Biology - Biotechnology Principles and Processes

Explore the principles of biotechnology, including genetic engineering and bio process engineering, as you learn about recombinant DNA, gene cloning, gene transfer, and industrial microbial production of antibiotics.

Discover how recombinant DNA technology combines two DNAs by cutting and inserting segments with restriction enzymes, and learn about recognition sequences and nucleases guiding precise DNA manipulation.

Explore how restriction enzymes cut DNA and DNA ligase joins fragments, then learn how plasmid vectors with origin of replication, selectable markers, and cloning sites enable recombinant DNA construction.

Explore how plasmid transformation is detected using selectable markers like ampicillin and tetracycline resistance, and colorimetric screening with a beta-galactosidase–mediated substrate to distinguish transformants from non-transformants.

Discover how Agrobacterium transfers DNA via plasmids to plant cells, causing tumor growth, and how removing virulence genes enables integration of desirable genes into plant chromosomes; animal applications follow.

Explore how retroviral vectors introduce genes into animal cells by delivering single-stranded RNA that converts to DNA, integrates into the genome, and is disarmed to reduce toxicity.

Learn how to make cells competent with divalent cations, introduce foreign DNA, and apply heat shock with cold stabilization to enable DNA uptake in plants and animals.

Inject the gene of interest into the animal cell nucleus via micro injection. In plants, shoot DNA-coated gold particles through the cell wall with a gene gun—bioplastic method.

Boyer and Cohen pioneered the first recombinant DNA experiment in 1972, transferring a tetracycline resistance gene from Salmonella Typhimurium into E. coli using a cloning plasmid and restriction enzymes.

Explore gel electrophoresis as a tool to separate DNA fragments by size using an agarose gel, observe with Etherium bromide under UV radiation, and identify the gene of interest.

Isolate dna from cells with cell-type specific enzymes, remove histones, then fragment with restriction enzymes, separate by gel electrophoresis, and obtain dna fragments for recombinant dna technology.

Explore amplification of the gene of interest in recombinant DNA technology through strand separation at 91 degrees Celsius, primer annealing at 55 degrees Celsius, and extension at 72 degrees Celsius.

Learn how to assemble a recombinant DNA plasmid, introduce it into an E. coli host, and express the gene of interest, scaling from culture medium to bioreactors for insulin production.

Explains the essential components of bioreactors, including temperature and pressure control, pH adjustment, sterile air, impellers, foam breakers, culture medium, and oxygen delivery.

Downstream processing removes impurities from the bioreactor product through separation and purification, adds preservatives, and conducts quality assurance before packaging for market.