APPLICATIONS OF DNA TECHNOLOGY

One of the defining features of modern biology is the extensive use of the technology of gene manipulation. It is now possible to manipulate DNA directly to produce recombinant DNA. The manipulated genes can be replaced back into the original, or a different, organism to produce transgenic plants and animals.

Applications of DNA Technology

1) The Human Genome Project: genetic mapping, DNA sequencing, genome analysis/comparison

2) Human Therapeutics: detecting genetic disorders, gene therapy

3) Forensic Uses:DNA profiling

4) Agriculture: transgenic plants, production of BST

The Human Genome Project• The genome of an organism is it’s complete complement of

genetic information• Completed in 2003, the international Human Genome Project

was a 13-year project coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health.

• Project goals were to …- identify all the approximately 20,000-25,000 genes in human DNA,- determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make up

human DNA- store this information in databases - improve tools for data analysis - address the ethical, legal, and social issues that may arise from the

project.

• The human genome project has been achieved using 3 approaches:

a) GENETIC MAPPINGb) PHYSICAL MAPPINGc) DNA SEQUENCING

• Firstly however, the desired DNA sequences must be amplified. The process used to do this is the POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR)POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR)