Notesale: Turn your study into money

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Genetic modification and biotechnology

Topic 3
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Biology SL 

DNA profiling 
➢ The process of matching an unknown sample of DNA with a known sample to see if 
they correspond 
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Sometimes is referred to as DNA fingerprinting 

➢ Through gel electrophoresis  
➢ Paternity tests and forensic science 
➢ It led to the liberation of many people who had been accused for crimes they had 
not committed 
➢ In studies of ecosystems: 
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To clarify relationships 

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A better understanding of social relationships, migrating patterns and 
nesting habits 

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Has given new credibility to the ideas of evolution 

 
PCR 
➢ A lab technique using a machine, called ​thermocycler,​ that takes a very small 
quantity of DNA and copies all the nucleic acids in it to make millions of copies of 
the DNA  
➢ Solves the problem of how to get enough DNA to be able to analyse it 
 
Gene transfer  
➢ The technique of taking a gene out of one organism, ​donor​, and placing it in 
another, h
​ ost 
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A ​genetic engineering p
​ rocedure 

➢ Genes can also be transferred from one species to another 
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Because DNA is universal 
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Organisms use the same amino acids 

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Codons code for the same amino acids 

Example: frost resisting wheat and tomatoes  

 
Bt corn 
➢ Was genetically modified to produce toxins that kill the bugs that attack it 
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A gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (bacterium) which has the ability to 
produce a protein fatal to the larvae of certain crop-eating pests 

➢ Studies have been carried out where larvae from the Monarch butterfly was fed 
pollen from Bt corn and died 
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Genetic modification and biotechnology
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Topic 3
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coli 
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Yeast cells can be also used as host cells 

➢ Most of the genetic information for E
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Called ​gene splicing  

The gene is pasted into the plasmid using DNA ligase 
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The plasmid is now called r​ ecombinant plasmid a
​ nd it can be used as 
av
​ ector 
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A vector is a tool for introducing a new gene into an 
organism’s genetic makeup 

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The vector is placed inside the host bacterium and it is given its ideal 
conditions for reproduction 
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We put the bacterium into a b
​ ioreactor  
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A vat of nutritious liquid kept at a warm temperature  

➢ Example: human insulin 
➢ Ag
​ enetically modified organism (GMO)​ is one that has had an artificial genetic 
change made using the techniques of genetic engineering such as gene transfer or 
recombinant DNA 
➢ Some scientists say that GMO can be the answer to world hunger and other say that 
world hunger is a problem of food distribution and not production 
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Rice has been modified to contain beta-carotene 
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Helps people in developing countries to produce A-vitamins 

➢ Potential danger? 
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The organism can outcompete the “regular” one 

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The GMO might form hybrids with closely related species 

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GMO food might cause new allergies or other unknown dangers 

➢ Transgenic​ is an organism that has genes from another organism put into its 
genome  

➢ Serendipity i​ s an unexpected but positive discovery and happens when someone is 
looking for answer to one question and accidentally finds the answer to a 
completely different one 
 
Cloning animals 
➢ Humans have found more ways to clone animals 
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Two methods 
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Artificial twins 
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A growing embryo consisting of undifferentiated cells, is split 
into more than one group of cells 

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The cells are put into surrogate mothers 
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Genetic modification and biotechnology

Biology SL 

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New individuals will be born having the same genome 

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Has been used for 20 years in cattle breeding in Australia 
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