Biotechnology Ch. 13

Biotechnology The scientific field that alters organisms for the benefit of humans.

Selective Breeding

Selective Breeding Choosing which individuals are allowed to breed in order to create offspring with desired traits.

Examples: a) By choosing the most friendly wolves

We were able to create man’s best friend

b) By choosing the biggest, most nutritious, or fastest growing plants, we have completely changed some crops. Like this corn

Inbreeding Crossing two individuals with similar genetic traits. Once the desired characteristics are established in a line of organisms, inbreeding is often used to maintain them. Ex: Purebred dogs

Hybridization Getting two genetically dissimilar individuals to produce offspring with the best traits of both parents. Usually, this occurs within one species, but sometimes it is possible to cross two different species if they are closely enough related…

Horse + Donkey

= a Mule

Lion + Tiger

= - Ligers Parents: Male lion, female tiger - Tigons Parents: Male tiger, female lion

Whale + Dolphin = Wholphin

Leopon = _____ + ______

Zorse = _______ + _______

Cloning

The process of creating genetically identical organisms through nonsexual means.

How it works An egg is removed from a female of the species being cloned. All the DNA is removed from the egg. The DNA from the organism that you want to clone is then put into the empty egg. The embryo is allowed to develop like any other baby of the species would.

Dolly the Sheep (1996 – 2003) The first mammal to be cloned.

Cell Transformation

Taking specific genes from one organism and adding them to the DNA of another to form a transgenic organism.

Transgenic organism Any organism that contains one or more genes from another species.

Examples: a) We can alter cows so that they produce milk that contains certain medicines or proteins.

b) Or change genes in plants (like cotton) so that they become edible.

c) The gene responsible for the fluorescence of the jellyfish is isolated. . .

and added to the genome of other animals.

Genome The complete collection of genes found within any given species.

How do you get the gene into the new cell? We can either use viruses or plasmids. Recall that viruses insert the genetic material that they carry into the host cell. Plasmids are small, circular rings of DNA found in bacterial cells. You can add the desired gene to the plasmid and then insert it into the cell you are trying to transform.

DNA Analysis

Gel electrophoresis The process that uses electricity to separate and analyze DNA samples.

A special chemical called a restriction enzyme is added to DNA to break it into pieces at specific points. Electricity is then used to separate the DNA fragments by size. The smaller the piece, the further it will travel. Each individual has a unique pattern.

Common uses of this technology: Solving crimes Determining paternity