In Unit 6, we focused on the biotech industry. Biotechnology is the study and manipulation of living things in order to benefit mankind. We learned about what we use biotech for, which is industry and environment, like bio fuels, agricultural, like genetically modified fruits, medicine and pharmacy, like gene therapy, and diagnostics, like genetic tests.
Then we learned about the technologies of biotech. One of these was ploymerase chain reaction (PCR) which is a procedure that amplifies a specific DNA region, yielding millions copies of sequence DNA, the first step in preparing DNA for experiments, and makes enough DNA copies to analysis. The steps of PCR is to denature the double stranded DNA above or below the region of interact. Then, anneal primers, which are small fragments of DNA that binds with a specific sequence, are connected to the single-stranded DNA above or below the region of interaction. Then, the primers are extended with DNA Polymerase, creating a new double-stranded DNA. The last step is to repeat these steps 20-40 times since this is an exponential application. PCR is often used for detecting diseases, viral diseases, and screen bone morrow and organ compatibility.
Another technology of biotech is gel electrophoresis, in which an electrical current is sent through a gel with DNA strands in it, and the electric current makes the DNA strands order themselves by their size. The larger the DNA strand is, the less it travels. The smaller the DNA strand is, the more it travels. The unknown DNA strand lengths are compared with known DNA strand lengths. This process is used in forensics, molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, and more.
The last technology we learned about was sequencing, which determines the exact order of a given DNA sequence. This is done by first creating copies of DNA with DNA polymerase, primers, extra bases, and florescent dyes. Each copy is one base longer and contains a florescent dye. These copies are electrophoresed and analyzed by a computer, resulting in an electrophergram, which is a graph with four colors, each representing a different base. This sequence is then recorded.
Then we learned about recombination DNA, which is when DNA of one organism is inserted into the DNA of another organism. This is often described as genetic engineering.The result is a transgenic organism or GMO. This is done by first studying the gene of interest, as in knowing the location and sequence of the gene. Then take a restriction enzyme, which are enzymes that cut DNA whenever it reads a specific sequence. Restriction enzymes leave a sticky end, allowing the DNA to bond with other DNA. Plasmids, which are circular DNA found in bacteria, contain a replication and antibiotic resistance gene, are prepared. Then, ligase, an enzyme that reattaches base pairs, is prepared also. Then the process of transformation begins. To do this, isolate the DNA, get a plasmid, digest the DNA, mix the digested DNA, add a ligase to attach to the sticky end, mix Recombination plasmid with the bacteria, plate the bacteria on a tray with an antibiotic mixed in, grow the transformed bacteria, transfer the broth to make many bacteria that express the gene, and extract and purify the protein in the inserted gene produced.
Lastly, we learned about bioethics. Our morals, a justifiable position that has to do with whether something is considered right and wrong, and values, which is what we see as important or moral, and are determined by your personality and experiences, making everyone's values different, is what bioethics are based on. Ethics is the study of how morals and values influence our decision making. Bioethics is the study of decision making as it applies to moral decisions that have
to be made because pf advances in biology, technology, and medicine. Then we learned what to do when we get a bioethical question. First, identify the problem and why it is a problem. Then, identify and list all the possible solutions, identifying the pros and cons of adopting each solution, begin sure to consider the unintended consequences. Then, based on the pros and cons for each solution, rank all solutions from best to worst, considering your values are different from others, so everyone will rank each pro and con differently from yours. Lastly, identify if your position is important enough to take a position, and if it is, decide your position and defend it.
This unit went pretty well, seeing that I followed the lab procedures well, understood the content easily, and having a general interest in biotech. One weakness I had was explaining the vodcasts to my group if they didn't understand. I usually have a difficult time explaining any concept to someone since I have slight trouble processing my thoughts into words. \
The labs I did were the Candy Electrophoresis Lab and the pGLO Observations, Data Recording, & Analysis. They reinforced gel electrophesis and bacterial transformation. I got a clear picture of each process and learned how to do each one. These experiences taught me how to work together with my group mates better.
Something I want to learn more about is gene therapy. An unanswered question I have is how far will biotech take us. Something I wonder about is if we keep on improving the human race through biotechnology, will we be considered something other than humans.
So far this year, I have improved the hours of sleep I get, and I have a good mental grasp on the labs we did this unit since I understood this content easily.
