CH 13 Genetic Engineering

An Ethical Debate

Write down what you think this is.

Do you think this is real?

Alba the rabbit was made by a geneticist who put fluorescence genes like those in jellyfish and

some bacteria into a rabbit embryo

1. Humans Change the

Living World

Humans have been breeding farm animals for thousands of years

Selective breeding is done to get the traits a person wants in an animal

Many hybrids exist to bring the best traits on each organism together

Hybrid- a cross b/w organisms that are different

2. Genetic Engineering

DNA technology-Combines genes from different organisms

The organism is called "genetically modified," "genetically engineered," or "transgenic."

Genetically Modified Foods

At least a quarter of all U.S. corn production today is Genetically Modified

Transgenic Plants

GM FoodsPros Crops Pros Animals• better taste &

quality • Reduced time to

mature• More nutritious

yields, and stress tolerance

• Better resistance to disease, pests, and herbicides

• Increased resistance to disease, productivity, hardiness,

• Higher amounts of meat, eggs, &milk produced

• Improved animal health and diagnostic methods

Environmental Pros Society Pros

• Environmentally friendly bioherbicides and bioinsecticides

• Saving soil, water, & energy

• Bioprocessing for forestry products

• Better natural waste management

• More efficient processing

Increased food security for growing population

Possible human health impacts Possible environmental impacts Domination of world food production by a

few companies ◦ Ex: ADM Co.

Increasing dependence on industrialized nations by developing countries

GM Foods Cons

Tampering with nature by mixing genes among species

Objections to consuming animal genes in plants and vice versa

GM Foods Ethical Issues

Gene Therapy

a technique for correcting defective genes responsible for disease development.

A carrier called a vector is used to deliver the therapeutic gene to the patient. Currently, the most common vector is a virus that has been genetically altered to carry normal human DNA.

Target cells such as the liver or lung cells are infected with the viral vector. The vector then unloads its genetic material containing the therapeutic human gene into the target cell.

Pros Treatment of a

genetic disease for which no treatment is currently available

Potential for life-long treatment from a single injection

Cons Immune response viruses may target

the wrong cells May be inserted

into the wrong place in the DNA

may lead to the development of a tumor

Gene Therapy

Pros Improved Nutritional

Quality Insect Resistance Disease Resistance Herbicide Resistance Biopharmaceuticals

(The genes for proteins to be used in human (and animal) medicine can be inserted into plants and expressed by them)

Cons endangering native

species unknown health risks "genetically

contaminate" wild populations and ecosystems

Transgenic Plants

Introducing new traits into plants using recombinant DNA technology.

There are several methods for introducing genes into plants, including:

infecting plant cells with plasmids as vectors carrying the desired gene

shooting microscopic pellets containing the gene directly into the cell.

Transgenic Plants/ANIMAL =GMOS

Making an exact copy of an organism by using its DNA

Insert DNA into an ‘empty’ egg, implant it in a surrogate, and a new offspring/clone is born

Cloning

Pros organ transplant propagation of

animals facing extinction

produce skin, cartilages, and bones to save the victims of burns and accidents

produce cells to cure cancer, or repair the retina, or the spinal column

Cons ETHICS Has not been

perfected yet Health risks from

mutation of genes Animal clones have

had: - shorter life expectancy - liver failure - compromised immune function - tumor growth

Cloning

cells that have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body

can be grown indefinitely in the laboratory

Stem Cell Research

Pros Can be used to

treat diseases which currently have no cure

replacement cells and tissues/organs

Cons Come from human

embryos or fetuses ETHICS

Stem Cell Research

Stem Cell Research

Gene splicing involves cutting out part of the DNA in a gene and adding new DNA in its place. The desired gene is then replicated usually in bacteria (reproduce quickly)

Gene Splicing/recombinant DNA

Pros used for production

of insulin and growth hormone

Cons genetic technology

raises ethical questions

Gene Splicing/recombinant DNA

DNA is unique from person to person but the same from cell to cell in one person

DNA is extracted from cells and mixed with enzymes which cut the DNA into fragments

these fragments are exposed to electrical current and separate leaving a unique pattern

DNA Fingerprinting

Pros DNA is unique from

person to person but the same from cell to cell in one person

Paternity and Maternity

Criminal Identification and Forensics

Personal Identification Wildlife Management

Cons Invasion of privacy

(ETHICS)

DNA Fingerprinting