BS 6 - DNA Techniques

• Biologie
• WO
• Studiejaar 3

BS 6 - DNA Techniques

Today's lesson

1. Genetic modification and transgenic

2. CRISPR-Cas

3. Arguments for and against genetic modification (GM)

4. Genomics

5. DNA tests

6. eDNA

7. Synthetic biology

www.khanacademy.org

Biotechnology

DNA of organism does not need to be changed

Recominant DNA techniques

1.Take a gene from a healthy person - example: gene for making insulin.

2. Insert the gene into a bacteria.

3. Bacteria can produce insulin.

Genetic modification

= the altering of an organism's DNA

genetically modified organism (GMO) = organism in which the DNA has been altered by humans

transgenic = if the new gene originates from another species

Genetic modification cont.

See Fig. 1 pg. 145

Apples trees without scab (schurft).

Stonewashed jeans

Disease-free potatoes

Golden rice

Editing genes using CRISPR-Cas

Examples of gene editing

Chocolate - make the plant resistant to a deadly virus

Bananas -make the plant resistant to a fungus

Coffee - Caffeine has been edited out

Rice - Made more heat and drought resistant

Tomatoes - Give them more taste

Maize - Make more kernels form in dry conditions

Wheat - Make wheat grains that will contain less gluten

Objections to genetic modification

• The individual character and the well-being of  animals are affected by genetic modification.
  
• Unexpected effects may occur (e.g. plagues)
• The pollen of genetically modified plants can also end up in traditional crops. The offspring then contains the new genes, even though you might not want it to.
  
• Transgenic food can pose a threat to our health. 
• New illnesses that could be transmitted from animals to humans could develop

Genomics 

Study of the entire DNA of an organism and the gene it contains.

Makes it easier to detect disease

Use to tailor treatments and medicines to a specific patient

DNA tests, e DNA and Synthetic Biology

DNA tests - Used to fight crime, detect 

heritary diseases, find evolutionary kinship

between species, determine parental DNA

eDNA - Environmental DNA - find which species are in an area without having to catch them.

Synthetic DNA - DNA is artificially recreated - used to create microorganisms that can clean up waste or produce biofuels. 

Can also be used for information storage. HELLO (five bytes) have been stored in DNA. All computer data in the word would fit in one kilogram of DNA!

To do

study for the test