Biotechnology

Objectives

• Explain gene cloning
• Describe PCR
• Explain how biotech is used in medicine
• Explain the purpose of transgenic crops

Biotechnology is the use of technology to change the genetic makeup of living things for human purposes.

Examples

• Crops that resist pests
• Crops that yield more food
• New treatments for human diseases

Techniques Used

• Gene cloning
• Polymerase chain reaction

Gene cloning is the process of isolating and making copies of a gene.

Steps to cloning

• Isolation: break DNA at a specific sequence
• Ligation: DNA ligase combines the gene with a plasmid
• Transformation: recombinant DNA inserted into living cell
• Selection: growing transformed bacteria

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) makes many copies of a gene or DNA segment. (sometimes done for genetic testing)

Steps to PCR

• Denaturing: heat to form single strands
• Annealing: cool and mix with primers
• Extension: Taq polymerase adds mucleotides

Applications of Biotechnology

• Solving crimes
• Medicine
• Biofuels from yeast
• Agriculture

Medical Applicaitons

• Gene therapy for genetic disorders
• Transform bacteria to make proteins
• Possibility of personalized medicine

The human gene for insulin has been cloned and used to transform bacterial cells, which could then produce large amounts of insulin.

Agricultural Applications (Transgenic Crops)

• More food
• Better tasting food
• Surviving drought
• Resisting pests

Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues

• Who owns genetically modified organisms?
• Can modified organisms be patented?
• Who controls a person's genetic information?
• What safeguards that the information is private?