Genetic Transformation

grad.bio.uci.edu/ecoevo/ahebling/.../GK.../Transformation_Lecture.ppt

What is transformation?

When a cell takes up and expresses a new piece of genetic material—DNA— in order to change the organism’s traits

A gene is a piece of DNA which provides the instructions for making (coding for) a particular protein

DNA Protein Trait

History of Transformation

1928 – Fredrick Griffth first described transformation

Pneumococcus bacteria (pneumonia) and mice

1944 – Oswald Avery, Colin MacLeod, Maclyn McCarty identified the “transforming principle” as DNA

History of Transformation

1952 – Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase provided final proof that DNA was the molecule of heredity

1970 – Morton Mandel and Akiko Higa developed a protocol for transforming E. coli bacteria

What is transformation used for?

Agricultural

Genes coding for traits such as frost, pest or drought resistance can be genetically transformed into plants

What is transformation used for?

Environmental

Bacteria can be genetically transformed with genes enabling them to digest oil spills or remove pollutants from the environment

What is transformation used for?

Medical

Production of human proteins to treat genetic diseases

Protein Disease/Disorder

Human insulin Diabetes mellitus

Human Growth Hormone Deficiency in children

Erythropoietin Anemia

DNase I Cystic fibrosis

Human antibody blocker Asthma

What are we doing?

We will transform bacteria (E. coli), giving it the ability to make green fluorescent proteins

Green Fluorescent Protein

Used in science as a visual marker… Biological processes (protein production)

Localization and regulation of gene expression

Cell movement

Cell fate during development

Formation of different organs

Marker to identify transgenic organisms

How does it work?

*plasmids*

Bacterial

chromosomal

DNA

Cell membrane

Making Plasmids

Gene

Plasmid

+

=

pGLO Plasmid

GFP

araC

To make green fluorescent proteins

To survive with Ampicillin (antibiotic)