This document provides an outline of the topics that will be covered in the MIC 210 Basic Molecular Biology lecture, including biological molecules like DNA, RNA, and proteins as well as applications of recombinant DNA technology such as gene cloning, DNA hybridization, DNA amplification, and DNA sequencing. It then discusses how molecular biology is the foundation of modern biotechnology and how biotechnology can be used for non-polluting renewable energy, nutritious food, medical treatments like organ regeneration, and a more sustainable environment. As an example, it outlines how diabetes requires daily insulin injections but recombinant DNA technology allows for production of insulin in bacteria as a solution.

1. MIC 210
BASIC MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Lecture 1
Introduction to
recombinant DNA
technology
BY
SITI NORAZURA JAMAL (MISS AZURA)
03 006/ 06- 4832132
norazura6775@ns.uitm.edu.my

2. Outline
•
Biological molecules
1. DNA, RNA, protein - Structure, function,
interactions
Applications
1.
2.
3.
4.
Gene cloning
DNA hybridization
DNA amplification
DNA sequencing

3. Molecular Biology
• is the foundation of modern biotechnology
•
And Biotechnology is the way to
•
Non-polluting and renewable energy sources
•
•
Cheaper, nutritious and abundant food
•
•
Cloning/ organ regeneration
Better and cheaper materials
•
•
Genetically-modified crops
Cures for cancer, miracle drugs
•
•
Bio-based fuel eg. ethanol and palm diesel
bioplastics, natural fibres
A cleaner and more sustainable environment
•
Bioremediation of toxic waste

4. •Let’s take an example
• Diabetes
and Insulin

5. • Diabetes
is a disease where the body cannot
produce insulin
• Insulin is the hormone that controls the
level of sugar in your blood
• Produced by the Islets of Langerhens cells
in the pancreas
•
There is no cure yet
• Patients have to receive daily injections of
exogenous insulin
• Usually insulin extracted from animals
•
•
Expensive, immunological problems, halal?

6. •Insulin
• Is
a protein
• Has to be injected – acid labile
• Supply is limited
• Life time dependency

7. The biotechnology solutions
•
Recombinant insulin from bacteria
•
•
Oral / inhalable insulin
•
•
No need to inject
Gene therapy
•
•
using bacteria to make insulin
Can we repair defective Islet cells?
Organ regeneration
•
Can we make a new pancreas?

8. Insulin
Protein
Gene

10. Production of insulin in bacteria

11. Genetic
engineering =
Recombinant DNA
=
•The technology to
cut and paste DNA
from different
sources
•eg. combining
DNA from human
and bacteria