Copyright 2009 Republic Polytechnic

A224 Recombinant DNA Technologies 6th Presentation

Problem One: Then and Now

Activity Owner: Eunice Tan and Hon Sook Mei Inputs: Terence Chong Approved by: Ashley Chua Module Chair : Hon Sook Mei

The Problem
Black Death was the term used to

describe a plague epidemic that spread across England in the mid 1300s Little information was recorded or known about the exact origin of the disease and its spread The SARS disease infected thousands and claimed the lives of hundreds during itsPolytechnic Copyright 2009 Republic outbreak in

What do you recognize?

The exact origin of the plague in

England and its spread was not well known The spread of the SARS virus in 2003 could be more accurately determined Changes must have occurred in the ability to trace the spread of diseases
Copyright 2009 Republic Polytechnic

The Approach
What information is required for

constructing the family tree? What are the key developments in molecular biology that make tracking possible?
What is the importance of DNA? What are some steps involved in DNA

analysis?
How was the path of SARS virus

tracked?Copyright 2009 Republic Polytechnic

What information is required for constructing the family tree?

Determination of family members Paternal: Related male family members Sources of DNA information/sequences Y chromosome

Maternal: Related Mitochondrial female family members Brothers Sisters Identical Y chromosome, from the same father An identical X chromosome, from the same father
Copyright 2009 Republic Polytechnic

What are the key developments in molecular biology that make tracking possible?
The ability to isolate genetic

material from cells

The ability to manipulate genetic

material
The ability to reproduce the

genetic material in large amounts

Copyright 2009 Republic Polytechnic

What is the importance of DNA?

Genetic

information is carried in the sequence of nucleotides in DNA

DNA and its building blocks Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2003

Copyright 2009 Republic Polytechnic

How do you track the spread of SARS?

Isolate DNA Extraction of genetic material from the virus Gene cloning Allows large quantities of virus genetic material to be replicated, which can then be further analyzed Gene analysis Viral genetic material obtained from infected individuals can be compared Provides ability to determine relatedness between Copyright 2009 samples various Republic Polytechnic

What have you learnt today?

An appreciation of the key

developments in recombinant DNA technology

How to relate the appropriate use of

molecular techniques to the tracking of diseases

Copyright 2009 Republic Polytechnic