BIOTECHNOLOGY

• Biotechnology – practical application of biological concepts that are used to solve particular problems
• DNA Finger printing - does not precisely determine the suspect’s identity but helps narrow it down
• Fingerprinting sequence:

  1. Sample of human DNA is cut using a restriction enzyme. This will separate the coded genes from the noncoded genes
  2. Using gel electrophoresis, noncoded genes will be separated by their size
  3. Genes will be labeled using a radioactive probe that will reveal a series of bands showing different sizes.
• Gene Therapy – a way of manipulating DNA for the potential treatment of certain diseases. It is not yet used and involves altering the genes.
• Steps in Gene Therapy:

  1.Invest the virus

  2. Alter the virus

  3. Insert gene into the virus

  4. Place inside cell

  5. Cell will become genetically altered

  6. Inject in the bod
• DNA Synthesizer – lab machine that is used to assemble short DNA sequences
• Recombinant DNA – combination of DNA from different organisms
• Human Genome Project – aims to sequence the human genome, which include the whole DNA. This was lead by James Watson in 1990 and found out that there are 20,000 to 25,000 genes in our body with 3B base pairs