recombinant DNA

Uses of RDNA:

Genetically engineered micro organisms-human organisms are inserted into bacteria which are grown into fermenters , the bacteria produce proteins, also large amount of  insulin is produced cheply this way. ( reference: ‘AS AQA BIOLOGY specification A’,’A new introduction to BIOLOGY,’Page 164).

Genetcally modified plants- transgenic genes are inserted inside plants so they become immune to hebicides and pestisides . plants can also be engineered to create human hormones,proteins and anti-bodies.

Genetically modified animals- human proteins such as heamoglobin and blood clotting factors are allready produced in milk of transgenic cows , sheep , goats.strong animals can be breeded together so that there offsrping are healthy and strong.

Cloning of genes involves making copies of genes in a laboratory. These genes are used to see the difference between a normal and mutated gene or produce an organism made from more than one gene this is known as transgenic organism, for commercial or research purposes. DNA cloned in large quantities using can be used for analysis and DNA fingerprinting. DNA fingerprinting identifies similarities in DNA and can indicate evolutionary relationships, paternal or maternal identity, or someone's presence at a crime scene.

Gene theraphy- is when a human gene is used to replace a missing defective gene in the humab. Cells can be altered by insertion of genes inside the body or by genes outside the body. Treatments have been developed using gene therapy for diseases like severe combined immunodeficiency and Cystic Fibrosis.

How does recombinant dna affect the environment?

Better crops mean that people have a large supply of food to sell and it keeps the economy functioning successfully also the large supply of food can be used to aid world hunger in poorer parts of the world as they are now drought and heat resistant.

People are being protected from genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Insulin can now be produced at a faster rate and much more cheaply, diabetic patients can now be treated much more affectively.

Genetic technology has now advanced to help people with diseases such as cystic fibrosis ways new scientist shows how the different people feel and what its actually about.

Today, gene therapies are being tested on people with a variety of diseases including cystic fibrosis. But these techniques benefit only those who receive them. In contrast, people who were to have gene therapy on their sperm and eggs would not benefit directly. Rather, their children would be protected from inherited disease.

At present, however, the enthusiasm of Jonathan, Louise and Alison for such 'germ-line' gene therapy is academic. The first attempt by an American university to patent a technique for germ-line therapy in humans shocked genetic researchers and was dismissed as premature. Even if such techniques prove to be safe and reliable in future, it is not yet clear if they will be permitted.

Some religious and anti-biotechnology groups are adamant that germ-line therapy should never be used. At its most extreme, such treatment is associated with the Nazis' attempts to create a master race. 'If you'd put these techniques in the hands of physicians who worked for Adolf Hitler, you can imagine what would have happened,' says Abbey Meyers, president of the US National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) in New Fairfield, Connecticut

Others argue that germ-line therapy would have a variety of harmful biological and social consequences, such as reducing the size of the human gene pool, or encouraging a 'black market' in therapy that would make children taller or brighter. And, in a society where germ-line therapy was carried out, 'people who are less than perfect would be steadily more disadvantaged, and this would tend to push people further into the realm of the unacceptable', says John Habgood, the Archbishop of York.

(reference to- issue 1925 of New Scientist magazine, 14 May 1994, page 14. Information accessed at 25/01/08)

Scientist now can create living bacterium: “Scientists have made a major step forward in creating life in the laboratory as researchers announce they have rebuilt a living bacterium from four bottles of chemicals. The scientists took the natural bacterium and painstakingly replaced its genetic structure, or genome, with DNA stitched together from chemicals. Eventually they had recreated all the genes that had been in the natural bacterium, effectively turning it into an identical but artificial organism.”(Reference: , scroll down on page and click news  3 with the head line- ).