Genetic Modification and Biotechnology | BIOLOGY HL

Direction of molecules during gel electrophoresis

Molecules with negative and positive charges move in opposite directions

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

They are used to make large copies of DNA

DNA Profiling

Involves comparison of DNA

Genetic modification

The transfer of genes from one species to another. Ex.) transfer of the gene for human insulin to a bacterium GMO foods

Pluripotent

Capable of developing into all types of tissue

Splitting/fragmentation

Embryo to divide into two or more parts and each part to develop into a separate individual with all body parts

Cloning by splitting example

Ex.) identical twinning

Why are pluripotent cells needed?

They produce all the tissues in a new animal body undifferentiated. Ex.) frogs (1950s) and Dolly the sheep (1996)

Where can DNA be obtained?

Hair, semen, blood

If the pattern of bands matches exactly then

It is highly likely that the two samples of DNA are from the same person

genetic engineering

Genes can be transferred from one species to another by a variety of techniques

GM crops

Provides environmental, health, and agricultural benefits and risks

Somatic-cell nuclear transfer

A method by which cloned embryos can be produced using differentiated adult cells. Used for animal cloning.

Somatic Cell

A normal body cell with a diploid nucleus

DNA profile

Ex.) two DNA samples are likely to have come from the same person if the pattern of bands on the profile is the same, used for paternity investigations.

What are the risks of Bt cops to monarch butterflies?

Genetic engineering to these crops can produce a toxin that kills insects.

Environmental risk of GM crops

Non-target organisms could be affected by toxins that are intended to control pests in these crops

Cloning

The production of genetically identical organisms

Gel electrophoresis

A laboratory technique used to separate and isolate proteins or DNA fragments based on mass / size.

Ligase enzyme

This can join two pieces of DNA together

Plasmids

Small, circular molecules of DNA that can be transferred between DNA

Transgenic

Organisms that have a gene from different organisms

How can PCR be used to amplify small parts of DNA?

Polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, is a technique to make many copies of a specific DNA region in vitro (in a test tube rather than an organism).

How can animals be cloned?

In reproductive cloning, researchers remove a mature somatic cell, such as a skin cell, from an animal that they wish to copy. They then transfer the DNA of the donor animal's somatic cell into an egg cell, or oocyte, that has had its own DNA-containing nucleus removed