1. 6.4 Applications of Biotechnology
Field of medicine has been greatly altered by advances in biotechnology in the last 30 years
-AIDS: PCR detection,check for AIDS virus DNA
- Genetic Screening: detection of mutations known to be associated with genetic disorders
before they manifest themselves in an individual ex: Huntington’s Chorea
Fetal Screening: hemophilia, cystic fibrosis
Couples with history of genetic disorders given odds re. their babies

2. -Gene Therapy: change genetic sequence in an organism to prevent genetic disorders. NEW !
Gene Therapy example pain mediation: Pronociceptive transmitters INDUCE pain
Antinociceptive transmitters INHIBIT pain
Insert gene that expresses antinociceptive transmitters near spinal chord, therefore cancer patients pain deceases.

3. Antisense Oligonucleotides: stick to complementary mRNA, prevent it from being translated into proteins

4. AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS
Transgenic Plants: organisms in which foreign DNA has been artificially incorporated into its Genome
First example was with a T1 plasmid: caused tumours to grow in plants
Gene gun: must be used when dealing with plants since you have to get through the cell wall
Many new agricultural products have been developed using biotechnology:
Crops now have: higher yields, hardiness to weather, insect/virus resistance, herbicide tolerance.

5. Tomato Example: FLAVR SAVR --> Ex of a Transgenic Crop
used antisense technology, complementary DNA or RNA that anneals to mRNA and inhibits it. In the Flavr Savr tomato they inhibited the enzyme responsible for ripening and aging of fruits.
Problems: GE corn produced to make Bt toxin. Bt toxin kills European cornborer insect BUT also kills Monarch Butterflies that eat that corn’s pollen.
Potential Long Term environmental effects?
If a gene expressed in a transgenic crop is an allergen stimulant it must be labeled.

6. Golden Rice

7. Flavr Savr Tomato

8. GM CORN

10. FORENSICS: DNA fingerprinting
Make copies of DNA, multiply it. Do PCR
Check bands from crime scene DNA