L21: Application of Genetics Flashcards
Define Biotechnology
Using living organisms to create useful products/processes
Define genetic engineering
Direct manipulation of an organism’s genome using recombinant DNA to make transgenics/GMOs
Defome GMOs (genetic modified organisms)
Plant, animal/microorganism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques
Define gene therapy
Treat genetic diseases by inserting functional genes
Function of genetic engineering in medicine
Used to produce biological & pharmaceutical products
What substances do genetically engineered bacteria & cells produce?
Insulin
Where is human insulin made in?
Pancreatic beta-cells
Can T1D product insulin?
No
Describe insulin production in humans
1) Insulin starts as preproinsulin (110 aa)
2) Signal peptide is cleaved off
3) Disulfide bonds form between A+B chains
4) C-peptide removed to produce active insulin
Describe the production of human insulin in E.coli
1) 2 plasmids engineered (left- innsulin A chain gene, right-insulin B chain gene)
2) Bacteria produces fusion proteins
3) Fusion proteins extracted & purified
4) Treated with cyanogen bromide, releasing separate A & B insulin chains
5) A&B chains are purified & disulfide bonds are formed
6) Produces active human insulin
Role of β-galactosidase in the production of human insulin E.coli
Acts as a fusion partner to help with protein stability & expression in bacteria
Role of cyanogen bromide in production of human insulin in E.coli
Cleaves at specific sites, enabling clean separation of insulin chains
Describe selective breeding in plants
Plants with desirable traits are cross-bred over several generations
Describe genetic modification in plants
Specific genes are inserted directly into plants DNA to give it new traits
Describe how golden rice is engineered
1) Introduce 4 transgenes to rice
2) Use bacterial enzyme CRTI to substitute 3 to 2
3) Reduce it to CRTI & phytoene synthase
4) Express both using **endosperm specific promotor **
What is gene therapy?
Deliver normal genes into human cells
2 delivery methods of gene therapy
1) Viral vectors
2) Liposomes
What is the viral vector delivery method?
Replace viral DNA with therapeutic gene
What is the liposomes delivery method?
Fuse with cell membrane to deliver DNA
What is SCID (Severe Combined Immunodefiency)?
Genetic disorder where an affected invidual doesn’t have a functional immune system
