A SINGING SUMMARY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
by Arthur W. Siebens, Ph.D., Copyright 1995
(to the tune of "She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain")

Here's a song 'bout biotechnology
There's a lot to know in reality
But it's really not that hard
If you just let down your guard
So here's an instant singing summary.

In the central dogma, start with DNA
This codes for messenger RNA
On the message triplet codons
Code which amino acids load on
So codes for proteins come from DNA.

Let's say you want to isolate some DNA
Use detergent plus enzymes like protease
Add alcohol that's cool
Now the DNA will spool
Wrap it 'round a glass rod and walk away.

To separate DNA fragments by size
Use agarose electrophoresis if you're wise
Driven by their charge
They migrate slower if they're large
Now the lengths of DNA are undisguised.

To amplify DNA use PCR
Polymerase Chain Reaction's best by far
Take Taq (Thermus aquaticus) polymerase, two primers
NTP's (deoxyriboNucleoside TriPhosphates), a thermocycler
30 cycles later you're a star!

Restriction enzymes are used to cut
At specific sites, no "ifs", "ands" or "buts"
At the recognition sequence of the enzyme
DNA is cut in no time
They're essential -- without them we'd go nuts!

Like in analysis of RFLP's (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms)
Restriction fragments are made with ease
Spread the fragments on a gel
They identify you well
To decide paternity becomes a breeze.

Now cloning is another tool you use
Cut genes out, insert in vectors that you choose
With plasmids, phage or YAC's (Yeast Artificial Chromosomes)
Host cells express genes they lack
So human protein from bacteria's no longer news.

Half the story's been omitted as you know
By tomorrow what we know today will grow
Just stay tuned and keep on learning
There are always questions burning
Biotech will ease us down the road.