Genetic Engineering

How are changes made to DNA?

• genetic engineering: the process of making changes in the genetic material (DNA) of an organism to change the characteristics of the organism

Under a black light, this rabbit’s fur glows

green. DNA from a jellyfish was inserted into

the rabbit’s DNA to make her glow.

This rabbit is called a transgenic organism because it has been modified.

Muskopf, Shannan. Online Images. The Biology Corner. 13 May 2007. http://www.biologycorner.com/bio4/notes/recombinant.html

Recombinant DNA

• Taking a piece of one DNA and combining it with another strand of DNA

• The DNA is from 2 different organisms

Recombinant DNA Uses

• Improve food supply

• Produce crops resistant to insect damage

• Source of human proteins– Insulin and human growth hormone

Buckley, Jim. Online Images. Mr. Buckley’s Living Environment. 13 May 2007. http://www.ekcsk12.org/science/regbio/moleculargeneticsqz.html

1. Restriction enzymes are used to cut DNA at very specific sites. The animal cell’s DNA is cut out.

2. The same restriction enzyme is used to cut out the Bacterial cell’s DNA.

Steps in Recombinant DNA

3. Recombine the animal DNA with the bacterial DNA.

4. The recombinant DNA is placed in a bacterial cell because bacteria reproduce very quickly and are easy to grow. This will produce a lot of the animal’s DNA. This technique is used to make genetically engineered insulin.

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Gel electrophoresis: used to separate DNA fragments

1. Restriction enzymes cut DNA2. The cut DNA is placed in a gel3. An electric voltage moves the DNA fragments across the gel4.The smaller pieces of DNA travel the fastest

http://www.biologyreference.com/images/biol_02_img0140.jpg

DNA Fingerprinting• DNA fingerprinting: DNA can be used like

fingerprints to identify a person • Used to identify criminal suspects by

making a DNA fingerprint of the blood, hair, or skin cells left at a crime scene

• Used in paternity tests

Who is the criminal???

The DNA from the scene

matches Dino

Online Images. Access Excellence. 13 May 2007. http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEPC/WWC/1994/fly_forensics.html

Cloning• Clone-genetically identical copies of an

organism http://www.sciencecases.org/dog_cloning/cloning.gif