8/19/088/19/08Introduction to the course

FISH/CMBL 7660

Molecular Genetics and Biotechnologygy

Instructor: John LiuInstructor: John LiuTel. 334-844-8727

Zliu@acesag auburn eduZliu@acesag.auburn.edu

Why Molecular Genetics

• Capability to across species border• Ability to introduce genetic variability • Capability to change natural available pattern of

gene expressions• Ability to avoid possible gene interactions• Ability to avoid possible gene interactions• allow you to decisively select based on markers

by marker-assisted selection

Classical genetics(Mendelian)

Genomics Quantitative genetics

Population geneticsg

What is ClassicalWhat isGenomics?

Classicalgenetics

OrganisGametes Organism

Gametes

Quantitative geneticsg

Aquaculture Genomics

G Genome

Aquaculture Genomics

Production

Genome evolution

Genome structure and organizationProduction

and Performance

“

Performance Traits

ng

Genome expression

Genom

compos

Gen

ome

eque

ncin

Genome expression and function

me

sitionG se

s Mapping1 2Bulk

mic

s Mapping1Cloning2

Bulk

enom Sequencing3

BulkG

Functional Genomics4 Bulk

Many scientific disciplines contribute to biotechnology which generates a wide range of commercial productswhich generates a wide range of commercial products

Molecular Microbiology ChemicalMolecular biology

Microbiology Biochemistry Genetics Chemical engineering

Cellbiology

Biotechnology

Crops Drugs VaccinesDiagnostics Livestocks

Crops Drugs

Historical development of Biotechnology

1917 Karl Ereky coined the term Biotechnology1943 Penicillin produced on an industrial scale1944 Avery, MacLeod, and McCarthy demonstrated that DNA is the genetic

material1953 Watson and Crick determined the structure of DNA as double helix1961-1966 Decode the genetic material1973 Boyer and Cohen established recombinant DNA technology: discovery of

restriction enzymes1975 First monoclonal antibody production1977 DNA sequencing possible1981 First automated DNA sequencer1983 Engineered Ti plasmid used to transform plants1986 PCR invented1990 Human Genome project officially initiated as a 30-year project1994-1995 Detailed genetic and physical map of human produced1996 First recombinant protein, erythropoietin, exceeds $1 billion in annual sales in

the US 1996 First eukaryotic organism completely sequenced (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)1997 Nuclear cloning of a mammal, a sheep, with a differentiated cell nucleus2000 Completion of the “30-year” human genome project2002 Several genomes sequenced including those of rice, zebrafish, Japanese

puffer fish, …

The Everchanging Concept of Biotechnology

“all lines of work by which products are produced from raw materials with the aid of living things”

---by the Hungarian engineer, Karl Ereky, 1917

Raw material

Upstream processing

Fermentation and biotransformation

Downstream Pureprocessing

Pure product

Using inexpensive sugar beet (raw material) to feed pigs (biotransformation)Using inexpensive sugar beet (raw material) to feed pigs (biotransformation) for the production of pork (downstream processing)

The Everchanging Concept of Biotechnology

“The study of the industrial production goods and

The Everchanging Concept of Biotechnology

The study of the industrial production goods and services by processes using biological organisms,

systems, and processes”Bi t h l d Bi i i 1961---Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 1961…...

Commercialization of Biotechnology

• 1,500 Biotechnology companies in the U.S. , gy p

• 3,000 Biotechnology companies in the world

• $6 billion in 1986 and $30 billion in 1996, 60 billion in 2000.

Expectations for Biotechnology

• Significantly increase crop yields by creating plants resistant to insects, diseases, and environmental stresses

• Develop microorganisms that will produce chemicalsDevelop microorganisms that will produce chemicals, antibiotics, polymers, amino acids, enzymes and various food additives

• Develop livestocks with genetically improved performance traitsp g y p p

• Accurately diagnose and prevent or cure a wide range of infectious and genetic diseases

F ilit t th l f ll t t d t t i l f th• Facilitate the removal of pollutants and waste materials from the environment.

Concerns for Biotechnology• will some genetically engineered organisms be harmful to other organisms and the environment?• Will the development and use of genetically engineered organisms reduce natural genetic diversity?reduce natural genetic diversity?• should humans be genetically engineered?• will diagnostic procedures undermine individual privacy?

Should genetically engineered organisms be patented?• Should genetically engineered organisms be patented?• Will financial support for biotechnology constrain the development of other important technologies?• Will the emphasis on commercial success mean that the benefits of• Will the emphasis on commercial success mean that the benefits of biotechnology will be available only to the rich?• Will agricultural biotechnology undermine traditional farming practices?p act ces• Will therapies based on biotechnology supersede equally effective traditional treatment?• Will the quest for patents inhibit the free exchange of ideas among q p g g

scientists? …

Model organisms for the study of Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology

Eukaryotic• Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies)• Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Yeast)Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Yeast)• Nematode C. elegans• Zebrafish

Arabidopsis thaliana• Arabidopsis thaliana• Mouse/Rat

Prokaryotic

E. ColiE. Coli

Criteria for model organisms

• Small genome size• Short life cycley• High reproductivity• Economic importance of its closest p

relatives• Easy to grow and save money and spacesy g y p

ZebrafishZebrafish

• Genome size 5 x 108• Genome size 5 x 108

• Life cycle: 3-4 months• Reproduction: eggs can be collected daily (30-50 eggs p gg y ( gg

per female)• External fertilization and development

Transparent egg suitable for developmental• Transparent egg suitable for developmental observations

• Small size so that large numbers can be raised in a gsmall aquarium in the laboratory.

• However, polyploidy in some cases.

Arabidopsis

• Generation time: 5 weeks• 10,000 seeds per plant• Small size so that thousands of plants can be

grown in a small laboratory room• Self-fertile (so mutations are naturally made• Self-fertile (so mutations are naturally made

homozygous• Susceptible to infection with Agrobacterium

tumefaciens for gene transfer purposes

From Organism to CellsFrom Organism to Cells

What organism do you

work with?

From Organism to Cells

Organism tissues/organs cells Catfish Head kidney Head kidney cells

Chestnut

y y

Leaf root flower Epidermal cellsCitrus

Leaf, root, flower Epidermal cells

Bovine Liver Liver cells

Cell structuresCell structuresCell Wall

C t l Nucleus

N cleol s

Cytoplasm

Nucleolus

Cell structuresCell structures

Point ofPoint of interest

Chromosomes

The laws of genetics: h progenies look after theirwhy progenies look after their

parents

Life cycle of Catfish

Female Male2n2n

eggs sperms(Gametes)1n 1neggs sperms(Gametes)

Fertilization

1n 1n

Fertilization

Young female and male catfish

Meiosis reduces the parental chromosome

numberE.g., 2n 1n

The Mendelian Laws

Proposed in 1865, 143 years ago, by p , y g , yGregory Mendel

1st law: Independent segregation;2nd law: Independent assortment.

Mendel’s 1st law

Independent segregation

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