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External links

• NCEA on TKI
• NZQA website

Biology 3.6 Describe applications of biotechnological techniques

Subject content

This is an internally assessed standard. Prior knowledge and skills required to understand the core knowledge of this unit include:

• DNA structure and replication
• process of protein synthesis
• structure of bacteria and viruses
• description and function of the genetic code
• process of mitosis and meosis.

Refer to ‘find what you need to know’ and the relevant level 2 and 3 biology achievement standards.

• Techniques:
  
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
    (This site includes a good animation of how PCR amplifies the DNA, and clearly illustrates the use of primers.)
  • ligation
  • use of restriction enzymes
  • gel electrophoresis
  • DNA sequencing
  • DNA chips
  • tissue culture.
  
  Your study of techniques must be in the context of a relevant application.
  
  
• Applications:
  
  • gene cloning
  • transgenesis
  • DNA profiling
    (DNA profiling has widespread uses. Besides resolving paternity issues and solving crimes (both well publicised) it is very useful in establishing evolutionary links and improving classification.)
  • genome analysis
  • stem cell research
  • xenotransplantation – the application of using non-human organs for human transplants.

    Applications must be examined in the context of meeting human needs or demands.

A must-see site! Go to Biotechnology Online for a very good introduction to the topics in this achievement standard. The interactive exercises are simple and quick to do. The Human uses link for this site is particularly useful so make sure you go to that too.

See also how genes can be moved between species. The information on gene transfer or transgenesis (explained if you click on the animation button), is quite complicated but interesting. The problem opportunity (click on the problem button) clearly illustrates the process of inserting a gene. You, the learner, have to decide where best to insert the gene. Try some of the other problems: there are 41 clips to choose from.

How Cloning Works includes a good introduction to tissue culture.

Transgenic Cows Producing Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) in New Zealand: The controversy links to very good articles, for example, from The Listener and the New Zealand Herald.

DNA Detective gives a good introduction to the use of DNA profiling (also called fingerprinting). The child in a paternity dispute will have inherited half the bands in its DNA profile from the mother and the other half will appear in the father’s profile.

Cystic Fibrosis – the quest for a cure This site leads you to a number of relevant biotechnology sites, but click on cystic fibrosis as it provides very useful information about the disease and how biotechnological techniques (gene cloning, transgenesis and gene therapy) may help in the future. Your understanding is checked on the way through with test questions.

Human Genome Project In June 2000, researchers announced that they had completed a draft of the entire human genome sequence. This is the map for a human being. At this website, you can see what a huge task this has been and why it is such a valuable piece of research. There is a test to check your understanding.

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