1 Science 10 Unit III: Genetics Applications of Genetic Technology Cloning is a process that produces identical copies of genes, cells, or organisms Gene clo ning involves manipulating DNA to produce multiple copies of a gene or another segment of DNA in foreign cells. The cloned DNA can be used for: - further study - mass production of the protein that the gene codes for Ex. Insulin, a hormone that enables the body to use sugar, is absent in people diagnosed with type I diabetes. Cloning Process: 1. Isolate the segment of DNA to clone, and choose a vector for cloning. Vectors act as carriers of the DNA to be cloned so that the DNA can be copied in a foreign cell. One commonly used vector for cloning in bacteria is called a plasmid. 2. Insert the chromosomal DNA into the vector. 3. Treat foreign cells, such as bacterial cells, so that they take in the recombinant DNA. e process of taking up the recombinant DNA is called transformation. Once the recombinant DNA plasmid is taken into the cell, many copies of the cloned gene or DNA fragment will be made by the host cell.
Transcript
Science 10Unit III: Genetics
Applications of Genetic Technology
Cloning is a process that produces identical copies of genes, cells, or organisms
Gene clo ning involves manipulating DNA to produce multiple copies of a gene or another segment of DNA in foreign cells. The cloned DNA can be used for:
- further study- mass production of the protein that the gene codes for Ex. Insulin, a hormone that enables the body to use sugar, is absent in people
diagnosed with type I diabetes.
Cloning Process:
1. Isolate the segment of DNA to clone, and choose a vector for cloning. Vectors act as carriers of the DNA to be cloned so that the DNA can be copied in a foreign cell. One commonly used vector for cloning in bacteria is called a plasmid.
2. Insert the chromosomal DNA into the vector. 3. Treat foreign cells, such as bacterial cells, so that they take in the recombinant DNA. e
process of taking up the recombinant DNA is called transformation. Once the recombinant DNA plasmid is taken into the cell, many copies of the cloned gene or DNA fragment will be made by the host cell.
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Science 10Unit III: GeneticsTherapeutic cloning involves producing genetically identical cells that are used to treat various diseases. This includes using the cloned cells to grow new tissues and organs.
Reproductive cloning also involves production of cell clones, but with the aim of producing a genetically identical organism. Unlike gene cloning, therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning are surrounded by controversy because there are ethical questions about how they are used.
Therapeutic Cloning and Stem Cells Stem cells are undifferentiated (unspecialized) cells that, under the right conditions, can develop into any one of the more than 200 types of somatic cells. There are three different sources of stem cells:
• embryonic stem cells, which are obtained from embryos• adult stem cells, which are somatic cells that have retained the ability to differentiate
into some other cell types • induced pluripotent stem cells,* which are specialized adult stem cells that have
been induced to return to a stem-cell-like state
Applications of Stem Cell Research
Ethical Considerations:
One ethical issue concerning therapeutic cloning is that the cells produced by SCNT are stem cells If human cells produced through SCNT are implanted into a surrogate, they could develop into an embryo and produce a human clone. Another controversy is due to the initial use of embryos as a source of stem cells.
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Science 10Unit III: GeneticsTransgenic Organisms: Organisms whose genetic material includes DNA from a different species.
Transgenic organisms are a type of genetically modified organism, or GMO. In general, a GMO is an organism that has had the sequence of its genome altered for a specific purpose.
Transgenic Plants: Account for over half the corn and canola grown in North America. Benefits include increase their resistance to herbicides, insect pests, or viruses as well as increasing nutritional value (ex. Golden rice)
Transgenic Animals: Animals such as mice, fruit flies, and roundworms are used to study diseases and develop ways to treat. Transgenic milk-producing animals, such as goats, are being used to produce medical protein products that include human growth hormone and anti-clotting factors. Experimentation in developing transgenic animals that can serve as organ donors for humans.
