Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Engineering
Dr. Sherri Clark / The National
Biotechnology Information Facility
Topi cs of Discussion
DNA
History
What is it?
Genetic Engineering?
Ethical Questions
DNA History
Until early to mid 1900s 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
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.
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
Humans
insulin and growth hormone.
-lactamases and antibiotics.
gene therapy.
Potato
Tomato
Cloning
Ethical Questions
Dangers
Privacy
Morality