Microbes and Genetic

Engineering
Dr. Sherri Clark / The National
Biotechnology Information Facility

The World of Microbes

on the Internet
This presentation © 1998 by the Regents of New Mexico State University
 Topi cs of Discussion
 DNA
– History
– What is it?
 Genetic Engineering?
– Examples of uses for animals.
– Examples of uses for humans.
– Examples of uses for plants.
– Cloning
 Ethical Questions
DNA History
 Until early to mid 1900’s a majority of
biologists believed that proteins had to be
the genetic material.
 1928 - Griffith showed evidence of
bacterial transformation (uptake of genetic
material).
 1944 - Avery and coworkers showed that
this transforming agent was DNA.
DNA History 2
 1952 - Hershey and Chase determined that
DNA was also the agent that viruses like T4
injected into host cells for reproduction.
DNA History 3
 1953 - Watson and Crick described the
structure of DNA.
 1961 - Crick described the genetic code as
triplet codons.
What is DNA?
 Macromolecule
 Polymer
 Phosphate, ribose sugars,
with purine and
pyrimidine bases.
 Anti-parallel strands.
What is DNA? 2
 Double helix.

Copyright © 1994-1998 Institute for Molecular Virology.

University of Wisconsin - Madison.
What is DNA? 3
 Carries genetic information.
 The information “language” is made up of
“words” called genes and “letters” called
codons.
Genetic Engineering
 Also known as recombinant DNA
technology.
 The manipulation of an organisms genetic
material, DNA or sometimes RNA, to
produce a desired gene product or
characteristic.
 The end product of these techniques is often
a chimeric organism.
Definitions
 Chimera
 Cloning
 Vector
 Restriction Endonuclease
 Methylase
 Sticky Ends
 Blunt Ends
Cloning a Gene Into E. coli
Cloning a Gene Into E. coli 2
Examples of Uses for Animals
 Cows and Pigs.
– Bovine Somatotropin
– Porcine Somatotropin
Examples of Uses for Humans
 Humans
– insulin and growth hormone.
– -lactamases and antibiotics.
– gene therapy.
Examples of Uses for Plants
Examples of Uses for Plants 2
 Potato
Examples of Uses for Plants 3
 Tomato

 Corn and Cotton.

Cloning
 Making an organism with a genetic makeup
that is identical to another organism.

© Copyright 1995 Roslin Institute

http://www.ri.bbsrc.ac.uk/
Ethical Questions
 Dangers
 Privacy
 Morality