Biotechnology

The use of microorganisms, cells, or cell
components to make a product
 Foods
 Vaccines
 Antibiotics
 Vitamins
 Biodegradation
 Selective
breeding
What Subjects Are Involved With
Biotechnology?
Multidisciplinary- involving a number of
disciplines that are coordinated for a
desired outcome
 Science

 Life sciences
 Physical sciences
 Social sciences
What Subjects Are Involved With
Biotechnology?
Mathematics
 Applied sciences

 Computer applications
 Engineering
 Agriculture
What Are Genetic Engineering
Organisms?
Genetic engineering- artificially changing
the genetic information in the cells of
organisms
 Transgenic- an organism that has been
genetically modified
 GMO- a genetically modified organism
 GEO- a genetically enhanced organism

Other Uses of Genetic Technology
 Genetic
technologies also used to
identify individuals - UA part of Shoah
Project to ID Holocaust victims (Wildcat,
October 4, 2006)
 UA project to trace ancestry
 Diagnosis and epidemiology of disease
Genetically Modified Organisms
Herbicide-resistant plants
 Bt cotton/corn (toxin gene from Bacillus
thuringiensis that kills insects)
 Flavr-Savr tomatoes
 Golden rice (beta-carotene)
 Plant-based vaccines

Transgenic Animals
“Knock-out” and transgenic mice: used to
study immune system and genetic
diseases
 Pigs: blood clotting Factor VIII, organs for
transplantation
 Others: Human IL-2 (cancer), albumin
(blood volume), growth hormone, tPA
(dissolves clots)

Recombinant DNA

Combining
DNA from
two different
organisms
Useful Properties of DNA
 Restriction
endonucleases
can cut DNA at
specific sites,
leaving sticky
ends for insertion
of new DNA
Gel Electrophoresis
What is Gel Electrophoresis?
•Gel electrophoresis separates
molecules on the basis of their charge and
size.
•The charged macromolecules migrate
across a span of gel because they are placed
in an electrical field.
•The gel acts as a sieve to retard the
passage of molecules according to their size
and shape.
Crime Scene


a wallet was stolen from a
locker near the classroom. 
A
small drop of blood was found
on the locker, assumed to be
left by the guilty party.
Someone in the room is
suspected of taking the wallet,
and that the police gave you a
sample of the blood to run a
DNA fingerprint on, using gel
electrophoresis.
LAB

1.
2.
Gel LAB worksheet
imagine that their DNA is only 20 base
pairs long, and that they all have the
restriction site AATT at least once
somewhere along their DNA.
In the grid provided on the worksheet,
fill in a row of 20 base pairs and include
the AATT restriction site as many times
as they wish.
Part 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
use a pencil to lightly shade in the AATT restriction site
on the template strand wherever it occurs in their DNA
sequence.
count the number of times the restriction site occurs in
their sequence and write in the number on their
worksheet. The, for each restriction site, have them
draw a thick line between the two A’s. Explain that this
indicates where the restriction enzyme will cut the DNA.
cut out their entire DNA sequence from the middle of the
worksheet so that it is one long rectangle.
Then, following the lines you drew in for each restriction
site, have them cut their DNA into the fragments created
by the restriction enzyme.
write their name on the back of each fragment, along
with the total number of base pairs it has
Part 3
1.
2.
3.
Simulated Gel
Results
Discussion Questions
Difficulties in Genetically
Engineering Humans
Inserting gene in correct cells
 Inserting gene so it is expressed
correctly

 Orientation
 Regulation
Controlling virus vector
 Ethical issues

Other Issues
How will genetically engineered
organisms affect environment?
 Spread of genes to other organisms?
 Who will decide?

What Are Bioethics?
 Ethics-
knowing right from wrong,
and then doing the right idea
 Bio- living organisms
 Bioethics- knowing right from
wrong with living organisms, and
then doing the right idea