Biotechnology

DNA and
Biotechnology

What is
“biotechnology?”

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DNA
(Biotechnolog
y)

Problem: Restaurants and grocery stores want to be able
to sell apple slices, but once you slice the apple, it begins to
brown. Is it possible to create an apple that doesn’t turn
brown?
How would you do this?

Open Ended

How would you
create an apple that
does not brown?

Historically, we have found ways to change organisms.

Selective Breeding

Choosing the “best” traits for breeding

Most domestic animals are products of this process, also known as artificial selection.

Sometimes new breeds are created because a chance MUTATION changes some aspect of the organism.

Scottish Fold cat - a mutation results in the ears turning downward.

Wild mustard plants are the ancestors of many of these grocery store staples.

Most domestic animals are the result of artificial selection

Organisms can also be changed by crossbreeding them with other organisms to try to blend the traits.

Poodles don’t shed, if you want a
non-shedding type of golden
retriever, try a “golden-doodle.”
You could also get a “labradoodle!”

These are also referred to as hybrids. Some of the fruit you eat are actually hybrids.

Tangerine + grapefruit = tangelo

Granny smith apples are a cross between the european wild apple and the domestic apple

Granny smith apples do not turn brown as quickly as other apples.

Open Ended

How could you use hybridization to create non-browning apples?

What if we could insert genes into
a species without having to go
through the breeding process?

GENETIC MODIFICATION
(genetic engineering)

Organisms that contain genes
from more than one species (or inserted genes) are called:

TRANSGENIC organisms

Gene causes these mice to glow in the dark. Normally, the gene is found in jellyfish.

​This mouse had the gene to grow an ear inserted.

Transgenic Organisms

- Contain genes from other species

1. Bacteria contain human insulin gene

2. Animals who can produce more

milk (or spider silk!)

3. Plants that are resistant to pests

GMO = genetically modified organism

• organism whose genome has been altered by the techniques of genetic engineering

  • Genes are usually added

  • Sometimes genes are removed

Open Ended

How could we use genetic modification to create a non-browning apple?

What would we need to know?

Is there a gene that causes apples to turn brown?

DNA extraction – process where DNA
is removed from cells

The sequence of DNA can be used for:
- paternity tests
- solving crimes
- establishing lineages (evolution)
- diagnosing disorders

How is DNA analyzed? Gel Electrophoresis
- DNA is cut into fragments, and separated by size.

This image shows a DNA
fingerprint where DNA from
a bloodstain at a crime scene
is compared to suspect DNA.

Which suspect is a match to the bloodstain?

Multiple Choice

Who is the father?

• Dad 1
• Dad 2
• Dad 3 
• can not be determined

Multiple Choice

Which kitten is most likely the offspring of this cat?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

Which suspect is likely guilty?

• Suspect #1
• Suspect #2
• Suspect #3

Cloning

1. Organisms with the same genetic code

2. Twins are natural clones

3. Clones can be created

The first clones were made with this process:

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Open Ended

Can you think of any good reasons for cloning an organism?

We have the
technology to
clone humans,
but should we?

Can you think of any good
reasons for cloning an
organism?

What about a human?

Clones do exist naturally. These are identical twins.

Multiple Choice

Genetically modified food (or GM food) is food produced from plants or animals whose DNA has been altered through genetic engineering.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The application of technological process, invention, or method of living organisms.

• Biotechnology

• Hybridization

• Biology

• Selective Breeding

Multiple Choice

What seperates DNA Fragments

• Gel Electrophoresis

• Genes

• Cells

• Restriction Enzymes

Multiple Choice

genetically Identical

• Clones

• Twins

• Doppleganger

• Triplets

Multiple Choice

Genetic engineering has been used to produce

• medicines.
• food animals.
• improved crops.
• all of these.

Multiple Choice

Transgenic organisms contain

• genes from other species.
• cells of another organism.
• genes of only one parent.
• one or more human genes.

Multiple Choice

This is the practice of choosing individuals of a species to mate based on their desirable characteristics

• Bacterial recombination

• Natural selection

• Genetic modification

• Selective breeding

Can we make an apple that doesn’t turn brown?

Step One:
Understand why an
apple turns brown in
the first place.

Apples turn brown due to the action of an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase (PPO).

This enzyme is controlled by the
PPO gene.

Open Ended

What would happen if we silenced the PPO Gene?

This “arctic apple” has been
modified to remove the gene that causes browning.

Why is this apple not
considered to be transgenic?

The PPO gene (polyphenol oxidase) has been
silenced these apples. They will not turn brown
when sliced. Would you eat them?