1. Making the products you buy. . . better?
Biotechnology
Making the products you buy. . .
better?

2. Historical Technologies: Applied Genetics
Manipulation of the hereditary characteristics of an organism to improve or create specific traits in offspring
e.g., selective breeding, hybridization

3. Historical Technologies: Applied Genetics
Selective breeding → Allowing only those individuals with the desired traits to reproduce

5. Historical Technologies: Applied Genetics
Hybridization → crossing different individuals to bring together the best traits of both organisms
Produces hybrid offspring that are often hardier than the parents

6. X e.g., commercial chickens White Rock Chicken: Grows quickly
White Cornish Chicken:
Grows large X
Commercial chicken:
Grows to a large full size in only 6 weeks

7. Modern Technologies: Genetic Engineering
Altering an organism’s genetic code (DNA) to get it to express desired traits

8. e.g., Bt corn
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt): a bacterium that produces a caterpillar toxin
The gene for this toxin has been inserted into this corn’s genome, which causes it to produce the toxin

9. e.g., spider silk
A spider’s silk-making gene has been inserted into a goat, which then produces silk in its milk

10. e.g., golden rice
Daffodil genes for making beta-carotene are inserted into the genome of rice

11. e.g., human insulin
Previously, humans with diabetes used insulin derived from the pancreas of cows and pigs (limited production)
Today, most human insulin comes from human insulin-making genes transferred into simple cells such as bacteria or baker’s yeast (unlimited supply)
Identical to insulin made by the human pancreas

12. Recombinant DNA in bacteria
Recombinant DNA → taking a piece of one DNA and combining it with another strand of DNA
Often, fast-growing single-celled organisms are used
e.g., bacteria
A piece of DNA that codes for a protein we want more of (e.g., human insulin) is spliced into the DNA of the fast-growing organism

13. Modern Technologies: Genetic Engineering
Gene therapy → adding a corrected copy of a gene to a person with a mutated gene to treat a disease
e.g., Cystic Fibrosis
Does NOT change the person’s genetic code!
Effect is temporary

14. Restriction Enzymes: Enzymes that cut DNA at certain sequences.