOW COULD WE UTILIZE
THIS?


RECOMBINANT DNA
 When DNA from two different organisms are joined

OTHER APPLICATIONS FOR
RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY
 Vaccines!
 We can inject the protein from a virus without giving you the actual virus.
 Example: The newest flu vaccines!

HUMAN GENOME PROJECT
 Began in early 90s.
 By 2003, the sequencing was complete
 Coded the entire human genome onto computers for analysis and study

WHAT DID WE LEARN?
 Only about 2% of our genome codes for proteins
 The genome is smaller than we thought!
 Estimated that we have 100,000 protein-coding genes
 We actually have about 20-25,000 protein coding genes

HOW DO WE USE THE
INFO?
 Carrier screenings
 Genetic diagnostic testing
 Cancer and other genetic disorders research

GENETIC
ENGINEERING
 Gene therapy
 Cloning
 Reproductive
 Therapeutic
 GM crops

GENE THERAPY

CLONING

REPRODUCTIVE CLONING
 Creates an entire copy of an organism

THERAPEUTIC CLONING
 Creates only a part of an organism – like an organ for transplantation

GM CROPS
 Adding genes to plants to:
 Make resistant to wee-controlling chemicals
 Resistant to plants
 Yield more crops because they are better protected

CONTROVERSY
 Pros
 Higher crop yields
 Help alleviate world hunger problems
 Cons
 What if resistance transfers to weeds?
 Safe to eat?
 Increase population size