Some New Tricks With DNA (1/3) - Cracking The Code episode 5

http://www.medicinema.com/genetics.html
Medicinema Ltd.
From the award winning science teaching series CRACKING THE CODE: The Continuing Saga of Genetics - 9 half hour films that cover the history and basic concepts of genetics - from Aristotle and Mendel through to the new DNA-based world of genomics and GM crops - in a fresh and entertaining style.
Featuring original songs by Moxy Früvous
Produced, written and directed by Jack Micay
Major sponsor - The National Science Foundation

Episode 5 - Some New Tricks With DNA

The 1970s and 80s saw the invention of ingenious new ways to manipulate DNA, which remain the cornerstone of todays genetic revolution, including the Human Genome Project. We begin with a scientist/magician demonstrating six simple tricks with DNA. Using these as building blocks, the more complex technologies of DNA fingerprinting, DNA sequencing, and PCR (the polymerase chain reaction) are explained in an easy to understand way. The excitement of this fertile period is brought to life through the personal recollections of its leading innovators.

These key technologies gave scientists the first maps of the human genome, which in turn allowed them to hunt down human genes, with no prior knowledge of their location. This culminated in the 1989 discovery of the gene for cystic fibrosis, which was the finish line for an exciting international race. We are guided by Sir Alec Jeffries, the inventor of DNA fingerprinting; Hamilton Smith, who won a Nobel Prize for discovering the key tool of restriction enzymes; Michael Smith, who won a Nobel Prize for a DNA-based technique to create pinpoint mutations, and Lap-Chee Tsui, who led the Toronto team that won the race to the cystic fibrosis gene. 30 minutes.

Winner of the Chris Award for Science and Technology at the Columbus Int. Film Festival

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Moxy Fruvous
• genetics
• science
• biology
• genetics engineering
• gene hunter
• restriction enymes
• recognition sites
• Hamilton Smith
• gel electrophoresis
• genetic variation
• phenotype
• genotype
• DNA fingerprint
• Alec Jeffreys