Chapter 14: Human Inheritance
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Transcript Chapter 14: Human Inheritance
Section 14-3:
Studying the Human Genome
Manipulating DNA
The SMALLEST human chromosome contains 50
million bases
DNA is a HUGE molecule that is difficult to
manipulate
In the 1970s, scientists discovered they could use
natural enzymes to analyze DNA
Today, scientists read DNA base sequences by using
enzymes to cut, separate, and replicate DNA base by
base
Cutting DNA
Easy to extract/separate DNA from other
macromolecules
In order to analyze, DNA molecules must be cut into
smaller pieces
Restriction enzymes are produced by bacteria – they
cut DNA molecule at specific sequences of nucleotides
into precise pieces called restriction fragments
Hundreds of Res, each cuts at different sequence
Cutting DNA
Ex: EcoRI recognizes GAATTC
Cuts between G and A bases, leaving “sticky ends”
Can bond to complementary bases
Separating DNA
Gel electrophoresis is used to separate DNA fragments
that have been cut with restriction enzymes
Can then analyze DNA in pieces
Steps:
Mixture of DNA fragments placed at the end of a pourous gel
Electric voltage applied to gel, causing DNA molecules to
move toward positive end (DNA has a neg charge)
Smaller DNA fragments move faster/farther
Creates a banding pattern
Stains used to make bands visible
Remove fragments and study
Reading DNA
Read = sequence
Single-stranded DNA put in test tube with DNA
polymerase and four bases (ATGC)
DNA polymerase uses unknown strand as template to make
new strands
Some of the added bases have dyes attached,
Each time a labeled base is added, replication stops
End up with a series of fragments that are color coded
Separate fragments with electrophoresis, colored bands on
the gel tell exact sequence of bases on DNA
Automated
The Human Genome Project
Began in 1990 – US and several other countries
Goals:
Sequence all 3 billion base pairs of human DNA
Identify all human genes
Sequence genomes of model organisms to interpret
human genome
Develop new technology to support research
Explore gene functions
Study human variation
Train future scientists
The Human Genome Project
How they did it:
Break genome into pieces
Sequence pieces, identify markers
Used computer for analysis
Current research explores data gained from HGP –
looking for genes, identifying their function
Comparing Sequences
Most of every person’s DNA is the same
On average, one base in every 1200 with not match
These are called SNPs (single nucleotide
polymorphisms)
Collections of SNPs are called halpotypes – haploid
gentoypes
Project called HapMap began in 2002 to indentify all
the haplotypes
Sharing Data
Copies of human/other genomes available on the
internet
New field borne – bioinformatics
Combines molecular biology with information science
Also new field called genomics – the study of whole
genomes, including genes and their functions
What have we learned?
Complete working copy of human genome in 2000
Full reference sequence in 2003
Contains 3 billion nucleotide bases
Only 2% encodes for proteins
Found genes/sequences associated with
diseases/disorders
Identified 3 million locations of SNPs
New technologies, medical applications