Chapter 17 Lecture Enrichment Ideas
Describe some uses of biotechnology, as in the production of a giant mouse through use of human or rat growth hormone, the production of pigs with leaner meat from use of bovine or human growth hormone, or some of the recent clinical trials on gene transfer in malignant melanoma treatment.
Explain why it is necessary to remove the introns from genes added to bacteria. Explain why it would work to use yeast to transcribe genes containing introns that could not be transcribed and translated into usable proteins in bacteria.
Contrast ex vivo and in vivo methods of gene therapy.
Discuss how the polymerase chain reaction works, noting the action of the DNA polymerase and the use of heat to denature the DNA and release the newly synthesized strands. Include the source of the heat-resistant DNA polymerase from Thermus aquaticus, which grows in hot springs.
Contrast the genetic map from the physical map. Clarify that knowing the full sequence of DNA base pairs does not automatically provide an understanding of how that cell physiology works or provide us with instant cures.
Back to Lecture Enrichment Ideas