Transcript geneticengineering fall 2012 genetics unit

WHAT IS GENETIC ENGINEERING?
Genetic
engineering is the
manipulation of an
organism’s genes
to create a desired
characteristic.
AKA= changing an
organism’s DNA
WHAT IS GENETIC ENGINEERING IS USED FOR?
 Scientists uses genetic
engineering to knock out
certain genes from an
organism in order to
observe the effects and
mutations caused by those
genes.
 With the mapping of the
human genome and the
genomes of other important
animals and plants,
scientists have been able to
manipulate the genes of
other organisms in order to
produce beneficial products
for humans.
T YPES OF GENETIC ENGINEERING
Selective Breeding:
Allowing only those
animals with the
desired charcteristics
to reproduce the next
generation.
Ex. Nearly all
domestic animals
SELECTIVE BREEDING
T YPES OF GENETIC ENGINEERING
Hybridization
The Crossing of
dissimilar individuals
to bring together the
best of both
organisms.
Hybrids are usually
hardier than either
parent.
Labradoodle
INBREEDING
 The continued breeding of
individuals with similar
charcteristics
 1. Breeders use this to
maintain desired
characteristics of a line of
organisms.
 2. Problems result b/c there
is always a chance that a
cross between 2 individuals
will bring together 2
recessive alleles.
Ex. Blindness, jointdeformities.
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS
 Just kidding. Farmers
have been producing
foods that have been
genetically altered to
be more nutritious,
delicious, resistant to
harmful pesticides
and have the ability to
repel pests.
 Harmful long term
effects have yet to be
seen in consumers.
CREATING YOUR OWN CHILD
 Scientists and doctors
have been able to
genetically plan certain
characteristics in
embryos. Since the
mapping of the human
genome, finding
specific genes and their
qualities has become
much simpler. Parents
now have an
opportunity to “design”
their ideal child.
CONTROVERSIES
 Consumers of the genetically
engineered foods are worried
about the adverse effects that
the foods might have on
them. Since this is a new
technology, there hasn’t been
a lot of time to examine the
long term effects of these new
foods.
 Some consider it inorganic.
DNA FINGERPRINTING
1.Samples of organism’s DNA is
exposed to restriction enzyme
which cuts it into pieces
2.DNA is run through an
electrophoresis machine using gels
3.Since DNA is cut at certain
sequences, each piece is a
different length and has a
different weight
4.Pieces that are heavier stay at
the top of the gel, while lighter
will “run” to the bottom of the gel
DNA FINGERPRINTING
 5. Every person is
genetically different
so their gels would
appear different
 A. identical twins have
identical DNA
fingerprints
 B. people who are
closely related have
similar DNA markers
DNA FINGERPRINTING APPLICATIONS
A. can be used to identify or eliminate
suspects
B. can be used to determine paternity of a
child
C. can be used to identify a deceased person