Molecular Genetics Notes:
Biotechnology: genetic engineering and recombinant DNA
Cystic fibrosis:
- A genetic disorder
- Results from a single nucleotide mutation which leads to a defective transmembrane
chloride pump
- Cells in the respiratory system cannot remove enough chloride ions so they accumulate
on the inside of the cells
- The music produced by these cells therefore lacks water which makes the music very
thick and hard to clear
Characteristics of Cystic fibrosis
- People with CF tend to accumulate large amount of thick music in their lungs, and have
trouble digesting their food
- Prone to infection
- Difficulty breathing
- Life expectancy used to be about 15 years, but now by managing the symptoms it can
be as high as 40
- There is no cure
, Future treatment?
- This disease is due to a mutation in a single gene
- The gene is instructures for the cell on how to make the proper protein pump
- We can isolate the normal gene. If we could find a way to insert copies of this gene into
the affected cells of someone with CF then the cells would begin to make that protein
and they would have working chloride pumps. The problem would be solved
- This is referred to as gene therapy
Current applications of biotechnology
- Inserting bacterial cells with human genes in order for them to make enzymes and other
proteins
Biotechnology: genetic engineering and recombinant DNA
Cystic fibrosis:
- A genetic disorder
- Results from a single nucleotide mutation which leads to a defective transmembrane
chloride pump
- Cells in the respiratory system cannot remove enough chloride ions so they accumulate
on the inside of the cells
- The music produced by these cells therefore lacks water which makes the music very
thick and hard to clear
Characteristics of Cystic fibrosis
- People with CF tend to accumulate large amount of thick music in their lungs, and have
trouble digesting their food
- Prone to infection
- Difficulty breathing
- Life expectancy used to be about 15 years, but now by managing the symptoms it can
be as high as 40
- There is no cure
, Future treatment?
- This disease is due to a mutation in a single gene
- The gene is instructures for the cell on how to make the proper protein pump
- We can isolate the normal gene. If we could find a way to insert copies of this gene into
the affected cells of someone with CF then the cells would begin to make that protein
and they would have working chloride pumps. The problem would be solved
- This is referred to as gene therapy
Current applications of biotechnology
- Inserting bacterial cells with human genes in order for them to make enzymes and other
proteins
