10th Grade genetic Engineering

Gene transfer 101: the basics of cutting, copying, pasting and cloning genes

• An introduction• Step-by-step

How does genetic engineering work?

1. Cut out desired DNA using

2. Insert DNA into plasmid

3. Insert plasmid (vector) into host cell

Genetic Engineering: Making Human insulin

• E. Coli make human insulin

Genetic Engineering: Making Factor IX in sheep…

1997: Factor IX isolated and purified from sheep’s milk to treat one hereditary form of haemophilia (Haemophilia B,

Christmas Disease)

The brave new world of genomics

GENOMICS – analysis of the structure and function of genomes…

You don’t need to know this for your test!

Learning about your genome

• 2 out of 3 of us will die of a genetically related disease

• Many (some say all) diseases have a genetic cause

• Genetic report cards can identify ‘potential risk’ of future illnesses

Do you want to know your genome?

• Do you want to know your genome?

• Are you sure?

Gene therapy

• Find defective genes and ‘fix them’

• Insert a healthy normal gene or gene product (lipid, protein)to achieve normal function

• Most effective for single gene disorders: cystic fibrosis, Sickle Cell disease,

Pharmacogenomics

Uses information about your genetic make-up to determine the drug, and drug doses, that will work best for you

Currently used for treatment of:• HIV• Breast cancer• Colon cancer• Mental illness

Using our genome to understand human evolution

By sequencing and databasing genes, we can see similarities and differences between species• The closer the genome match, the

closer their evolutionary history• Human Chromosome 2 came

from fusion of two great ape chromosomes

• Karl Miller on human evolution• The time-tree of evolution

Ethics and the human genome

How companies are patenting your genetic code