BiotechnologyChapter 11

Warm Up Exercise

• Please complete the first column of the biotechnology survey you received when you came in.

• HW: Have your parent and grandparent or sibling complete the other columns by Monday!

Transgenic Organisms

• Transgenic- organisms that contain genes from other species. – Transgenic microorganisms are used to produce

useful proteins such as insulin, growth hormone, and clotting factor, which are used to treat serious human diseases.

– Transgenic plants and animals have been used to study genes and to improve food supply.

Transgenic Organisms

• Transformation- incorporation of DNA from one species into the genetic material of another species.

Cloning

• Clone- a member of a population of genetically identical cells produced from a single cell. – 1997, Ian Wilmust cloned a sheep (Dolly)

Warm Up Exercise

• What does it mean to be a transgenic organism?

• The process of one organism acquiring another species’ DNA is called __________.

Human DNA Analysis

• DNA Fingerprinting- analyzes sections of DNA (called repeats) that have little or no known function, but vary widely from one individual to another.

Human DNA Analysis

– Small sample of human DNA is cut with a restriction enzyme.

– The resulting fragments are separated by using gel electrophoresis.

Gel Electrophoresis

• DNA fragments are separated by size and charge using gel electrophoresis.

• Fragments containing repeats are labeled.

• This produces a series of bands—the DNA fingerprint.

DNA Fingerprint

The Human Genome Project

• The Human Genome Project- an ongoing effort to analyze the human DNA sequences. (began in 1990).

Gene Therapy

• Gene Therapy- process where an absent or faulty gene is replaced by a normal, working gene.– After gene therapy, the body can make the correct

protein or enzyme it needs, which eliminates the cause of the disorder.

– Has the potential to cure genetic disorders, such as sickle cell disease, hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, etc.

Exit Slip

• If human cells can be manipulated to cure disease, should biologists try to engineer taller people or change their eye color, hair texture, sex, blood group or appearance? What will happen to the human species if we gain the opportunity to design our bodies? What will be the consequences if biologists eventually clone humans?