Biotechnology
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
Genetic Engineering
 Technology that involves manipulating
the DNA of one organism in order to insert
the DNA of another organism
 Agricultural
 Medicinal
 Forensic Science
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
 An electric current is used to separate
DNA fragments according to the size of
the fragments in a process called gel
electrophoresis.
 When an electric current is applied, the
DNA fragments move toward the positive
end of the gel.
 The smaller fragments move farther faster
than the larger ones.
Gel Electrophoresis
Gel Electrophoresis
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
 The unique pattern
created based on the
size of the DNA
fragment can be
compared to known
DNA fragments for
identification.
Gel electrophoresis
DNA fingerprinting
• Gel Electrophoresis is
an example of how
this is done.
• Every person is
genetically different,
so DNA fingerprints
are different except for
identical twins.
DNA fingerprinting applications
• used to identify or
eliminate suspects
• determine paternity of
a child, or establish
other family
relationships
• identify a deceased
person
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
 Genetically engineered organisms
 to study the expression of a particular gene.
 to select traits that might be beneficial to
humans.
Genetically engineered
bollworm
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
DNA Tools
 Genome total DNA in the nucleus of
each cell.
Transgenic Tobacco Plant
with Firefly gene
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
 Restriction enzymes recognize and bind to
specific DNA sequences and cuts the DNA
within the sequence.
 Isolate specific genes of the genome.
 Used for recombinant DNA or gene cloning.
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
 EcoRI specifically cuts
DNA containing the
sequence GAATTC.
 The ends of the DNA
fragments, called sticky
ends
Restriction Enzyme Ends
• Some ends are considered blunt also
because it does not leave “open”
nucleotides
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
 The newly generated DNA molecule with DNA from
different sources is called recombinant DNA.
 Often use circular DNA of bacteria called a plasmid
Genetic Engineering
AKA: Recombinant DNA or transgenic
organisms
• DNA is split(restriction enzymes) /new inserted
Applications of recombinant DNA
• Bacteria: used to
produce hormones and
antibiotics
• Plants: made to be
resistant to herbicides
• Animals: cloning,
replacement of genes
which cause disorders
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
 Some of the bacterial cells take up the recombinant
plasmid DNA through a process called transformation.
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
 Large numbers of identical bacteria, each
containing the inserted DNA molecules, can
be produced through a process called
cloning.  Gene Cloning
Cloning
Cloning is an asexual form of reproduction. All the child's genes would come
from a body cell of a single individual:
Dolly –1st clone
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) a technique for
making billions of copies of a piece of DNA.
 The process creates a chain of many nucleotides,
and the chain is a strand of DNA.
 Used in genetic fingerprinting
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
Biotechnology
 Organisms, genetically engineered by
inserting a gene from another organism, are
called transgenic organisms.
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
Transgenic Animals
 Scientists produce most transgenic
animals in laboratories for biological
research.
 Mice, fruit flies, and the roundworm
Caenorhabditis elegans
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology
Transgenic Plants
 Genetically engineered cotton resists
insect infestation of the bolls.
 Sweet-potato plants are resistant to a virus
that could kill most of the African harvest.
 Rice plants with increased iron and
vitamins could decrease malnutrition.
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.3 The Human Genome
The Human Genome Project
 The goal of the Human Genome Project
(HGP) was to determine the sequence of the
approximately three billion nucleotides that
make up human DNA and to identify all of
the approximately 20,000–25,000 human
genes.
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.3 The Human Genome
 Decoding the
sequence of the
human genome can
be compared to
reading a book that was printed in code.
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.3 The Human Genome
 A technique aimed at correcting mutated
genes that cause human
diseases is called gene
therapy.
 Scientists insert a
normal gene into a
chromosome to replace
a dysfunctional gene.
 Genomics is the study of an organism’s
genome.
Genetics and Biotechnology
13.2 DNA Technology