1. Intro to Biotechnology
Basic Terms and Concepts

2. Background Info
Knowledge of DNA has led to an ability to manipulate the genes of organisms
We can clone genes and then use them to alter the genome of viruses and cells
Known as genetic engineering

3. Target #1- I can differentiate between cloning and gene cloning
Cloning the production of identical copies of an organism through asexual means
Gene cloning the production of identical copies of a single gene
Accomplished through
Recombinant DNA technology
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

4. Target #2- I can state the reasons for cloning genes
Reasons for gene cloning
Produce large quantities of a gene’s protein product
Ex: insulin
Learn how a cloned gene codes for a particular protein
Use the genes to alter the phenotypes of other organisms in a beneficial way
When used to modify humans it’s referred to as gene therapy
Organisms with foreign DNA or genes inserted into them are called transgenic organisms
Target #2- I can state the reasons for cloning genes

5. Recombinant DNA (rDNA)
Target #3- I can describe recombinant DNA Target #4- I can define vector
Recombinant DNA (rDNA)
Contains DNA from two or more different sources
Ex: human cell and bacterial cell
To make rDNA, a researcher needs a vector
Vector: a piece of DNA that can be manipulated such that foreign DNA can be added to it
Example: plasmid a very small accessory ring of DNA from bacteria that are not part of the bacterial chromosome and are capable of self-replicating

6. Target #5- I can describe Polymerase Chain Reaction
Can create billions of copies of a segment of DNA in a test tube
Amplifies a targeted DNA sequence
Requires the use of DNA polymerase and nucleotides
Involves 3 basic steps that occur repeatedly to create many copies of DNA copies exponentially
Target #5- I can describe Polymerase Chain Reaction

7. Target #6- I can explain analysis of PCR using gel electrophoresis
Each person has a unique collection of DNA fragment size
Gel Electrophoresis
An electrical current is used to force DNA through a porous gel material
Fragments are separated according to their size
Smaller fragments move farther through the gel than larger fragments
Result in a pattern of distinctive bands called DNA Fingerprints

8. Types of cellular cloning
Biotechnology
Types of cellular cloning

9. Target #7- I can describe reproductive cloning
Besides recombinant DNA, there are two other types of cloning Reproductive & therapeutic cloning
Reproductive cloning
a technology used to generate an animal that has the same nuclear DNA as another currently or previously existing animal
Ex: Dolly was a sheep created by reproductive cloning technology.
Process
Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT
Involves the transfer genetic material from the nucleus of a donor adult cell to an egg whose nucleus, and thus its genetic material, has been removed
The reconstructed egg containing the DNA from a donor cell must be treated with chemicals or electric current in order to stimulate cell division.
Once the cloned embryo reaches a suitable stage, it is transferred to the uterus of a female host where it continues to develop until birth

11. Target #8- I can describe Therapeutic cloning
Also called "embryo cloning,”
The production of human embryos for use in research
Goal of this process is not to create cloned human beings, but rather to harvest stem cells that can be used to study human development and to treat disease.
Stem cells are important to biomedical researchers because they can be used to generate virtually any type of specialized cell in the human body.
Stem cells are extracted from the egg after it has divided for 5 days.
The egg at this stage of development is called a blastocyst

13. Target #9- I can list the medical applications for therapeutic cloning
Treatment for degenerative diseases
Alzheimer's’
Stroke and heart diseas
Nerve disorders like Parkinson's,
Disorders involving paralysis or degeneration of the spine
Muscular dystrophy
Demylination ALS, ALD
Designer cancer therapy
Generation of “tailor made” organs
No need for anti-rejection drugs
Decreases demand for transplant organs
Target #9- I can list the medical applications for therapeutic cloning

14. Target #10- I can explain how therapeutic cloning can be applied to organ transplantation
Application for Organ Transplants
Known as organogenesis: the growth, or creation, of organs using stem cells
To do this, DNA would be extracted from the person in need of a transplant and inserted into an enucleated egg.
After the egg containing the patient's DNA starts to divide, embryonic stem cells that can be transformed into any type of tissue would be harvested
The stem cells would be used to generate an organ or tissue that is a genetic match to the recipient
In theory, the cloned organ could then be transplanted into the patient without the risk of tissue rejection.
If organs could be generated from cloned human embryos, the need for organ donation could be significantly reduced

15. Biotechnology
Transgenic organisms

16. Background Info
Bacteria, plants, and animals that are transgenic are more commonly called genetically modified organisms (GMO)
Products from GMO’s are called biotechnology products
Ex: blood clotting factors, insulin, human growth hormone, hepatitis B vaccine

17. Target #11- I can describe transgenic bacteria
Produced using recombinant DNA
Grown in vats called bioreactors
The bacteria express the cloned gene, and the gene product is usually collected from the medium where the bacteria is grown
Uses
Medical: insulin & vaccines
Agriculture: use of bacteria to make frost-resistant plants, insect-resistant corn
Bioremediation: naturally occurring bacteria that eat oil can be genetically engineered to do an even better job of cleaning up oil spills
Biochemistry: a certain bacteria is used to create phenylalanine, an organic chemical used to make aspartame, an artificial sweetener
Target #11- I can describe transgenic bacteria

18. Target #12- I can describe transgenic plants
Foreign genes are placed into protoplants, or immature plant embryos
Will develop into mature plants that express the foreign DNA
Example
Pomato
Plant produces potatoes below ground and tomatoes above ground
Foreign genes transferred to cotton, corn ,a dn potato strains have made them resistant to pests
Cells produce insect toxin

20. Target #13- I can describe transgenic animals
Method of DNA combination: Vortex mixing
Eggs are placed in an agitator with DNA and slicon-carbide needles
The needles make tiny holes in the eggs through with the DNA can enter
When the eggs are fertilized, the resulting offfspring are transgenic animals
Applications
Eggs have acquired the gene for bovine growth hormone, which produces larger fish, cows, pigs, rabbits, and sheep
Gene pharming
The use of transgenic farm animals to produce pharmaceuticals
Genes that code for therapeutic and diagnostic proteins are incorporated into an animal’s DNA, and they appear in the milk
Examples
Cystic fibrosis, cancer, and blood diseases

21. Gene Therapy & the Human Genome Project
Biotechnology
Gene Therapy & the Human Genome Project

22. Target #14- I can describe the purpose of gene therapy
Gene therapy is a treatment that involves altering the genes inside your body's cells to stop disease.
Genes that don't work properly can cause disease.
Gene therapy replaces a faulty gene or adds a new gene in an attempt to cure disease or improve your body's ability to fight disease.
Gene therapy holds promise for treating a wide range of diseases, including cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, diabetes, hemophilia and AIDS.
Currently, in the United States, gene therapy is available only as part of a clinical trial.

23. Researchers are testing several approaches to gene therapy, including:
Replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene.
Inactivating, or “knocking out,” a mutated gene that is functioning improperly.
Introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease.
Target #15- I can state the methods being tested involving gene therapy

24. Target #16- I can explain how a vector is used in gene therapy
One challenge is gene delivery how to get the new or replacement genes into the desired tissues
Use of a vector is needed
Most effective vector is the use of harmless viruses
Virus DNA is removed and replaced with the new or replacement genes
Gene is delivered via the vector to the host cells
Stem cells containing the desired gene can also be used as a vector, which are incorporated into the affected tissue

25. Example
Imagine, for example, a little boy with hemophilia, a condition that is caused by a faulty gene that makes his liver unable to make blood clotting factor 8
Gene therapy would involve putting a working copy of the gene which codes for factor 8 into his liver cells so that his liver could then produce adequate levels of factor 8

26. Target #17- I can describe the Human Genome Project
an international research effort to sequence and map all of the genes of members of our species, Homo sapiens
known as the genome
Completed in April 2003
HGP gave us the ability, for the first time, to read nature's complete genetic blueprint for building a human being

27. Target #18- I can state the goals of the Human Genome Project
Project Goals
identify all the approximately 20,000-25,000 genes in human DNA
determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make up human DNA
store this information in databases
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.