GENETIC ENGINEERING

Genetic Engineering

• Some techniques in GE use bacteria and viruses to transfer genetic information

• Bacteria- biotic

• Viruses- abiotic

Bacteria and Viruses

• Both have the ability to reproduce very quickly-

• GE uses this to its advantage!

• Most bacteria reproduce asexually, called binary fission (sexual reproduction is possible)

• Viruses must have a host to reproduce

Recombinant DNA

•Bacteria contain DNA and a circular section of DNA called a plasmid

•Plasmids are used in recombinant DNA techniques

Recombinant DNA

Bacterial transformation

• process by which bacterial cells take up DNA molecules

• If the foreign DNA is recognized by the host cell, the bacteria will replicate the foreign DNA along with their own DNA

• Transformation can occur through conjugation

Bacterial Conjugation• transfer of genetic material between bacterial

cells by direct cell-to-cell contact or by a bridge-like connection

Cloning

Dolly: A cloned sheep

July 5th, 1996 - February 14th, 2003• First mammal cloned from adult cell• Took 277 attempts before success

• chromosomes were a little shorter than those of other sheep

Not exact copy?!

Other clones

Hybrids• offspring of two different species usually produced

through human manipulation– Hybrids can happen naturally but it is extremely rare

• Can plants be hybrids? • Can animals be hybrids?

• Successful hybrids are only created when the species used are extremely similar in genetic information

HybridsHybrid offspring are usually sterile

Naming hybrids:Male species + female species

Ex. Male lion + female tiger= liger

Real HybridsLiger

Male lion+ female tiger

TigonMale tiger+ female lion

LeoponMale leopard +

female lion

Real HybridsWholpin

Male killer whale + female bottlenose

dolphin

Grolar (or pizzly)

Male grizzly bear+ female

polar bearCama

Male Camel + Female llama

Real Hybrids

ZonyMale zebra+ female pony

ZorseMale zebra + female horse

What is the most common hybrid I haven’t named yet?

A Mule!

SELECTIVE BREEDING

Organisms are selected to breed due to a desirable trait that they contain

Ex. If you wanted black dogs you would select black dogs to mate

If you wanted small birds you would select small birds to mate