Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering

Biotechnology

Use of living organisms or their products to modify health and the human environment

Deoxyribonucleic acid

DNA

Watson and Crick

Double Helix

Long threads of chemical

A closer look

Adenine (A)

Thymine (T)

Guanine (G)

Cytosine (C)

Genes
units of heredity portions of DNA that direct the production of a specific protein or the expression of a particular trait

Chromosomes

A set of 40

threadlike structures in a cell nucleus

made up primarily of DNA

Protein
a complex chemical substance consisting of amino acids that make up the structure of cells

 organic acids that are the building blocks of protein; about 20 different kinds

Genetic engineering
the use of scientific, biological techniques to manipulate or rearrange genetic material to alter hereditary traits. Also known as gene splicing or recombinant DNA technology

RNA
ribonucleic acid a type of nucleic acid that is usually produced as a copy of a portion of the cells DNA

Enzymes
proteins that set as catalysts in biological systems that is, substances that help other chemicals to react.

Bacteria
single-cell organisms often used as hosts in genetic engineering

Genotype
Genetic Make-up

Phenotype
Apparent Qualities

a cell structure, organism, or group of organisms all derived from a single parent cell and sharing the same heredity

 reproducing new organisms from a single body cell, rather than through the combination of sex cells

Protein Engineering
Considered to be the next big step in biotechnology revolution Called a cross between gene splicing and computer modeling, protein will be used to make entirely new drugs to fight cancer and AIDS

Background of the Biotechnical Revolution

1859:Charles Darwin 1866: Gregor Mendel

1953: James Watson and Francis Crick

1989

DESIGNER GENES
Producing Drugs in Microorganisms Producing New Organisms Potential for Human Gene Engineering Identifying Variations Within a Population Cloning of Organisms Kamikaze Genes The Human Genome Project

Producing Drugs in Microorganisms

Manufacture of human insulin: bacteria make ideal factories for this process because they are simple, single-celled creatures whose biochemistry is well understood.

Producing New Organisms

Crops can be enlarged or programmed to grow faster or fight off natural pests

Identifying Variations Within a Population

Law enforcement officials are excited by the potential for DNA fingerprinting or genetic marking in forensic science

Human Genome Project

A major new project has been initiated to map every human gene

Kamikaze Genes

Concern about releasing living gene-altered microbes into the environment has led scientists to program bacteria to destroy themselves when their work is done. This is based on the discovery that many species of bacteria have suicide genes that help regulate the life and death cycle of their microscopic hosts (when these genes are switched on, the bacteria dies)

Potential for Human Gene Engineering

Prospect of curing inherited genetic defects: although understanding of genes has grown greatly, not enough is known to practice human gene therapy

Cloning of Organisms

Biological technology now enables livestock breeders to clone large numbers of identical animals from a single embryo; precise duplication of superior animals (uniform quality in farm animals)

Human Genome Project

24

3 billion

100,000

MAPS TO DESCRIBE THE GENOME

Genetic map
essential to all studies of the genome, because it is the only map on which traits can be located that are defined as a phenotype, or characteristic feature, like schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, or cystic fibrosis.

Restriction map illustrating a set of ordered DNA fragments, which provides a much finer description.

DNA sequence the only map that affords a ghost of a chance of interpreting genes directly in terms of function.

The Biotech Controversy

Given the power to change nature, how far should we go?