Biotechnology

Genetics & Biotechnology

MU Module 11

Selective Breeding

• Selective breeding occurs when we (humans) breed organisms with certain traits to produce offspring with desired traits.

Hybridization

• A method of selective breeding

• Crossing parents with different traits to produce offspring that are hybrids of the parents

• The goal is to get certain traits in the hybrids that aren’t in either parent

• Can take a long time (expensive)

Genetic Engineering

• An alternative to selective breeding

• Manipulate the DNA to select for traits in offspring

• Adding DNA from another organism

Open Ended

Describe Selective Breeding

Match

Match the following

• Selective Breeding

• Hybridization

• Genetic Engineering

occurs when we (humans) breed organisms with certain traits to produce offspring with desired traits

Crossing parents with different traits to produce offspring that are hybrids of the parents

Manipulating the DNA f

• occurs when we (humans) breed organisms with certain traits to produce offspring with desired traits

• Crossing parents with different traits to produce offspring that are hybrids of the parents

• Manipulating the DNA f

DNA Tools

• Goal: isolate the gene from the genome and manipulate the DNA (decrease/increase expression of that gene)

• Restriction enzymes = enzymes that cut DNA into fragments by recognizing certain DNA sequences

DNA Tools

• Gel electrophoresis = separates DNA fragments by size

• DNA fragments are loaded into a gel

• An electrical current causes the negatively charged DNA to move through the gel

• Smaller DNA fragments travel further/faster than larger fragments

Recombinant DNA

• Once the fragments of DNA (genes) have been cut out of the genome and separated, we can combine them with other fragments/genomes

• Once combined, we can replicate the recombinant DNA for further study

Gene Cloning

• A technique for replicating recombinant DNA

• The DNA is recombined in a plasmid (withing a bacterium)

• When the bacterium replicates, so does the plasmid (and the gene)

Open Ended

Describe Gel Electrophoresis

PCR

• Polymerase Chain Reaction is another method of replicating the gene

• PCR can make multiple copies of 1 gene from a single template

DNA Sequencing

• A tool used to study the isolated gene

• Once the sequence (A,G,T,Cs) of a gene is known, its function can be inferred by comparing it to known genes with similar sequences

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Biotechnology

• Biotechnology is the application of genetic engineering to genetic problems

• Organisms that contain DNA/genes from other organisms are called transgenic organisms

• Animals are commonly used to study diseases

• Plants are commonly used to study disease and pest resistance

Open Ended

Why do you think humans would like to create clones or copies of DNA?