Genetic Engineering Cards

Selective Breeding

breeding organisms with desirable traits

Hybridization

crossing different individuals to bring out the best of both organisms

Inbreeding

crossing individuals with similar characteristics

Inbreeding Pros

breeds are maintained and unique characteristics are kept

Inbreeding Cons

increased susceptibility to disease and deformities

how to increase mutations

exposing organisms to radiation or chemicals, but many will die

manipulating DNA steps

extract DNA from cells, cut it into small pieces, identify sequences of bases, make copies

creating recombinant DNA steps

* extract human DNA
* isolate human gene for insulin using a restriction enzyme (EcoRI)
* enzyme cuts DNA at a specific sequence
* creates sticky ends: single strands of DNA that are produced from the restriction enzyme
* extract ring of DNA, plasmid, from bacterial cell
* cut plasmid using restriction enzyme (EcoRI), creating complimentary sticky ends
* human gene and plasmid are combined with DNA Ligase
* insert recombinant DNA into bacterial cell

gene cloning through recombinant plasmid steps:

* treats plasmid and gene coding for a protein (gene P) with an enzyme that cuts DNA
* enzyme cleaves plasmid
* plasmid and trarget gene DNA are mixed
* DNA ligase joins them together with covelent bonds
* recombinant plasmid containing targeted gene is mixed with bacteria
* bacterium takes up plasmid DNA through transformation
* recombinant bacterium reproduces to form a clone of cells containing desirable gene

Genomic library storage:

a collection of cloned DNA fragments that include an organism’s entire genome

Reverse Transcriptase Steps

* chosen cells transcribe genes
* process transcripts: remove introns
* isolate mRNA in a test tube
* single stranded DNA transcripts are made from mRNA using reverse transcriptase ( viral enzyme that synthesizes DNA from RNA template
* another enzyme is added to break down mRNA

DNA polymerase synthesize a second DNA strand
* results: complementary DNA (cDNA)
* only subset of genes that’s transcribed into mRNA in starting cells.
* cDNA library is useful for studying genes responsible for specialized functions of a particular cell type

Recombinant DNA

when scientists combine pieces of DNA from two different sources to make one molecule; used for genetic engineering

Bacterial Plasmids

DNA molecules that replicate separately from a larger chromosome, only carry a few genes, easily manipulated to carry any gene, is a vector

Vector

a particle that can carry foreign genes

Polymerase Chain Reaction

* rapidly make lots of copies of specific DNA sample
* take small sample of DNA and amplify it to a large enough amount to study in detail

Gel Electrophoresis

* dna fingerprinting


* identify individuals by DNA characteristics
* uses gel and electricity
* used to separate and analyze macromolecules (dna rna proteins) based on size and electrical charge

transgenic organisms

contain genes from other organisms (GMO’s)

Microorganism

bacteria

transgenic animals

used to study genes and improve supply

dna cloning steps

1. harvest somatic cells and extract the nucleus for cloning
2. extract donor egg and remove nucleus
3. inject cloning nucleus into donor egg for a new egg cell
4. new cell divides in mitosis and forms embryo
5. implant new formed embryo into surrogate mother