Introduction to Introduction to BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Chapter 13Chapter 13

What is biotechnology?What is biotechnology?

“ “ Any technique that uses living organisms Any technique that uses living organisms or their products to make or modify a or their products to make or modify a product, to improve plants or animals, or to product, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific uses”develop microorganisms for specific uses”

- - US Office of Technology AssessmentUS Office of Technology Assessment

What kinds of products do we want What kinds of products do we want organism to manufacture?organism to manufacture?

Human protein replacementsHuman protein replacements Enzymes useful in manufacturing Enzymes useful in manufacturing Sugars, alcohols, synthetic precursorsSugars, alcohols, synthetic precursors Human therapiesHuman therapies VaccinesVaccines Diagnostic tools Diagnostic tools Themselves (with help of course)Themselves (with help of course)

What kind of organisms do we use?What kind of organisms do we use?

BacteriaBacteria Yeast Yeast Cell cultures (both human and insect) Cell cultures (both human and insect) Plants Plants AnimalsAnimals

Biotechnology, the old scienceBiotechnology, the old science

Fermentation in bread making, Fermentation in bread making, winemaking, beer brewing winemaking, beer brewing

How is it done? Fermentation uses yeast to How is it done? Fermentation uses yeast to generate alcohol and/or carbon dioxidegenerate alcohol and/or carbon dioxide

Selective Breeding Selective Breeding

Also called hybridization Also called hybridization Considered biotechnology Considered biotechnology Process by which organism are used to Process by which organism are used to

produce something for human useproduce something for human use

Modern Uses of BiotechnologyModern Uses of Biotechnology

Microorganism to break down toxic wastesMicroorganism to break down toxic wastes Synthetic insulinSynthetic insulin Diagnostic tests for diseaseDiagnostic tests for disease Hardier plants- Genetically modified foods Hardier plants- Genetically modified foods

(GM foods) (GM foods) Snow making capabilitiesSnow making capabilities

Major Use of BiotechnologyMajor Use of Biotechnology

* Discovery and Development of drugs * Discovery and Development of drugs

The more we understand about how The more we understand about how organisms function at the cellular and organisms function at the cellular and

molecular level, the more we can try to molecular level, the more we can try to engineer molecules that will inhibit engineer molecules that will inhibit

unwanted processesunwanted processes

Tools and applications of DNA Tools and applications of DNA ManipulationManipulation

Why? Why? To gather knowledge about how To gather knowledge about how basic life processes are carried out and to basic life processes are carried out and to make useful products for our daily livesmake useful products for our daily lives

Tools and Applications: Tools and Applications: Restriction enzymes, or endonucleasesRestriction enzymes, or endonucleases DNA ligase DNA ligase Gel electrophoresis Gel electrophoresis Polymerases Chain Reaction (PCR)Polymerases Chain Reaction (PCR)

Restriction enzymesRestriction enzymes

Used by bacteria as defense mechanismUsed by bacteria as defense mechanism Cut both strands of DNA double helix at a Cut both strands of DNA double helix at a

specific sequencespecific sequence 100s of these enzymes available 100s of these enzymes available

commercially commercially Used to cut a sample of DNA at a certain Used to cut a sample of DNA at a certain

location according to its nucleotide location according to its nucleotide sequencesequence

DNA ScissorsDNA Scissors

Restriction enzymes are proteins Restriction enzymes are proteins produced by bacteria that cut DNA at a produced by bacteria that cut DNA at a specific location specific location

Each different restriction enzyme has a Each different restriction enzyme has a specific sitespecific site

DNA is a palindrome- the sequence at top DNA is a palindrome- the sequence at top is same as sequence at the bottomis same as sequence at the bottom

Complete Exercise #1Complete Exercise #1

Recombinant DNA moleculesRecombinant DNA molecules

Recombinant object is made up of parts taken from more Recombinant object is made up of parts taken from more than one sourcethan one source

Your genome is recombinant: Part from your mother and Your genome is recombinant: Part from your mother and part from your fatherpart from your father

Recombinant DNA molecules are pieces Recombinant DNA molecules are pieces of DNA have be reassembled from pieces of DNA have be reassembled from pieces taken from more than one source of DNAtaken from more than one source of DNA

For example, DNA taken from a plasmidFor example, DNA taken from a plasmid

What is a Plasmid?What is a Plasmid?

Small, circular pieces of DNA within in Small, circular pieces of DNA within in bacterial cellsbacterial cells

They are copied by DNA replication They are copied by DNA replication enzymes because they have origin of enzymes because they have origin of replication replication

Often contain genes that have resistance Often contain genes that have resistance to antibioticsto antibiotics

Gel ElectrophoresisGel Electrophoresis

Laboratory technique used to separate Laboratory technique used to separate fragments of DNA that have been digested fragments of DNA that have been digested by restriction enzymes (cut up) by restriction enzymes (cut up)