Biotechnology Research Notes
Biotechnology: applied biology where living organisms carry on specific biological
process to make product for man
Transgenies/Recombinants: organisms that have DNA from 2 different species.
Clones: exact copies
Plasmids: circular rings of DNA
 Organisms used as factories for engineered products include bacteria and yeasts
Genome: all the chromosomes an organism has
Genetic Engineering: process of changing the genetic makeup of microbes, plants, or
animals in order to change their cellular activities and products
Artificial Selection: chose plants/animals with desired traits
Hybridization: act or process of mating organisms of different varieties/species to make
a hybrid
DNA Fingerprinting: DNA samples are multiplied by PCR (polymerase chain reaction)
and run through gel electrophoresis to analyze DNA fragments
How we use Biotechnology:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Genetically modified foods
Farm animals make human proteins
Edible vaccines
Insect resistant plants
Hormones and enzymes to cure diseases
Gene Therapy: correct gene is isolated and put in virus vector, can be given to patient to
correct disorder
Debate: Ethical? What will these changes result in? Will a good change for me harm
another?
Biotechnology Research Notes
Biotechnology: applied biology where living organisms carry on specific biological
process to make product for man
Transgenies/Recombinants: organisms that have DNA from 2 different species.
Clones: exact copies
Plasmids: circular rings of DNA
 Organisms used as factories for engineered products include bacteria and yeasts
Genome: all the chromosomes an organism has
Genetic Engineering: process of changing the genetic makeup of microbes, plants, or
animals in order to change their cellular activities and products
Artificial Selection: chose plants/animals with desired traits
Hybridization: act or process of mating organisms of different varieties/species to make
a hybrid
DNA Fingerprinting: DNA samples are multiplied by PCR (polymerase chain reaction)
and run through gel electrophoresis to analyze DNA fragments
How we use Biotechnology:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Genetically modified foods
Farm animals make human proteins
Edible vaccines
Insect resistant plants
Hormones and enzymes to cure diseases
Gene Therapy: correct gene is isolated and put in virus vector, can be given to patient to
correct disorder
Debate: Ethical? What will these changes result in? Will a good change for me harm
another?