Chapter 13

Genetic Engineering
 Selective Breeding

• Humans allowing only animals with

desired traits to reproduce.

• Ex: Breeds of dogs/cats

• Ex: Disease resistant Burbank
potato
 Hybridization
• Crossing dissimilar individuals to bring
together the best of both organisms
• Hybrids = Individuals produced by such
crosses
– Often hardier than parents.

Ex of Hybridization:
Crossing HH and hh
individuals.
Ex of Hybrid:
Hh
 Inbreeding
Ex: Breeds of • Breeding of individuals with
Dogs/Cats are similar characteristics to
maintained by maintain these characteristics
inbreeding
• Problem: Creates genetically
Ex of Risks with
Inbreeding: similar individuals = increases
Blindness, joint risk of two recessive alleles for
deformities, etc. a genetic defect coming
together
 Increasing Variation (difference) in organisms

• Breeders can increase genetic variation by

inducing mutations
• Increase rates of getting mutations by using
RADIATION and CHEMICALS
• Mutations = ultimate source of genetic
variability!

Why would breeders want to induce mutations into

their organisms?
-Some mutations can produce individuals with
desirable characteristics not found in the original
population.
 Increasing Variation (difference) in organisms

-Producing New Kinds of Bacteria:

Ex: Bacteria that -Develop useful bacteria
can digest oil =
clean up oil spills -(B/C bacteria are small =
millions can be treated at the
same time = increases chance
of producing a useful mutant)
-Producing New Kinds of Plants:
Ex: Bananas, citrus
fruits -Use drugs that prevent
chromosomes from separating
during meiosis = produces
polyploids!!
-Produces new species that
are larger and stronger
 Genetic Engineering: changing DNA
How do biologist get 1. DNA Extraction – taking
DNA out of a cell?
DNA out of the cell
Are restriction
enzymes specific or
2. Restriction enzymes cut
nonspecific? DNA in specific locations
How can DNA 3. DNA is separated and
fragments be analyzed using gel
separated and
analyzed?
electrophoresis
 RESTRICTION ENZYMES
• EcoR I C T T A A G
G A A T T C

C T T A A + G
G A A T T C
Sticky Ends
- DNA fragments are Gel Electrophoresis
placed at one side
of a thin membrane
(gel).
- An electric current
passed through the
gel
- DNA fragments
(have negative
charge) move
toward the positive
end of the gel
- Smaller the DNA
fragments, the
faster and farther
they move
 Gel Electrophoresis

What are some -Used to:

examples of using
Gel Electrophoresis - Compare gene composition
in society? of different organisms or
different individuals
-Paternity Testing
(Who’s your baby’s - Locate and identify one
daddy??)
particular gene out of tens
-DNA fingerprinting of thousands of genes in an
(Linking suspects to individual’s genome
a crime)
 Polymerase Chain Reaction
Examples/Questions

• AKA: PCR
– DNA strands are multiplied
many times to create many
copies of the DNA or genes
to be studied
– Invented by Kary Mullis 1988
and made famous by the OJ
trial
– Uses a DNA polymerase
enzyme found in bacteria
Can continue living in the hot springs of
copying each Yellowstone National Park
new fragment
 Recombinant DNA

-Produced by combining DNA from

different sources
-Genetically engineered cells contain
recombinant DNA

Take a gene from one organism and attach

it to the DNA of another organism
 Cell Transformation
• Transformation – a cell takes in DNA from
outside the cell and incorporates it into
its own DNA
• Can happen in bacteria, plants, and
animals
• Creates RECOMBINANT DNA
 Transforming Bacteria
- Uses a PLASMID which has a
GENETIC MARKER
- Plasmid = Circular DNA
molecule used to transfer
Ex of Genetic markers: DNA
antibiotic resistant - Genetic markers =
genes distinguish bacteria with the
plasmid from bacteria without
the plasmid
How is this useful to
- Foreign DNA is joined to the
humans?
plasmid, inserted into a
- Create multiple copies bacteria cell, replicated =
of things like human producing multiple copies of
growth hormone, etc. a gene
 Transforming Plant Cells
- 3 ways this can be done:
1. A bacterium inserts a DNA plasmid into
plant cells
2. Some plants will take up DNA on their own
when the cell wall is removed
3. Directly injecting DNA into cells
 Transforming Animal Cells
-DNA can be injected into the nucleus of an egg
-Enzymes can insert the foreign DNA into
chromosomes

-Possible to eliminate particular genes by

inserting foreign genes into the DNA sequence
-Allows us to pinpoint specific functions of genes
 GENETIC ENGINEERING
HAS SPURRED THE GROWTH
OF BIOTECHNOLOGY = A
NEW INDUSTRY THAT IS
CHANGING THE WAY WE
INTERACT WITH THE
LIVING WORLD!
Applications of Genetic Engineering

• Transgenic Organisms –
contain genes from other
organisms
– Gene from one organism can
be inserted into cells from
another organism = grow new
organisms!
 Transgenic Microorganisms

Why do they contain – Bacteria that contain

foreign DNA?
- Because we inserted
that DNA into their
cells!
foreign DNA from an
entirely different
organism.
• (Reproduce rapidly and easy
to grow)

•Ex. Of substances – Transgenic Bacteria are

produced by used to produce
Transgenic Bacteria: substances useful for
Insulin, Human
Growth Hormone, and health and industry
Phenylalanine
 Transgenic Animals
-Mice have been -Used to study genes and to
produced with human improve the food supply
genes to make their
immune systems act
like humans
-Can provide us with a supply of
-Transgenic sheep and
our own proteins
pigs have been
engineered to produce
human proteins in
their milk
 A genetically engineered mouse
that Glows-in-the-Dark!
 Transgenic Plants
Transgenic Plants can be engineering in some of the following ways: --
-Natural insecticides
-Resistant to herbicides (weed-killers)
-Produce human antibodies
-Rot-resistant foods
-Plants that contain essential nutrients (Golden rice)
This genetically engineered
plant Glows-in-the-Dark!
 Clones
- Clone: Member of a population of genetically
identical cells produced from a single cell

- Cloning: creating genetically identical individuals

-Ian Wilmut (1997): Cloned

a sheep = Dolly!!
 Should cloning be used to save
endangered species?

Why is this
technology
CONTROVERSIAL??
 Your Vote
Your view on animal cloning:
Cloning animals is right
Cloning animals is wrong
Cloning animals is right only under certain circumstances
Don't know

Your view on human cloning:

Cloning humans is right
Cloning humans is wrong
Cloning humans is right only under certain circumstances
Don't know