Agricultural uses of DNA technology• Animal Husbandry – many farm animals are treated with products made by recombinant DNA methods (examples include vaccines, antibodies, and growth hormones)oSome milk cows are injected

with bovine growth hormone

(BGH) made by E. coli, in order

to increase milk productionoBGH also improves weight gain

in beef cattle

4.4.9 – State two examples of the current uses of genetically modified crops or animals

• Transgenic animals – animals that contain genes from another species have been developed for agricultural useoExamples: beef and dairy cattle, hogs, sheep and several

species of commercially raised fishes• Modified DNA can be introduced into dairy cows and

sheep so that they produce human proteins in their milk • Rainbow trout and salmon that are given a foreign

growth hormone can reach in one year a size that usually requires 2 to 3 years of growth

4.4.9 – State two examples of the current uses of genetically modified crops or animals

oExamples of medically important proteins that have been produced in transgenic mammals include:

• Blood clotting Factor VIII to treat hemophilia • Transgenic sheep have the human gene coding for

clotting factor VIII• These sheep produce the

clotting factor protein in their

milk• The clotting factor protein

can be used to treat

hemophiliacs

4.4.9 – State two examples of the current uses of genetically modified crops or animals

See page 125 in textbook

• Transgenic sheep have also been generated to have the human Alpha-1 antitrypsin gene• Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT

protein) protects lungs, without it the alveoli are susceptible to damage and can lead to lung disease. Patients are given weekly injections of the protein to help slow progression of the disease.

• http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/singlegene/a1ad

/

4.4.9 – State two examples of the current uses of genetically modified crops or animals

•Transgenic plantsoPlants have been genetically altered to receive herbicide resistance (several strains of cotton) Makes them resistant to herbicides used to kill

weeds

oSome crop plants are being engineered to resist infectious pathogens and pest insects – reduces need to apply chemical insecticides

4.4.9 – State two examples of the current uses of genetically modified crops or animals

oFirst genetically engineered fruits approved by the FDA for human consumption were tomatoes engineered with antisense genes that retard spoilageResearchers isolated gene responsible for ripeningThey prepared a gene who's template strand had a base

sequence complementary to the normal gene – an antisense version of the gene

When spliced into the DNA of a tomato plant, the antisense gene is transcribed into RNA that is complementary to the ripening gene’s mRNA

the antisense RNA binds to the normal mRNA, blocking the synthesis of the enzyme causing ripening and spoilage

4.4.9 – State two examples of the current uses of genetically modified crops or animals