NOTES 26 – Biotechnology NOTES 26 – Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering& Genetic Engineering

What is biotechnology?What is biotechnology?

BiotechnologyBiotechnology – the use of – the use of organisms and their genetics in organisms and their genetics in industry to make productsindustry to make products

EX. Insulin medicine for people with EX. Insulin medicine for people with insulin-dependent diabetes is insulin-dependent diabetes is produced using bacteriaproduced using bacteria

Genetic EngineeringGenetic Engineering – making – making changes in the DNA of an organism changes in the DNA of an organism to produce new traits in that to produce new traits in that organismorganism

EX. Inserting a gene into a tomato EX. Inserting a gene into a tomato plant that slows the ripening processplant that slows the ripening process

How is genetic engineering How is genetic engineering possible?possible?

Because all living organisms have Because all living organisms have DNA, by moving DNA from one DNA, by moving DNA from one organism to another, it is possible to organism to another, it is possible to transfer traits from one organism to transfer traits from one organism to anotheranother

Genetic engineers use plasmids and Genetic engineers use plasmids and restriction enzymes as tools to restriction enzymes as tools to change an organism’s DNAchange an organism’s DNA

PlasmidPlasmid – a small, – a small, circular piece of DNA circular piece of DNA found in some bacteria found in some bacteria that can be used to carry that can be used to carry DNA from one organism to DNA from one organism to anotheranother

Restriction EnzymesRestriction Enzymes – – proteins used to “cut” proteins used to “cut” DNA in specific placesDNA in specific places

How is a gene from one How is a gene from one organism moved into another organism moved into another organism?organism?1.1. Scientists identify the gene in an organism Scientists identify the gene in an organism

that is responsible for the specific trait that is responsible for the specific trait they want to put into the new organismthey want to put into the new organism

2.2. Restriction enzymes are used to cut the Restriction enzymes are used to cut the gene out of the DNA strand and to cut gene out of the DNA strand and to cut open a plasmid from a bacteria cellopen a plasmid from a bacteria cell

3.3. The cut out gene is inserted into the The cut out gene is inserted into the plasmid (gene splicing)plasmid (gene splicing)

Recombinant DNARecombinant DNA – DNA produced by – DNA produced by combining DNA from different organismscombining DNA from different organisms

4.4. TransformationTransformation - The recombinant DNA - The recombinant DNA plasmid is inserted into an embryonic cell plasmid is inserted into an embryonic cell of the organism that is going to get the of the organism that is going to get the new traitnew trait

5.5. If the process works, the cell will make If the process works, the cell will make the DNA plasmid a part of its own DNA the DNA plasmid a part of its own DNA and the newly introduced foreign gene and the newly introduced foreign gene will begin making its protein and causing will begin making its protein and causing a new traita new trait

6.6. When the original cell divides, it copies When the original cell divides, it copies the foreign gene along with its own DNA the foreign gene along with its own DNA so the organism that develops from the so the organism that develops from the original cell has a copy of the new gene original cell has a copy of the new gene in all of its cellsin all of its cells

What is a transgenic What is a transgenic organism?organism? Transgenic OrganismsTransgenic Organisms – organisms that – organisms that

have genes from organisms of other specieshave genes from organisms of other species

Transgenic bacteriaTransgenic bacteria are used to are used to produce human insulin for diabetes, produce human insulin for diabetes, clotting factor for people with blood clotting factor for people with blood clotting disorders like hemophilia, clotting disorders like hemophilia, and human growth hormoneand human growth hormone

EX. The human gene responsible for EX. The human gene responsible for insulin production is cut from human insulin production is cut from human DNA and inserted into a DNA and inserted into a plasmidplasmid to to make make recombinant DNArecombinant DNA. The . The recombinant DNA is inserted into recombinant DNA is inserted into bacteria cells which are bacteria cells which are transformedtransformed and begin producing insulin.and begin producing insulin.

Transgenic miceTransgenic mice have been produced have been produced with human genes that make their with human genes that make their immune systems similar to humans immune systems similar to humans which allows scientists to study the which allows scientists to study the affects of disease on human immune affects of disease on human immune systemssystems

Transgenic cowsTransgenic cows have been produced have been produced with extra copies of growth hormone with extra copies of growth hormone genes that make them grow fastergenes that make them grow faster

Transgenic plants have been produced that Transgenic plants have been produced that contain genes which produce natural contain genes which produce natural insecticides (insect-killing chemicals), or insecticides (insect-killing chemicals), or are resistant to weed-killing chemicals, or are resistant to weed-killing chemicals, or have better flavor or texturehave better flavor or texture

F.D.A. Approves Drug From Gene-F.D.A. Approves Drug From Gene-Altered Goats Altered Goats (from New York Times 2/6/09)(from New York Times 2/6/09)

“…“…the the Food and Drug AdministrationFood and Drug Administration on Friday on Friday approved the first drug produced by livestock approved the first drug produced by livestock that have been given a human gene.”that have been given a human gene.”

What is genetically modified food What is genetically modified food and is it good or bad?and is it good or bad? Genetically Modified Food (GMF)Genetically Modified Food (GMF) – food – food

changed through biotechnology changed through biotechnology (sometimes seen as GMO, which means (sometimes seen as GMO, which means genetically modified genetically modified organismorganism))

Genetically modified food has only been Genetically modified food has only been around since 1992, so the long term around since 1992, so the long term health effects of eating GMF’s are not well health effects of eating GMF’s are not well studiedstudied

Right now there are no labeling laws Right now there are no labeling laws requiring a company to let you know if requiring a company to let you know if their product has been genetically their product has been genetically modifiedmodified

Examples of GMFsExamples of GMFs

Soybeans modified to resist weed-killing Soybeans modified to resist weed-killing chemicals (herbicides)chemicals (herbicides)

A herbicide resistant gene is taken from a A herbicide resistant gene is taken from a bacteria and inserted into the soy plantbacteria and inserted into the soy plant

Allows farmers to spray high doses of weed-Allows farmers to spray high doses of weed-killing chemicals on soy fields without killing chemicals on soy fields without harming the soy plantsharming the soy plants

89% of soy grown in the US is GMF89% of soy grown in the US is GMF A company called Monsanto makes both the A company called Monsanto makes both the

herbicide resistant soy plants AND the herbicide resistant soy plants AND the herbicide they are resistant to (Roundup)herbicide they are resistant to (Roundup)

But I don’t eat soy…But I don’t eat soy…

“…the ubiquity of soybean derivative“…the ubiquity of soybean derivatives as food additives in the modern Ams as food additives in the modern American diet virtually ensures that all Uerican diet virtually ensures that all U.S. consumers have been exposed to .S. consumers have been exposed to GM food products.” GM food products.” from CSA.com from CSA.com

60% of all US corn is GM60% of all US corn is GM Try finding a processed food product Try finding a processed food product

that does not contain corn or soythat does not contain corn or soy

Doritos Ingredient ListDoritos Ingredient List

What about McDonald’s?What about McDonald’s?

Some Brands That May Contain GM Some Brands That May Contain GM Ingredients:Ingredients: MazolaMazola CriscoCrisco HeinzHeinz KraftKraft Peter Pan & SkippyPeter Pan & Skippy EggoEggo Lean CuisineLean Cuisine ProgressoProgresso Chef BoyardeeChef Boyardee Campbell’s SoupsCampbell’s Soups OreosOreos RitzRitz Teddy GrahamsTeddy Grahams TriscuitTriscuit

Wheat ThinsWheat Thins KeeblerKeebler HostessHostess Frito LayFrito Lay LiptonLipton Aunt JemimaAunt Jemima Betty CrockerBetty Crocker PillsburyPillsbury General MillsGeneral Mills Kellogg’sKellogg’s Coca-ColaCoca-Cola PepsiPepsi GatoradeGatorade Kool AidKool Aid

There are many pros and cons There are many pros and cons to the GMF issueto the GMF issue

Produce more food on Produce more food on less landless land

Can eliminate the need Can eliminate the need for chemical pesticidesfor chemical pesticides

May someday be an May someday be an inexpensive source of inexpensive source of medicines, fuels, and medicines, fuels, and plasticsplastics

Long-term health Long-term health effects of eating GMFs effects of eating GMFs is unknownis unknown

GM crops could pose a GM crops could pose a risk to the risk to the environmentenvironment

Hard to stop GM crops Hard to stop GM crops from mixing with non-from mixing with non-GM cropsGM crops

Pros Cons