Gene Technology

Gene technology, also called biotechnology, is the use of living organisms to create products or facilitate processes.

Genetic engineering

transgenic organism

recombinant DNA

THE FOUR STAGES OF A GENETIC ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT Fig 14.3

Stage 1: Cleaving DNA

restriction enzymes (AKA restriction endonucleases) (Fig 14.2) and Movie

Recognition sequence

electrophoresis Fig 14.4

"Sticky" ends

DNA ligase

Stage 2: Producing Recombinant DNA.

Plasmids

Stage 3: Cloning.

clone library.

Stage 4: Screening.

transgenic DNA Fig 14.5 and Fig 14.6

Early genetic engineering Movie

WORKING WITH DNA

PCR Amplification Fig 14.7 and Movie

polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

primers

Heat is applied to a solution of DNA, primers, nucleotides, and Taq polymerase.

The enzyme, Taq polymerase, then begins at a primer and replicates the single-stranded DNA.

cDNA (complementary DNA) Fig 14.8 (Movie)

DNA Fingerprinting Fig 14.9 and RFLP’s Restriction fragment length polymorphisms - Movie

GENETIC ENGINEERING AND MEDICINE Table 14.1

insulin

Human Growth Hormone Fig 14.10

Anticoagulants

Proteins to promote clotting

Piggyback Vaccines (Fig 14.11)

pathogen

GENETIC ENGINEERING AND AGRICULTURE

Farm Animals

bovine somatotropin Fig 14.12

growth hormones

Genetically altered crops - First came to market in 1994: Table 14.2a and Table 14.2b.

Pest Resistance

killing pests: (Bacillus thuringensis Bt toxin).

resistant to insect pests.

Herbicide Resistance Fig 14.14

More Nutritious Crops

Transgenic “golden” rice has been genetically engineered to contain more vitamin A and iron, as well as inhibitors that conserve iron in the body. Fig 14.15

Risks of GM (genetically modified) foods