A Biotech Success story at Home

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DNA Structure, Function and Applications
DNA is the genetic material present in living
things. It stores all information necessary to
make an adult organism from from a single cell.
Structure of DNA The DNA is a twisted
double-helix which, when unwound, looks like a
rope ladder. The rope part of the ladder is
made up of a phosphate (P) and sugar (S), which
is similar for both strands. The rung part of
the ladder is made up of four nitrogen-containing
bases known as Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Thymine
(T) and Cytosine (C). Each nitrogen base pairs
specifically. A always pairs with T, and G always
pairs with C.
DNA in Medical, Environmental and Forensic
Applications
DNA in Pollution control Some organisms
thrive in very inhospitable environments such as
extreme cold, shearing heat or lethal toxicity.
Pieces of DNA from such organisms can be
mobilized into others to make chemicals that can
help clean environmental pollution
DNA in Diagnostics Several diseases and
medical conditions can be detected quickly and
accurately thanks to application of DNA-based
detection. One technique, known as polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) can amplify minute
quantities of DNA to a level suitable for early
diagnosis of pathogens and other unwanted
organisms.
DNA in medicine For many years, people with
insulin-dependent diabetes injected themselves
with insulin extracted from the pancreases of
pigs or cattle, which often gave allergies.
Today human insulin is produced by
genetically-modified bacteria containing
human-DNA that encodes insulin. Like insulin, a
large number of therapeutic proteins, worth over
18 billion, are produced in genetically modified
bacteria, yeast, plants and animals. Good
employment opportunities exist in the industry
for skilled people in biotechnology and LCC is
here to help prepare for it.
DNA in Forensics No two individuals, except for
identical twins, have the same DNA
fingerprints, pattern of dark bands like the
one above. ADNA profile (fingerprint) helps us to
exonerate the innocent and bring criminals to
justice.
A Biotech Success story at Home
The Problem A virus disease caused by Papaya
ringspot virus (PRSV) became a serious threat to
commercial cultivation of papaya in Hawaii
The People A team of scientists from the
University of Hawaii and Cornell University
produced new varieties of papaya that contained a
piece of the virus DNA in the papaya genome.
The Outcome Plants containing the piece of virus
DNA are transgenic and do not get infected by the
virus. Row on the left is normal papaya whereas
the one in the right is transgenic
The Impact The second most important fruit crop
of Hawaii can be commercially cultivated thanks
to the Rainbow and SunUp varieties. Tiny
piece of the virus DNA immunizes papaya.