Biotechnology

Polymerase Chain Reaction PCR is the cloning of DNA (amplification). Copies are made and the amount of DNA can be rapidly increased. Useful if the source of DNA is small. Temperature is used instead of enzymes like helicases (95oC ). DNA polymerase is thermostable to protect it against the reaction temperatures. This is an automated process and can produce sufficient DNA in 20 cycles

Gel Electrophoresis Sample of fragmented DNA is placed in one of the wells on the gel. An electrical current is passed across the gel. Fragment separation is based on charge and size. Large fragments move slowly. Negative fragments are moved to the right.

Gel Electrophoresis Gel electrophoresis is used in DNA profiling. Satellite (Tandem repeating) DNA are highly repetitive sequences of DNA from the non coding region of DNA. Different individuals have a unique length to their satellite regions. These can be used to differentiate between one individual and another. There are different types of 'DNA fingerprinting' for different circumstance

Gel Electrophoresis The technique can be used in: –Forensic crime investigations –Parentage Issues –Animal breeding pedigrees –Disease detection

DNA Profiling Trying to determine who are the biological parents of a child. The DNA fragments in the child comes from the mother and father. A band present in the child must come either from the mother or from the father Comparing male 1 with the child then male 2 with the child.

DNA Fingerprinting Activity analyze.htmlhttp:// analyze.html Fill in the blanks as you go through the activity as a class

Human Genome Project Begun formally in 1990 the international projects aims where: –identify all the approximate 30,000 genes in human DNA. –determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make up human DNA. –store this information in database. –improve tools for data analysis. –transfer related technologies to the private sector. –address the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) that may arise from the project. –To help achieve these goals, researchers also are studying the genetic makeup of several nonhuman organisms. These include the common human gut bacterium Escherichia coli, the fruit fly, and the laboratory mouse.

Human Genome The genetic code is universaluniversal All known organisms use the same genetic code. Therefore in principle if we transfer a gene from one species to another it should still be transcribed and translated into the same protein.