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Dna Technology

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DNA Technology

BIO/240
May 6, 2013

DNA Technology
INTRO – LEE
DNA Technology: Cloning, Gene Therapy, and Stem Cell Research
DNA technology encompasses a wide variety of applications and because of the duplicating nature of DNA, it is easy to see how humans could benefit from its manipulation. One such technology is cloning. Cloning technology comes in three forms: recombinant DNA cloning, reproductive cloning, and therapeutic cloning.
Cloning
Recombinant DNA cloning consists of transferring DNA fragments from an organism to a self-replicating element, like a bacterial plasmid. The fragments join with the cloning vector and are reproduced with the host cell. This technology is most commonly known for its use in genetically modified foods. DNA fragments that code for better tasting, higher nutrient qualities are spliced into regular plants to produce super foods (US Dept of Energy Genome Program, 2009). Reproductive cloning takes all the genetic information out of a cell and replaces it with DNA from the desired organism. With luck, this cell will begin to divide until it becomes an embryo and can be implanted into a host mother (US Dept of Energy Genome Program, 2009).
Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Research
Therapeutic cloning is by far the most controversial. This type of cloning produces human embryos for use in research, and usually for the stem cells that can be harvested from these embryos. Stem cells can be used to clone organs and body parts from the patient’s own DNA to eliminate the tissue rejection that commonly occurs from organ transplants (US Dept of Energy Genome Program, 2009). This type of cloning can also be used as gene therapy. In this case, mutated genes are replaced with healthy genes, removed completely, or introduced to fight disease. It is still risky and therefore reserved to cases that have no known cure (Genetics

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