Biotechnology: using living systems to improve human life

The Latest Biotechnologies

A. GloFish

B. Insect/machine combinations

C. Synthetic Transplants

D. Animal Surrogate Transplants

E. Engineered Plants/Animals

The Genome:

- The totality of DNA base pairs in the cells of a species -exact sequence of DNA bases -All the ACTGs on each chomosome

Sequenced Genomes 1.Human 2.Chimpanzee 3.Rice 4.Malaria parasite 5.E. coli 6.Lab mouse 7.Drosophila melanogaster

National Genome Project -Director: Francis Collins -“blue print” of human body: the “holy grail” -12 year project -Funded by U.S. Government

How it will change our lives: -Gene screening at an early age -Designer drugs -Design babies -Genetic counselors -Genetically modified organisms

Genome is the future of medicine -Pre-treat disease and illness before it manifests itself -Changed our legal system, medical science, understanding evolution

Genetic Engineering: cloning and genetic modification

Genetic Engineering: altering an organisms genes through human activity

Genetically Modified Foods/Organisms -genes from one species placed in another organism (Transgenic) -increased food production -may have adverse environmental effects -possible cures and therapies for humans

Cloning: producing a population of genetically identical cells from a single cell

History of cloning

1953: Watson and Crick-discover the structure of DNA

1978: 1 st child born conceived In Vitro

1984: Dr. Steen Willadsen-clones first sheep from embryonic cells

1997: Ian Wilmut - 1 st mammal cloned from an adult cell nucleus (Dolly)

2005: South Korea: 1 st dogs cloned

3 Types of Cloning

1. DNA cloning: producing exact replicas of segments of DNA

Steps: 1.Desired segment(s) of DNA are cut from original strand. 2.“Pasted” into a bacterial plasmid which replicates itself quickly

2. Reproductive Cloning: creating an animal that has the same DNA as another animal

3. Therapeutic Cloning: the production of human embryos for research – stem cells

Uses of Cloning

1. Stem Cell Benefits -may help cure/solve diseases and disorders Ex. Alzheimer’s, parkinson’s, paralysis, etc.

2. Reproduce animals with special qualities

3. Cloning Endangered Species

4. Resurrecting Extinct Animals

5. Organ Transplants

Stem Cells: undifferentiated cells that can become any type of cell Stem Cells Skin Cells Neuron (nerves) Bone Cell Muscle Cells Cardiac Muscle

Stem Cell Types 1.Adult Stem Cells: limited potential to make other cells Ex. Blood vessels, bone marrow, retina 2.Fetal Tissue Stem Cells: found in fetuses 3 months or younger; great potential; great controversy

Stem Cell Levels 1.Unipotent: can only differentiate into one type of cell (ex. Spermatogonia  Sperm) 2.Multipotent: can differentiate into a few types cells (ex. Bone marrow  Red blood cells, white blood cells) 3.Pluripotent: can differentiate into almost any type of cell (embryonic cell  muscle, bone, skin, nerves) 4.Totipotent: can become any cell type (zygote  any type of cell)