Transcript S7 - 9 - Advances in Genetics

Unit 9 - Lesson 3
What do these items have
in common?
What is Genetic Engineering?
• Genetic Engineering – Changing the arrangement of
DNA that make up a gene.
• It is a deliberate, controlled manipulation of genes in an
organism with the intent of making that organism
“better” in some way.
Genetic Engineering
• Natural = happens in
nature = selective
breeding
• Unnatural = in a lab,
won’t happen in
nature
In a Lab - How is it done?
• Let pretend you want to make a glowing bunny…
• First – obtain the gene you want inserted.
– Where would you find a glowing gene?
• Second – place the gene in a plasmid. Plasmids make
up bacterial DNA.
– Easy way to control and copy the gene
Continued…
• Third - Let the plasmids multiply.
• Fourth - Screen all the DNA and select the best
option to be inserted into your bunny.
BUT WAIT: The bunny is trillions of cells. How go
you insert the gene into the bunny?
Continued…
• Fifth - Insert the gene into a sex cell or
zygote.
– Easier to inset into one cell as opposed to
trillions of gene
• Sixth - Let the zygote grow and develop.
BEHOLD! A glowing bunny!
Gene Therapy
• Can you into DNA into a
trillion celled organism?
• YES! With Gene Therapy.
• A normal gene is placed
into a virus, which
delivers the gene to the
cells in the body.
• May be used to control
cystic fibrosis or other
genetic disorders.
Genetically Modified Foods
• Genetically modified (GM) foods are foodstuffs
that have had their genome altered through
genetic engineering. GM Foods have been
available since the 1990s
• Most common examples of GM foods:
– Soybean
– Corn
– Canola
– Wheat
– Tomatoes
But WHY do this?
• As stated before, the overall goal is to create a
product better than the original. We look at
agriculture as our main example
Today’s Use
By altering the original DNA of the plants, we can
create new plants with several advantages. However,
others have raised concerns about GM foods
and its potential hazards.
•
•
•
•
pest resistance
herbicide tolerance
disease resistance
cold tolerance
nutritional abundance
• pharmaceutical
additions
• shelf life
• allergens
• gene transfer to nontarget species
• reduced effectiveness of
pesticides
• unintended harm to
other organisms
Genetic Engineering, A
Whole New Level
• The latest trend in genetic engineering is now
experimentation on animals.
Pharming
• Genetic modification on farm animals has potential to
lower prices and enhance enrichment, however, the
ethics behind this are very strong, so research is kept
at bay. Currently, some modification is being
practiced.
Should We Continue?
• 75% of all crops grown in the U.S. contain some
type of GM gene at varying degrees
• These enhanced plants are not only good for the
American wallet, but they can help other third
world countries in fighting starvation.
• Do you agree with the use of GM foods?