Biotechnology Biotechnology is the use of living things to solve problems or make useful items.

(Warner, Jennifer) The use of processes such as the PTC tasting gene, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Restriction enzymes and Gel Electrophoresis has made it possible for us to live and better ourselves on a daily basis. Following are the processes of biotechnology, how they were developed, what they do and how they are performed. In 1931 a chemist by the name of Arthur Fox accidently discovered the PTC tasting gene one day while working. Pouring some powdered PTC into a bottle, some of the powder accidently flew into the air and a nearby co -worker complained of a bitter taste. But Fox could not taste anything. Curious as to why this was Fox had his family and friends try the chemical to see their reaction. They discovered that people had mainly three reactions, either no taste, slightly bitter, or an intensely bitter taste. This hereby discovered the PTC tasting gene. Discovered in 2003 the PTC gene TAS2R38 was discovered to be the exact gene that correlates with the ability to taste bitter substances. (PTC: Genes and Bitter Taste) Located on chromosome seven geneticists proved that being able to taste PTC is an inherited component. The sensitivity to PTC is a

result of the Mendelian trait with dominant inheritance. Aside from what you inherit the individual and the circumstances in which you taste the PTC affects the ability to taste. Although the PTC gene has 85 percent control the many factors often construed this. (PTC: Genes and Bitter Taste).There are two common alleles, and five rare forms of this gene. (PTC: Genes and Bitter Taste) The two forms are the tasting form and non-tasting form of the allele. Every person is different with the way these two alleles match up and make an individual taste. Copying DNA now may seem like a simple feat but it was not until the 1980s that scientists discovered a new and faster way to copy DNA of interest. From the old way of selecting the wanted form from a selection of bacteria colonies, Kary Mullis in 1985 invented a new method. The polymerase Chain Reaction selected and amplified a section of DNA. (Polymerase Chain Reaction) PCR is the idea of taking a desired piece of DNA and placing it into a tube that contains all the components needed for DNA replication. Within hours of the DNA entering the tube, the piece of DNA will be replicated millions of times. This creating a titanic amount of the exact DNA you desire. (Warner, Jennifer) This gives scientists the ability to create plenty of replicated DNA, even from the smallest amounts that may become unavailable.

PCR is possible through the use of the thermal cycler machine. This machine uses cycles that double the amount of target DNA. These cycles contain three parts. First is heating the DNA to a high temperature to cause the sample DNA to separate into single strands. Second you lower the temperature to allow the primers to anneal to the sample DNA. Lastly the temperature is once again raised slightly to let the DNA polymerase to produce complimentary DNA strands. This turning one DNA strand into two. (Warner, Jennifer) After repeating this cycle you are left with your replicated DNA. Thirty years ago during investigations in the phenomenon of hostspecific restriction and modification of bacterial viruss restriction enzymes were discovered. (Restriction enzymes) Producing these enzymes are bacteria, which is also where the enzymes are found. Bacteria produce these in order to cut the DNA of other organisms in their environment to protect themselves. (Warner, Jennifer) Deciding to use these enzymes in labs, researchers found there are many types of restriction enzymes. Each restriction enzyme recognizes a palindromic sequence and cuts the desired sequence, known as the restriction site. The importance of this is how it allows you to use the DNA sequence to find the correct RE for the job of interest. You can find these jobs by looking

up the DNA sequences in a catalog. (Warner, Jennifer) This discovery made Genetic engineering possible. (Biology Animation Library) Before the invention of Gel Electrophoreses, DNA was to be manipulated by DNA fragments being laboriously separated by gravity. During the 1970s gel electrophoreses was developed. When restriction enzyme digests are performed the following DNA pieces are all mixed together in a small tube. You must separate these DNA pieces in order to use them. (Warner, Jennifer) This method is called Gel Electrophoreses. This uses electricity to separate DNA fragments by size as they migrate through a gel matrix. (Biology Animation Center) Placed in an Electrophoresis chamber, this works by using a prepared gel made of ararose. Before taking the completed solidified form a comb is applied to the aragose to create small indentions called wells.(Warner, Jennifer) At a single end, DNA samples are placed into the wells. Once in the gel an electronic current is applied. Carrying a negative charge, due to phosphate groups in the backbone of DNA, DNA will be attracted to the positive electrode in the electrophoresis chamber. (n.p.,n.d. Web) Being firm, the gel will create resistance, this allows larger fragments of DNA to move slower and not as easily and fast as smaller fragments of DNA. When finished this will show the separation of the different sized DNA

fragments. Gel Electrophoreses provided genetic information to a wide range of data fields. (n.p., n.d. Web) The processes of biotechnology work with living cells and their molecules and provide a wide range of practice that improve our lives.(BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLIATIONS) It has been used from baking bread to effecting the worlds economy and society. Without our knowledge biotechnology is surrounding us providing us with pertinent information involving everyday life. These new discoveries are allowing us to further understand the processes of life at the cellular and molecular level. With this technology we can improve selected attributes of microbes, plants, or animals for human use. Today we use these in medicine, agriculture, sciences, food technology etc. Biotechnology has shaped the way we live and continues to refine and provide improvement for life.

Works Cited
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<http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/foodsci/ext/pubs/bioapp.html>

N.p., n.d. Web. http://www.colorado.edu/Outreach/BSI/pdfs/gel_electrophoresis.pd f

"Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)." DNALC Blogs. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://www.dnalc.org/resources/spotlight/index.html>.

"PTC: GENES AND BITTER TASTE." PTC: GENES AND BITTER

TASTE. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012.

<http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/traits/ptc/>. "Restriction Enzymes." Restriction Enzymes. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://bioweb.wku.edu/courses/biol350/RestrictionEnz3/Review.h tml>. Warner, Jennifer M., Dr. Principals of Biology 1 (BIOL 1110) Lab

Manual. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.