BIO.7.D

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The student is expected to discuss the importance of molecular technologies such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gel electrophoresis, and genetic engineering that are applicable in current research and engineering practices.
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Knowledge and Skills Statement

Science concepts--mechanisms of genetics. The student knows the role of nucleic acid in gene expression.

a technique used to separate DNA fragments (or other macromolecules, such as RNA and proteins) based on their size and because of their charge

describes how certain proteins are manufactured according to a recipe found within the DNA; the mechanism by which certain genes are turned on, up, down, or off, resulting in variations in the amount of product they produce

the artificial manipulation, modification, and recombination of DNA or other nucleic acid molecules in order to modify an organism or population of organisms

long-chain polymeric biomolecule; main information-carrying molecule of the cell; determines the inherited characteristics of every living thing

a technique used to make numerous copies of a specific segment of DNA quickly and accurately amplifying the amount of DNA in a sample

Research

Liezhen Fu, Emily Ma, Morihiro Okada, Yuki Shibata, and Yun-Bo Shi. "Competitive PCR with Dual Fluorescent Primers Enhances the Specificity and Reproducibility of Genotyping Animals Generated from Genome Editing." Cell & Bioscience 13, no. 83 (May 2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13578-023-01042-2

Summary:  The most widely used genome editing approach is to introduce engineered endonucleases or CRISPR/Cas system into cells or fertilized eggs to generate double-strand DNA breaks within the targeted region, leading to DNA repair through homologous recombination or non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Here, we developed a single-tube competitive PCR assay with dual fluorescent primers that allowed simple and reliable genotyping of the products.

Research

Pfotenhauer, Alexander C., Alessandro Occhialini, Stacee A. Harbison, Li Li, Agnieszka A. Piatek, Curtis R. Luckett, Yongil Yang,
C. Neal Stewart, Jr., and Scott C. Lenaghan. "Genome-Editing of FtsZ1 for Alteration of Starch Granule Size in Potato Tubers." Plants 12, no. 9 (May 2023): 1-14. https//:doi.10.3390/plants12091878

Summary:  Genome-editing has enabled rapid improvement for staple food crops, such as potatoes, a key beneficiary of the technology. In potatoes, starch contained within tubers represents the primary product for use in food and non-food industries. In this work, we utilize CRISPR/Cas9 to generate FtsZ1 edited potato lines to demonstrate that genome editing can be used to increase the size of starch granules in tubers. The advantages of enlarged starch granules and the potential of CRISPR/Cas9-based technologies for food crop improvement are further discussed.

Research

Dincer, S, M Türk, and E Pişkin. "Intelligent Polymers as Nonviral Vectors." Gene Therapy 12, no. S1 (October 2005): S139-S145. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gt.3302628

Summary:  Gene therapy largely depends on a vector that allows selective and efficient gene delivery to target cells with minimal toxicity. Nonviral vectors are much safer and cheaper, can be produced easily in large quantities, and have higher genetic material carrying capacity. Intelligent polymers, also called as ‘stimuli responsive polymers’, have great potential as nonviral vectors to obtain site-, timing-, and duration period-specific gene expression.