3.5 Genetic Modification and Biotechnology

What are the 3 aspects of the Universal Code?

1. all living things have the same bases and same genetic code
2. every codon in every species produces the same aas in transcr and transl
3. the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide remains unchanged

What are the three techniques?

* Gel electrophoresis
* PCR
* DNA profiling

What is Gel Electrophoresis

* sorts out DNA fragments depending on their length and electric charge
* is used for reading

What is PCR

* Polymerase Chain reaction
* replicates specific sections of DNA
* is used for reading

What is DNA profiling?

* uses Gel Electro and PCR to develop a DNA profile of an individual

What is genetic modification?

the manipulation of genes to increase the occurance of a required trait

what are restriction enzymes?

* naturally occuring in bacteria to fight against viruses
* recognises and cuts a DNA at a specific at a specific site / sequence

what ‘ends’ are there in restriction enzymes?

* sticky ends go with sticky ends
* blunt ends go with blunt ends

What are the steps of GENE TRANSFER

1. target is extracted from donor as mRNA
2. reverse transcription forms DNA
3. restriction enz cuts it to make sticky ends
4. plasmids (cut with same restriction enz therefore sticky end too) removed from cell
5. DNA ligase forms the sugar phospphate bond between the plasmids and donor’s DNA
6. this then get inserted back into the host to undergo transcr and transl to produce protein for the inserted gene

what is the recombinant plasmid

the product of the joining of donor’s DNA with plasmid complementary strand

what is cloning

producing 2 identical offspring with

examples of natural cloning

* binary fission
* mitosis
* budding and cutting (asexual plants)
* identical twins

examples of artificial cloning

* embryonic division
* SCNT

What is Binary Fission

the cell division of a prokaryotic cell to produce 2 identical copies of the original cell

Outline the steps of Binary Fission

D = DNA replication

E = Elongation

S = Septum creation in middle

C = Cell divides

How is Cutting and Budding asexual?

* seperate section breaks off and parts from main body
* regrows individually and is identical to the parent

Which are negative and positive sides of the gel electrophoresis sample?

* negative is closest to the starting sample
* positive has MORE distance away from the start

What is embryonic division?

when the embryo is split and regrown in different surrogates to clone an individual

outline the steps of embryonic division

1. Artificial insemination
2. Splitting of the Embryo
3. Development by implanting in surrogate

What is SCNT?

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

outline the steps of SCNT

1. Enucleation - egg out
2. Extraction - somatic cell out
3. Insertion - som into egg nucleus
4. Development by implanting in surrogate

What are the advantages of cloning organisms

* preserves endangered species
* allows for a higher frequency of desirable traits within a population

What are the disadvantages of cloning organisms?

* high risk = many lives lost
* if alive, most likely to develop abnormalities
* expensive and costly with low success
* against religious and moral virtues
* false hope

What are the benefits of cloning crops?

* makes pest-resistant plants
* land requires less preparation external demands
* increases shelf life and decreases waste
* increased nutritional value or desired traits
* less allergies and toxins
* drought resistant
* pesticide resistant
* disease resistant

What are the dangers of cloning crops?

* non target organisms effected
* gene could spread to other crops
* limits biodiversity and the ability for natural selection to occur
* transferred genes could mutate harmfully
* spread of toxins in insects