Biology 1 Lecture 6

Bio 1

DNA Gene Expression

Michael C. Velarde, Ph.D.

Gene Expression

Gene Expression is the

process by which possession
of a gene leads to the
appearance in the phenotype
of the corresponding
character.

The central dogma of molecular

biology explains that DNA codes
for RNA, which codes for proteins.

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Gene Expression Structural Differences

between DNA and RNA

Gene Expression

Transcription is the first step of gene

expression, in which a particular
segment of DNA is copied into RNA
(mRNA) by the enzyme RNA
polymerase.

Copyright © 2002 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Gene Expression
Nuclear
envelope
Precursor mRNA is an immature
single strand of messenger
ribonucleic acid (mRNA) found in TRANSCRIPTION DNA
eukaryotic cell
Pre-mRNA
RNA PROCESSING

mRNA
TRANSCRIPTION
DNA

mRNA
Ribosome TRANSLATION Ribosome
TRANSLATION

Polypeptide Polypeptide

(a) Bacterial cell (b) Eukaryotic cell

Gene Expression

Transcript processing

Copyright © 2002 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Gene Transcription

http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/dna-transcription-basic-detail

Gene Expression

Translation is the process in which ribosomes create proteins

DNA
template DNA
strand 3 5
A C C A A A C C G A G T molecule

T G G T T T G G C T C A
Gene 1
5 3

TRANSCRIPTION
Gene 2
U G G U U U G G C U C A
mRNA 5 3

Codon
TRANSLATION

Protein Trp Phe Gly Ser

Gene 3
Amino acid

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Gene Expression

Protein Translation

Amino
Polypeptide acids
tRNA with
amino acid
Ribosome attached

tRNA
C
G
Anticodon
UG G U U U G G C

5 Codons 3
mRNA
Genetic Code

Protein Translation

http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/translation-basic-detail

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Gene Expression

Trait

Genes in development

All cells in multicellular organisms

came from a single cell

All cells in an organism have

the same genomic sequence

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Genes in development

Cells become structurally,

functionally, & biochemically
different by expressing different
genes at different times and
locations during development

Tam & Loebel Nature Reviews Genetics 8, 368-381

Genes in development Gene Expression pattern

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Genes in development

Gene mutation can

cause abnormal
organ formation

Mutation in Bithorax and Postbithorax genes

Genes in development

Gene mutation can

cause abnormal
organ positioning

Antennapedia (Antp) mutation in Drosophila

(a) Head from wild-type Drosophila
(b) Head from an Antp mutant, showing the replacement of normal
antenna structures with legs – caused by activation of the Antp gene in
the head origin.

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Genes in development

Situs inversus in humans

(situs transversus or oppositus)

Human Genome

The total genetic content contained in a haploid set of chromosomes

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Human Genome

Junk DNA

http://thehumanevolutionblog.com/2015/08/03/junk-dna-a-journey-through-the-dark-matter-of-the-genome/

Advantage of
Studying the
Human Genome Homo floresiensis or “The
Hobbit”

Homo sapiens ssp.

'Denisova'

Human Ancestors
Homo neanderthalensis
H. erectus

H. sapiens

Ewen Callaway, Nature News 17 February 2016, Evidence mounts for interbreeding
bonanza in ancient human species

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Advantage of Studying the Human Genome

Population Genetics is branch of genetics which deals with the behavior

of genes in population

Advantage of Studying the Human Genome

Genetic Variation
• genetic heterogeneity in a population

• enables the species to adapt to future

novel changes in the environment

• raw material for evolution

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Advantage of Studying the Human Genome

Genetic Engineering
What do you think about
when you here the word
“Genetic Engineering”?

Genetic Engineering

Genes can be amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Genetic Engineering

Genes can be altered by a modified PCR protocol

https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/F541

Genetic Engineering

Genes can be cut by restriction enzymes

EcoRI – derived from Escherichia coli

Restriction site

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Genetic Engineering

Genes can be inserted into a plasmid

• Plasmid vectors, carry up
to 10 kb

Gene delivery

Transformation is one of three processes by which exogenous

genetic material may be introduced into a bacterial cell

Propagate bacteria

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Gene delivery

Micro-
Transfection is the process injection
of deliberately introducing
nucleic acids into
eukaryotic cells.

Gene delivery

Transfection

Electroporation
Bio-Rad Gene Pulser Xcell Electroporation System

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Gene delivery

Transfection
Gene Gun

https://physics.ucsd.edu

Gene delivery

Viral Infection

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Advances in Genetic Engineering

Cloning of human, plant or any

gene in bacteria

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Advances in Genetic Engineering

Insert a gene in a plant genome

Copyright © 2002 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Advances in Genetic Engineering

Genetically Modified
Organisms are organisms
(i.e. plants, animals or
microorganisms) in which
the genetic material has
been altered in a way
that does not occur
naturally by mating
and/or natural
recombination.

Advances in Genetic Engineering

Genetically Modified Organisms

Transgenic Mammals

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Advances in Genetic Engineering

Gene therapy
• began in 1990 with the treatment
of DeSilva who has severe
combined immunodeficiency
(SCID) caused by a mutation in
adenosine deaminase gene (ADA)

• from 1990 to 1999, more than

4000 people underwent gene
transfer for a variety of genetic
disorders
• most problems with gene therapy
have been traced to the vectors

Ashanti DeSilva

Advances in Genetic Engineering

Gene therapy

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Biology 1 Lecture 6

Advances in Genetic Engineering

What is possible…
Engineering the Perfect Baby
Scientists are developing ways to edit the DNA of
tomorrow’s children. Should they stop before it’s too late?

By Antonio Regalado on March 5, 2015

CRISPR technology

Ethical or Unethical

* Make babies more intelligent

* Make babies with reduced risk to serious diseases
Ethical issues

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