Transcript Genetics Gone Bad

Weird Genetics
Simpsons Video Questions
• 1. Why is the tomato so large? (How did
Lisa grow such a large tomato? What
must she have done?)
• Answer: She most likely crossed the
largest tomatoes she could find to create
the largest HYBRID possible.
2. At your table, come up with a
definition of what you think
genetic engineering is.
• The selective, deliberate change
of genes (genetic material) by
man.
• The technique of removing,
modifying or adding genes to a
DNA molecule in order to change
the information it contains.
3. How long have humans been
genetically engineering plants
and animals?
• As long as agriculture
has existed!!
4. If humans have been genetically
engineering for so long, why is there a
relatively new debate in science
regarding genetically modified foods?
Could we not argue all food is gen.
mod.? What is NEW?
• The technique; instead of random,
unpredictable results from
crossbreeding, scientists can
precisely alter the DNA w/extraction,
cutting and separating..they literally
change the DNA molecule.
5. Does this mean that Lisa
could have spliced in, say, a
gene from another type of
plant?
• Yes!!
Mutations
A change in genetic
information
•Can occur randomly (naturally)
•Or can be deliberately caused in the laboratory
by scientists
•Inherited
•Not always harmful
http://www.accessexcellence.org/
Natural Mutations
These are not
albinos; they
have pigmented
eyes.
White Bengal
Tiger
ALBINOS
• Little or no pigmentation in the eyes, skin, and
hair (or in some cases in the eyes alone).
• Inherited an altered copy of a gene that does not
work correctly.
• The altered gene does not allow the body to
make the usual amounts of a pigment called
"melanin".
• True albinos have pink eyes and skin.
White Bluebonnets
Pink Bluebonnets
HUMAN INTERVENTION
SELECTIVE BREEDING
The selection of certain
seeds or animals for
reproduction in order to
influence the traits inherited
by the next generation.
SELECTIVE BREEDING
• The Liger is the result of breeding a female Tiger to a
male Lion.
• The liger has both stripes and spots. The stripes are
inherited from its tiger parent and the spots from the lion
parent.
• On their hind legs, ligers stand approximately 12 feet
tall. At most, ligers may weigh up to 1,000 pounds.
The Cama is the result of breeding a Llama
to a Camel.
Parents in background of picture.
The Zebroid is the result of
breeding
a female Horse and a male
Zebra.
The Zedonk / Zonkey is
the result of breeding
a female Donkey and
male Zebra.
Geep - These are the result of a sheep
and a goat.
The Mule is the result of breeding a female horse
(mare) to a male donkey (jack). The
mule is superior to the horse in strength,
endurance, intelligence and disease resistance.
Maroon & Red Bluebonnets
GENETIC ENGINEERING
The selective, deliberate change of
genes (genetic material) by man.
The technique of removing,
modifying or adding genes to a
DNA molecule in order to change
the information it contains.
Bright face of genetically modified corn plant: pestinfected non-GM (left) and pest-free GM plant (right)
planted side-by-side in a field trial. (photo: Dr. Yu Jialin,
China Agricultural University)
French genetic researchers created Alba for artist Eduardo Kac. Thanks to genes
borrowed from a jellyfish, the albino rabbit glows green when placed under special
lighting. In regular light, Alba appears like any other furry white rabbit. But place her
under a black light, and her eyes, whiskers and fur glow a otherworldly green.
"Glow in the dark" fish. these genetically modified fish were developed by a Taiwanese
aquatic firm, Taikong Group. They are planning to reproduce these fish in numbers and
sell them for pets.
http://www.fluorescentpets.com/index.htm
Scientists in the agriculture department of the Hebrew University in
Rehovot have genetically engineered a chicken that has no feathers.