Biochemistry 2280A Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Recombinant Dna, Artemisinin, Synthetic Biology
30 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
Recombinant dna technology: genetic engineering- the techniques which recombine dna fragments from different sources into new molecules with unique features. Synthetic biology- engineering of biological systems, with the goal of carrying out novel functions or performing existing functions more efficiently. Slow: limited by the breeding time of the organism and chance genetic events: exchange of genetic materials is limited to breeding species. Recombinant dna technology: rapid; as quick as a few days in some organisms, no limitations. Significance of recombinant dna technology: research- key tool to understand cell and molecular structure/function, biotechnology- major impact on society. Medicine: drug production and design, and improvement of drugs, human insulin, human growth hormone, vaccines, artemisinin (malaria), interleukins, etc. Diagnosis of disease- detect pathogens and disease-causing genes through their dna signatures. Genetic counselling- determining whether an individual carries a disease related allele.
