inquiry question 2 module 6 Flashcards
How do genetic techniques affect Earth’s biodiversity?
definition of biotechnology
use of biological processes, living systems, organisms or parts of organism to benefit humankind
- Driven by human needs to treat disease, maintain food production and preserve the environment
past uses of biotechnology
agriculture = selective breeding
fermentation
medical (ancient antibiotics)
agricultural biotechnology past
selective breeding = practice of choosing particular desirable characteristics, and breeding individuals that possess these traits together in order to produce offspring that exhibit the most favourable characteristics
eg. domestication of cows for greater yield of milk, strength
ethical: animal welfare
benefits: offspring with desirable characteristics
impacts on biodiversity: potentially affect the evolution and long term survival of species as although selective breeding focuses on increasing the occurrence of particular traits → level of genetic diversity in a population can be reduced
fermentation biotechnology past
Microorganisms use the process to convert sugars into energy during anaerobic respiration
Glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide
bread = carbon dioxide causes it to rise, starch breaks down in sugar –> releases co2
eg. bread, cheese
cheese:
enzyme renin added –> ferments mill –> turns lactose to lactic acid –> curdles milk
medical past biotechnology
Mould fungus produce chemicals that kill or inhibit bacteria
from ancient egyptians, honey and mould to treat infections
present/modern biotechnology
medical = genetic screening, stem cell treatments, gene therapy
manipulate dna = dna splicing, dna amplification, recombinant dna
analyse and visualise dna = agarose gel electrophoresis, gene probes, dna sequencing
genetic screening, medical present biotechnology
Looks for mutations that are known to increase risk of genetic disease eg. cystic fibrosis conducted on adults, newborns and embryos
- Detects genetic diseases early in life to improve patient outcomes
- Identifies whether couples are carrying disease causing alleles before they are trying to conceive
disadvantages:
- Some diseases don’t have 100% penetrance → people can worry their whole life
- Can be used for superficial characteristics
stem cell treatments medical modern biotechnology
stem cells used to replace any type of damaged or non-functional tissue
- transplant to bone marrow, heart disease, parkinsons disease
disadvantages
- controversial
- misleading advertisements that are not based on science
stem cells
undifferentiated cells that can potentially become any type of cell in the body
gene therapy , modern day biotechnology
Experimental technique used to treat hereditary diseases at the molecular level by inserting a gene to replace the missing or defective gene that causes the disease
- crispr - cas9
- Adds a normal copy of the gene to some patients cells → the normal human gene is introduced into a virus → ‘infects’ th epatient;s cell → inserts the normal gene back in the process
- turns genes on and off
- sick cell anaemia = inserting good copy of gene into bon emarror cels to produce normal red blood cells
eg. haemophilia, cystic fibrosis, AIDS, cancer
CRISPR-Cas9
form of gene therapy
- More efficient way of inserting or turning off genes
- uses CRISPR sequence and Cas9 enzyme
gRNA sequence is created to recignise the specific sequence of DNA to e edited within the target sequence, it is attached to the cas9 cutting enzyme and inserted into the target cells, locates sequence and cuts the dna, scientist then edit the exisiting genome by insert, modify or delete a new sequence
CRISPR sequence →Includes fragments of virus DNA that have been left in the genome from a previous viral infection
- grna = recognises the sequence of DNA to be edited and tells the Cas9 where to cut
Cas9 enzyme
- Runs along the DNA of the target cell unwinding the double stranded DNA (dsDNA) searching for the complimentary target sequence and cuts the DNA
process:
- PAM sequence found new newly inserted viral DNA
- CAS9 enzyme uses RNA copies of the spacer sequences as a template to find similar sequences from viruses in the genome and cut them
- When DNA is repaired → most likely contains mutations that turn off the virus gene → prevents it from being transcribed and translated
modern technology to manipulate DNA
dna splicing
- required gene or sequence of bases in a DNA molecule is spliced out, using restriction enzymes that cut DNA at specific base sequences
dna amplification
- DNA polymerase is used to replicate DNA fragments many times before inserted into the new genome
Recombinant DNA
- DNA ligase enzyme used to join pieces of DNA together
modern technology to analyse and visualise DNA
agarose gel electrophoresis
- identify ‘dna fingerprint’ of individual
- dna is fragmented and passed through a gel, distribution fragments can be seen as bands on gel and represent DNA fragment of different size
DNA sequencing
- Used to determine the extract nucleotide sequence of DNA ora gene
antibodies
Small proteins produced by the immune system that can recognise and bind to antigens
- bind to antigens that have invaded the body
- flags antigens as foreign response
antigens
Foreign protein or carbonate complex that triggers/elicit an immune response from the body
immunodetection modern biotechnology
detect or quantify the presence of a specific molecule in a sample
- ELISA
- lateral flow tests
ELISA
- biotechnology used for imumunodetection
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- Used to detect and measure peptides, antibodies, hormones and other proteins in blood or other fluids
process:
- small wells in plastic
- antibody (primary antibody) that binds to target protein is added
- primary antibody attaches to target protein if present in fluid sample
- unbound sample rinsed out
- antibody with enzyme is attached which binds
- substrate is added that reacts with enzyme –> causes change in colour, identify if target protein is present
eg. pregnancy, HIV
lateral flow tests
- biotechnology used for imumunodetection
Uses antibodies to detect the presence of a particular substance in a biological sample
- pregnancy test –> detects hCG in a womans’ urine (hormone produced after the embryo is implanted)
c = control , indicates that sample is flowing through and antibodies are functional
t = test result
s = sample
immunofluorescent staining
- biotechnology used for imumunodetection
-If protein needs to be located or quantified in live or dead tissue → specific antibody that has an active site binds to the target protein can be used
- florescent marker attached, recognises protein as antigen –> binds –> glows
future directions of biotechnology
-Future of biotechnology can be seen in the current research and development technologies in fields such as environment, agriculture, medicine
- Although it may raise social, ethical, environmental concerns → it continues to bring about new advances worldwide
future directions of biotechnology
- pharmacogenomics
- xenotransplantation
- gene drives
- GMO’s
pharmacogenomics
future directions of biotechnologies
- Study of how a person’s genome may affect their response to drugs
-
xenotransplantation
transplantation f cells, tissue organs from animal to human
issues:
- organ rejection
factors influencing:
- lack of donors for the amount of organs needed
GMOs
genetically modified organisms that alter the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another species eg. bt cotton, golden rice, GM bacteria used to produce human insulin
social factors of biotechnology
Demand for reliable supplies of food, clothing and materials → selective breeding and transgenic species
- Development of a biotechnology only occurs if here is a need or demand for it
economic factors of biotechnology
- Biotechnology improves yield or profit
- Eg. Transgenic species, GloFish (fluorescent fish created for profit)
- expensive eg. IV
ethical factors of biotechnology
Concerns about animal welfare differ between countries and cultures and has changed overtime
eg. transgenic species are a violation of their rights such as genetically modified mice
example of GMO humans + ethical and social implications
golden rice
- Form of rice that has been genetically modified to increase its nutritional value by providing a source of vitamin A where a gene from corn is inserted into the genome of the rice as vitamin A deficiency
- ethical: can cross pollinate other crops and concerned with how it overshadows the overall issue and loss of genetic diversity
- social: affect after consumption is unknown
germline editing
Editing the genes in the germ cell or human embryo at very early stages of development eg. crispr cas 9
benefits:
- prevents genetic disease
issues:
- controversial
- decreases genetic diversity leaving species more vulnerable and reduce the response against selection pressures
biotechnology changes to earths biodiversity
gives humans the potential to alter the path of evolution by artificially combining the qualities of organisms that were once separate species
- could increase biodiversity in the short term, by introducing new gene combinations in the population and new genes in individuals
- In the long term, however, biodiversity will be reduced if these organisms with desirable characteristics are reproduced and bred, using reproductive technologies such as cloning and selective breeding.
agricultural modern day
- artificial insemination for conservation
