1. Recombinant DNA - Definitions
Gene:
section of DNA which codes for a protein
Recombinant DNA (rDNA):
- DNA from one species (e.g. gene coding for protein
Insulin) inserted into DNA of a second species
(e.g. Bacteria)
- Second species can then go on to produce proteins of
first species - when it reproduces, it will copy other
species' DNA and pass it onto its offspring
- Gene has been "cloned"
- Can also make many copies of DNA being studied
(“amplification”)

2. Recombinant DNA - Uses Cloning Genes:
- viruses/bacteria can be used to make copies of the gene(s) of
another species
Producing Biotechnology Products:
- genetically engineered prokaryotic/eukaryotic cells can be used
to mass produce once rare medicinal proteins, hormones,
vaccines to prevent disease (e.g. hepatitis B)
- produce large amounts of proteins that are very difficult to get
otherwise or usually present in small quantities from ntural
sources
- e.g. human growth hormone - once took 50 pituitary glands
from cadavers for a single dose - can now be made in mass
quantities, much less expensively
- e.g. insulin used to come from the pancreatic glands of cows,
pigs - was expensive, much less pure than cloned human
DNA available today

3. Recombinant DNA - Uses Transgenic Organisms: Transgenic Bacteria:
- alter DNA of bacteria, plants, farm animals to make them more
valuable, less susceptible to disease
Transgenic Bacteria:
- Protect/Enhance Plants: protect plants from frost, provide
more nitrogen to roots, produce insecticides to kill insects
- Garbage Disposal: engineered to eat toxic waste, clean up
oils spills, filter air, remove sulfur from coal (bioremediation)
- Produce Chemicals: produce phenylalanine, used in production
of artificial sweeteners
- Process Minerals: extract greater amounts of metals (e.g. U,
Cu, Ag) from low-quality ores

4. Recombinant DNA - Uses Transgenic Plants:
- used in agriculture: bacterium Agrobacterium, which naturally
infects many plants, artificial vectors called protoplasts
- contain new genes that help resist insects, viruses, herbicides
(e.g. “Roundup” resistant wheat), temperature extremes,
drought, salty soils, spoiling, bruising
Transgenic animals:
- bigger animals can be produced more cheaply
- inject DNA that codes for the uptake of bovine growth hormone
(bGH) into eggs of fish, cows (25% greater milk production),
pigs, rabbits, sheep
Gene Farming:
- use of transgenic farm animals to produce pharmaceutical
drugs like human lactoferrin (absence of gene for lactoferrin in
humans causes reoccurring bacterial infections of the intestine)

5. Recombinant DNA - Uses Gene Therapy:
- replace defective genes in a living organism (humans) with
healthy genes, used to treat genetic disorders/diseases
- Ex Vivo: cells removed from patient, treated, returned
- retroviruses used to introduce nucleic acid into cells to be
treated
- e.g. treating SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency
syndrome) sufferers lack an enzyme needed for certain white
blood cells - insert correct gene into patient’s WBC or stem
cell, reinsert
- In Vivo: introduce genes right into the bodies of patients
- e.g. treat hemophilia with regular injections of cells that have
normal genes for normal clotting-factors

6. Recombinant DNA - Methods
Vector:
- something that can get DNA from one species into other
species' DNA - e.g. plasmid, circular piece of DNA found in
some bacteria
- human gene, e.g. gene for insulin, inserted into plasmid,
plasmid taken up by bacteria
- bacteria reproduces plasmid along with its own DNA when it
reproduces, translates human gene, producing human protein

7. Recombinant DNA - Methods