FAUHS Biology Tutoring

Chapter 16: Biotechnology

Danylo Fedkiv

Pre-Quiz:

• What does GMO stand for?
• Genetically Modified Organism
• What is DNA Fingerprinting?
• Using the genes of one person to match the genes of another/unknown sample.
• What can Forensics be used for?
• Identification, locating relatives, etc.
• What enzyme does CRISPR use?
• Cas-9
• Can natural genes be patented?
• No

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Part 1:

Biotechnology

Biotechnology

• Biotechnology is the application of technology and innovations to a living organism. It is used generally for good.

Selective Breeding

• Selective Breeding is the process of breeding two animals or plants specifically in hopes of passing their selected traits onto the offspring.
• Hybridization is breeding two different organisms to get good traits from both sides.
• Horse + Donkey = Mule
• Inbreeding is taking two related organisms and breeding them to get offspring that matches them and has their traits. This, however, does increase the chance of genetic disease.

Genetically Modified Organisms

• Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, are organisms that have been genetically modified. The goal of doing this is to make their goods more nutritious and less expensive.
• GM Crops make up a majority of the crop supply, being resistant to the BT Toxin. GM Animals include cows that make more milk, pigs with more fat, and more.
• While many argue that GMOs are easier and faster to grow, others argue that its too expensive and undocumented to reliably consume. Legislation passed that forces companies to label which of their products have GMOs and which ones do not.

Bacterial Mutations

• You can test radiation and chemicals on Bacteria. Not only are they good model organisms, but there’s also always a possibility of discovering a new strain of helpful bacteria when applying radiation or chemicals to it.

Medical Applications

• Biotechnology can help prevent diseases. Golden Rice has more beta-carotene than normal rice does, leading to less infection.
• Human Proteins can be used with Recombinant DNA to treat many diseases by growing the cures in other animals.
• Gene Therapy, although controversial, can be used to directly edit and change DNA, helping cure diseases.
• GM Mosquitos are mosquitos bred specifically with a special gene that blocks a deadly disease. Then, when they are released, they breed with other mosquitos, passing that gene down and eliminating the disease those mosquitos carry.
• Genetic Tests can be used to identify genetic disorders in the body.
• GM Animals can be used as test dummies for certain diseases or cures.

Active Genes

• Some genes may be active in one cell but not in another; scientists study this to figure out traits about activate and inactive genes.
• DNA Microarrays use tightly-packed DNA trays to examine these.

DNA Fingerprinting

• DNA Fingerprinting uses the DNA of one person to match it with another.
• They do this by taking DNA from a person using restriction enzymes and comparing it to another sample.

Forensics

• Forensics is a field of study where people use chemicals and other methods to identify crime suspects. Using fingerprints is one way of doing it; outside of crime, it can also be used to identify fallen soldiers, lost family members, and more.
• There are special methods scientists use to find fathers and mothers. Because fatherly information is passed on the Y chromosome, they use that to find the father if the child is a boy. Because motherly information is passed on through the chromosomes, they use that to find the mother.

Quick Quiz:

• Does inbreeding increase or decrease the chance of genetic disorder?
• Increase
• What purpose do genetically modified animals have?
• Better food yields, test subjects, cure fosterer, etc.
• If a male is unsure of who their mother is, what can you measure to find her?
• Mitochondrias

Part 2:

Genetic Modification

Finding a Gene

• There are multiple different ways of finding and modifying genes.
• However, Douglas Prasher was the first to find a specific gene. He predicted the mRNA of the gene and used restriction enzymes and gel electrophoresis to find the one he was looking for.

Polymerase Chain Reaction

• The Polymerase Chain Reaction is a process that copies and ‘duplicates’ genes to be more readable.
• DNA heats up and combines with primers to be duplicated. Then, that DNA is heated up and combined with a primer to be duplicated. This goes on until the gene is long enough.

Recombinant DNA

• Recombinant DNA is where a natural gene combines with an artificial gene. Basically, both genes undergo cutting by restriction enzymes to get sticky ends. These sticky ends from both the natural and artificial DNA will then come together, forming recombinant DNA.

Plasmids / Genetic Markers

• Recombinant DNA cannot duplicate on its own, so Plasmids are added to help that DNA replicate the genome.
• Genetic Markers distinguish between bacteria with recombinant DNA and without recombinant DNA.
• By the way, this whole recombinant process is used mainly only in bacteria or single-celled organisms.

CRISPR

• CRISPR is a revolutionary process that can directly edit or destroy genes in a host. It works as a guide RNA for Cas9, an enzyme that does all the work.
• The CRISPR guides the Cas9 to the location and instructs it to cut out a specific gene. If given more instructions, the Cas9 will replace that cut out location with a new gene; if not given more instructions, the Cas9 will leave that gene to die.

Transgenic Organisms

• Transgenic Organisms are organisms that have had their genes changed by a bacteria’s (or another single-cellular organism’s) recombinant DNA.
• Plants, when treated with Agrobacterium, will grow large tumors. Scientists will then identify the tumor suppressor gene, inject information into it, and change the gene entirely.
• Animals require DNA to be injected directly into the egg in order for it to have widespread effects. Cloning is a process where you take a cell of one animal, inject it into the egg of another, and produce an organism identical to the one who donated the cell.

Quick Quiz:

• What happens during the process of Recombinant DNA?
• An artificial gene is spliced with a natural one
• If not given any further instructions, what will happen to the gene after Cas9 snips it?
• It will die
• How do you clone an organism?
• You take its cell, add it into a mother’s egg, and wait for it to be born

Part 3:

Genetic Legal Issues

Patents

• Although you can patent biotechnology, it does slow down innovation and is generally harmful for society.
• Laws have been passed that allow for you to patent artificial genes but not natural genes.

Privacy

• DNA can reveal heritage. To prevent bias and problems, all genetic information must remain confidential and away from the hands of large insurance companies.

Problems

• Although we can change genetic information, should we really be doing it? Although we have the capacity to cure genetic disorder, we also have the capacity to modify and create superhumans; will those same superhumans destroy the inherent egalitarian nature of every human?

Quick Quiz:

• Although you can patent biotechnology, why should you not?
• It slows down innovation and harms humanity
• Why should DNA be kept confidential?
• To prevent bias when giving information
• Free Response: Should we continue expanding the boundaries of genetic engineering?

Post-Quiz:

• What does GMO stand for?
• Genetically Modified Organism
• What is DNA Fingerprinting?
• Using the genes of one person to match the genes of another/unknown sample.
• What can Forensics be used for?
• Identification, locating relatives, etc.
• What enzyme does CRISPR use?
• Cas-9
• Can natural genes be patented?
• No

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Thank You!

Dfedkiv2022@fau.edu