Genetic Engineering/Recombinant DNA

Genetic Engineering/Recombinant DNA

The direct manipulation of an organisms genome using biotechnology

New DNA is inserted into a host genome Host organism transcribes and translates

that DNA into a protein not normally manufactured by that organism

Important/Interesting Examples: Insulin(and other biopharmaceutical)producing bacteria & animals, GloFish, GMO’s

Gene Therapy The use of DNA as a drug to treat disease by

delivering therapeutic DNA into a patients cells.

Good gene is inserted using a virus to replace a mutated gene.

Has been used to treat: Choroderemia, Immunodeficiency diseases, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Beta-thalassemia, and color-blindness in dogs

Speculative Uses:• Designer children and curing genetic diseases in vitro• Gene Doping to improve athletic performance

GENE THERAPY

DNA Fingerprinting The isolation, imaging and matching of

DNA sequences Used to identify individuals by matching

their DNA profiles Parental Testing, Criminal Investigations,

Identification of suspects & victims, natural disasters, acts of terrorism.

Restriction enzymes are used to cut DNA into small pieces that are then separated on a GEL.

BioInformatics Using computers to store, organize,

and compare the genomes of all living organisms

Uses:• Sequence Analysis & Comparison• Computational Evolutionary Biology• Genetics of Disease: Breast cancer,

Alzheimer’s• Oncogenomics: Analysis of mutations in

cancer• Analysis of causes of epidemics

Cloning Production of genetically identical

populations of existing organisms, cells or tissues

Important Uses:• Cloning Stem Cells• Cloning whole organisms• Cloning of Extinct & Endangered Species

Some organisms that have been cloned:• Tadpoles, Carp, mice, sheep, pig, cattle, cat,

dog, wolf, camel, Pyrenean Ibex