1. What we can do with genes
Genetic Engineering
What we can do with genes

2. Selective Breeding
Humans select animals or plants with desirable (beneficial) traits and breed them
This ensures that many of the offspring will have desirable traits from both parents
This is how we have so many breeds of dogs and cats!
This is also how we have certain fruits and vegetables with certain traits
Does NOT involve actually changing DNA!

3. What is Genetic Engineering?
Technology that humans use to alter DNA or study DNA
Examples:
DNA Fingerprinting (Gel Electrophoresis)
Used in paternity testing
Used as evidence in criminal cases
DNA Recombination
Inserting a gene into bacterial DNA
Bacteria will then construct the protein coded for in that DNA

4. Restriction Enzymes
Special enzymes that recognize certain DNA bases and then actually cut (splice) the DNA at that location
Used in DNA Fingerprinting and DNA Recombination
EXAMPLE: EcoRI recognizes GAATTC
Will cut at this spot between the G and A
Creates STICKY ENDS (single strands of DNA) that can bind to new DNA

5. EcoRI- Commonly used restriction enzyme

6. Restriction Enzyme Animations!
Let’s See!
Let’s See Again!

7. Types of Genetic Engineering
Gel Electrophoresis
Separates DNA into different banding patterns based on
NUMBER OF BASES IN EACH CUT STRAND
DNA is cut up using a restriction enzyme
This leaves DNA strands of different sizes
CHARGE OF DNA
DNA is negatively (-) charged, so it will move towards a positive charge
DNA separates due to opposite charge at one end of chamber and how heavy it is
Makes a “finger-print”
Parents will have similar banding to their children and vice-versa

8. Gel Electrophoresis How-to

9. Who’s the father?

10. Types of Genetic Engineering
Recombinant DNA Technology
Inserting gene from one organism into a circular piece of bacterial DNA called a plasmid

11. Steps for causing bacteria to make human insulin by Recombinant technology:
Cut out insulin gene from human DNA using a restriction enzyme
Cut open bacterial plasmid using same restriction enzyme
Combine cut plasmids with many copies of human gene
Several plasmids will “accept” human gene
These plasmids now have the ability to make human insulin

12. Diagram of Recombinant DNA

13. Benefits of Genetic Engineering
Making large amounts of a human protein, such as insulin
Finding cures by altering DNA
DNA Fingerprinting has helped us to see how similar certain orgs. are
Alter DNA in plants to make them resistant to certain diseases
Paternity tests! Let’s See!