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Biotechnology
Use of living organisms or their products to modify health and the human environment
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
Double Helix
A closer look
Adenine (A)
Thymine (T)
Guanine (G)
Cytosine (C)
Genes
units of heredity portions of DNA that direct the production of a specific protein or the expression of a particular trait
Chromosomes
A set of 40
Protein
a complex chemical substance consisting of amino acids that make up the structure of cells
organic acids that are the building blocks of protein; about 20 different kinds
Genetic engineering
the use of scientific, biological techniques to manipulate or rearrange genetic material to alter hereditary traits. Also known as gene splicing or recombinant DNA technology
RNA
ribonucleic acid a type of nucleic acid that is usually produced as a copy of a portion of the cells DNA
Enzymes
proteins that set as catalysts in biological systems that is, substances that help other chemicals to react.
Bacteria
single-cell organisms often used as hosts in genetic engineering
Genotype
Genetic Make-up
Phenotype
Apparent Qualities
a cell structure, organism, or group of organisms all derived from a single parent cell and sharing the same heredity
reproducing new organisms from a single body cell, rather than through the combination of sex cells
Protein Engineering
Considered to be the next big step in biotechnology revolution Called a cross between gene splicing and computer modeling, protein will be used to make entirely new drugs to fight cancer and AIDS
1989
DESIGNER GENES
Producing Drugs in Microorganisms Producing New Organisms Potential for Human Gene Engineering Identifying Variations Within a Population Cloning of Organisms Kamikaze Genes The Human Genome Project
Manufacture of human insulin: bacteria make ideal factories for this process because they are simple, single-celled creatures whose biochemistry is well understood.
Crops can be enlarged or programmed to grow faster or fight off natural pests
Law enforcement officials are excited by the potential for DNA fingerprinting or genetic marking in forensic science
A major new project has been initiated to map every human gene
Kamikaze Genes
Concern about releasing living gene-altered microbes into the environment has led scientists to program bacteria to destroy themselves when their work is done. This is based on the discovery that many species of bacteria have suicide genes that help regulate the life and death cycle of their microscopic hosts (when these genes are switched on, the bacteria dies)
Prospect of curing inherited genetic defects: although understanding of genes has grown greatly, not enough is known to practice human gene therapy
Cloning of Organisms
Biological technology now enables livestock breeders to clone large numbers of identical animals from a single embryo; precise duplication of superior animals (uniform quality in farm animals)
24
3 billion
100,000
Restriction map illustrating a set of ordered DNA fragments, which provides a much finer description.
DNA sequence the only map that affords a ghost of a chance of interpreting genes directly in terms of function.