RECOMBINANT DNA

Which headlines are true?1. Insects bred to carry a new gene that may wipe

out malaria.

2. Designer baby cures his brother.

3. Andi, the first genetically modified primate. Will humans be next?

4. Genetically modified pigs produce a new wonder “green” poop – no more stinky mess

5. Feed the World opportunity for a genetically modified salmon.

6. Genetically modified answer to cat problem – no more allergies.

7. Day-glow potatoes will use a gene from jellyfish – night farming a reality.

8. Your next birthday cake could be a glowing hit.

9. Spiderman goats – produce silk as strong as steel in their milk.

10. Almost extinct animal, guar, born to a buffalo.

11. Family spends million to clone their cat.12. Scientists make healthier pork by genetically

modifying a pig with spinach genes. Meat and vegetable at the same time.

13. Save time and money – purchase a glowing Christmas tree.

14. FlavrSavr tomato ripens on vine and is still fresh at the grocery store.

15. Forget painful shots-eat a banana and receive your vaccinations.

16. Hate taking antibiotic pills? Cure infections with your morning omelet.

17. Orange rice might be the answer to the world food shortage. Could save millions of lives.

18. Forget the wax paper – cover your broccoli with new cheese plastic, store and microwave later for a tasty dish.

DID YOU GUESS CORRECTLY?

They are ALL

TRUE!!

Definitions Recombinant DNA - Any DNA

molecule made by combining DNA from various organism.

Transgenic organism – any organism that has incorporated foreign DNA into its genome.

Plant Applications Resist disease Have pesticides –

resist insects Contain minerals,

vitamins – more nutritious

Increase nitrogen fixation

Better taste – prevent from rotting before purchase

Resist frost Transportation and

storage easier Plants that glow when

water level is low Foods that contains

vaccines – bananas and potatoes (hepatitis, cholera and E.coli)

Animal Applications

Greater milk production More nutritious milk Fish that grow quicker Leaner meat More vitamins in food Chymosin from yeast (rather than calf

stomach – used to make cheese, ice cream, dairy products)

Medical Applications Produce human medications or

supplements in milk of organisms • Human insulin produced by Ecoli• Human growth hormone• Dissolve blood clots• Human clotting factor• Vaccines• Other drugs (chemo, bone marrow)

Produce proteins in chicken eggs

Industry Applications

Cotton that doesn’t twist – doesn’t need ironing

Biodegradable plastic wrap, paper products from wheat

Trees that produce plastics

Silk in goat’s milk

Blue cotton – doesn’t need dyed

Potatoes that don’t absorb as much oil

Plants that turn colors when they are exposed to by products of landmines

Make fuels

Caterpillars that glow in the dark. The light is emitted by a bacteria that they have been

infected with.

Scientists in Taiwan created green pigs.To create them, DNA from jellyfish was added to pig embryos

In daylight the researchers say the pigs' eyes and teeth look green. Their skin has a greenish tinge. Their internal organs are green too. In the dark, shine a light on them and they glow bright.

The scientists will use the transgenic pigs to study human disease. Because the pig's genetic material is green, it is easy to spot.

So if, for instance, some of its stem cells are injected into another animal, scientists can track how they develop without the need for a biopsy or invasive test.

The researchers say they hope the new, green pigs will mate with ordinary female pigs to create a new generation - much greater numbers of transgenic pigs for use in research.

South Korean Experts Claim to Have Cloned Glowing Dogs

How do they do all these

things?

You have to use restriction enzymes!

Restriction Enzymes Found in bacteria Used to cut DNA into pieces– “molecular

scissors” Cut DNA after a certain sequence Each enzyme cuts after a different

sequence Usually cut palindromic sequences Leaves “sticky ends” – single stranded

DNA that is eager to rejoin its complement

Restriction Enzyme

Steps in making recombinant DNA

1. Determine what you want to make (example rice that has beta carotene)

2. Find a suitable carrier to get gene into plant – usually use plasmids (extra piece of DNA found in bacteria). This carrier is called a vector.

3. Cut each of the DNA molecules with the same restriction enzyme

4. Mix the DNA molecules together – add ligase to encourage them to join sticky ends

5. Once the desired gene is in the vector, introduce the vector into the organism.

6. Cells now have the desired gene

7. When the cells divide each new copy will have the desired gene

8. Hopefully the gene will be expressed

9. Result: “Orange rice”

http://www.iptv.org/exploremore/ge/what/recombinant.cfm

Considerations:

Is this process safe?• What if organisms escaped?• What if the organisms bred with normal

organisms?• How could these organisms affect humans?• Possible allergies?• Cause unknown diseases?