There are many applications and areas of research in biotechnology

Outline one way that forensic scientists can use DNA analysis to
help solve cases

DNA fingerprinting is one of a number of uses of DNA technology

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Used by forensic scientists to help solve cases

DNA fingerprinting detects with some accuracy the blood, tissue or

semen DNA of an individual andidentifies the individual in either
criminal or paternity cases
Process of comparing DNA
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involves using restriction fragment length polymorphisms

Restriction enzymes are used to cut DNA into fragments at precise

points

Pieces of DNA are run through an electrophoresis gel to separate the

lengths of fragments

The fragments are collected onto a screen or sheet of special material

in a blotting process

One or more of the fragments is visualised with a “probe”. The probe is

really a molecule of single stranded
DNA that is complementary to the sequence of one of the fragments
of DNA and is either radioactive orfluorescent
The probes bind with the appropriate fragment and thus identify it

Pattern that is obtained can then be compared to patterns obtained

from DNA obtained at the crime scene
Uses of DNA fingerprinting

Method can be used because DNA base sequence varies with individuals

For most analyses, DNA regions that are known to be highly variable
from one individual to another arechosen

Not all DNA fragments are compared

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result will indicate a level of probability that suspect mayactually have
been at site and left the tissue/blood/semen

The more regions analysed, the higher indication of probability if

individual was present or not

DNA fingerprinting alone does not prove a person guilty but can be
used to prove a person innocent
Identify data sources, gather, analyse and process information to
present one case study on theapplication of biotechnology in each
of the following:
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medicine
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animal biotechnology
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aquaculturethese case studies should:

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give details of the process used

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identify the organism or tissue involved

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describe the outcome of the biotechnological process

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evaluate the efficiency of the process and discuss advantages and

disadvantagesassociated with either the product or the process
Application of biotechnology in medicine
production of synthetic insulinProcess used:
Gene for making insulin is cut out from nucleus of a human pancreas cell using a restriction enzyme

Plasmid is removed from bacterial cells and cut open with same enzyme

The insulin gene is mixed with the bacterial plasmids and because they have been cut with the
sameenzyme, the cut ends of the plasmid and ends of genes match. The sticking together of plasmid
with geneinserted into it is catalysed by enzyme DNA ligase

The plasmid, containing recombinant DNA is re inserted into

Eschericia coli (E.colibacterial cells. Onceintroduced, bacteria are grown in large tanks in manufacturing
plants at optimal temperatures

Millions of bacteria replicate by binary fission and express the genes

Once desired amount is produced, cell wall is broken open to extract the DNA. The DNA mixture is the
purified, resulting in insulin chains remaining Identification of the organism or tissue involved:

The organism (bacteria) in which plasmids are removed from and re- introduced into are known as

Eschericia coli

Description of the outcome of the biotechnological process:

Outcome is synthetic insulin which can be used to treat people with diabetes mellitus (Type 1 diabetes),
a disease where body cannot maintain normal blood glucose levels due to insufficient insulin production
by the pancreas

Symptoms are eventual kidney failure, damage to vision and restrictions of blood flow to limbs
Advantages and disadvantages associated with either product or process:

More than 50 years ago, insulin was extracted from pancreas of calves and pigs

Due to small differences in calf and pig insulin from human insulin, some allergic reactions were
observed
One great advantage of synthetic insulin is that it is 100% insulin and hence less antigenic

Fewer abnormal reactions with hormone as there is no triggering of immune system

Process of producing insulin is advantageous as the product can be produced very quickly in vast
amounts as bacteria has a fast reproduction rate with fewer resources needed than complex animals. It
is less costly than previous means of producing insulin as space needed to support specialised bacteria
colonies is significantly smaller than needed to raise livestock

Disadvantage is insulin has to be constantly injected by patient almost every day to treat the diabetes

Disadvantage of synthetic insulin produced is initially there was an increase of more than 3 times the
hypoglycaemic complications compared with animal insulin

Hypoglycaemia characterised by abnormally low levels of sugar in blood due to too high insulin intake

resultant symptoms of weakness, shakiness, nervousness and fainting

Complications have decreased but remains disadvantage as product is faced with continuous doubt and
scrutiny Evaluation of efficiency of process: This process in producing synthetic hormone, insulin, is very
efficient due to the exponential rate of reproduction of E. Coli bacteria. The bacteria reproduces by
binary fission, where one bacteria splits into two, the two splits into four and the four splits into eight
and so on. Therefore, as the bacteria reproduces exponentially and expresses the genes, insulin is
produced very quickly and in large amounts. The E. Coli bacterium also reproduces asexually, allowing it
to be managed much more easily, making the process cost effective. This process is also very efficient in
meeting the increasing demands of synthetic insulin. Although there are some disadvantages of the
product itself, such as some reported cases of hypoglycaemia complications and the need to inject the
product into the body, overall these can be negated by the ability of synthetic hormone to improve the

diabetic’s quality of life (by reducing ris

k factors such as constrictions of blood flow and kidney failure). The level of people with diabetes
mellitus is increasing at an alarming rate, however the process is efficient in matching these demands by
being able to generate a large yield of synthetic insulin in a short amount of time. The overall process of
the production of synthetic insulin is therefore very efficient