Advances in GeneticsHeredity - Section 5.3

Bizarre examples of genetic engineering

Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is a laboratory technique used by scientists to change the DNA of living organisms.

Where is genetic engineering used?

To help produce large volumes of medicine.

Change how cells perform their normal functions.

Create plants that are resistant to disease

Recombinant DNA

Producing recombinant DNA is one type of genetic engineering.

Recombinant DNA is made by inserting a useful segment of DNA from one organism into a bacterium.

The bacterium then reproduces itself and also the recombinant DNA.

This method is used to produce large quantities of human insulin, human growth hormone, and other chemicals by bacteria.

DNA LOOP – A piece of double-stranded DNA. It carries genes that are not essential to the bacteria, but can help a bacteria survive in certain circumstances.

Recombinant DNA

Gene Therapy

Another form of genetic engineering is gene transfer (gene therapy).

The goal is to replace abnormal genetic material with normal genetic material.

Gene therapy may help with genetic disorders, such a cystic fibrosis.

Normal DNA or RNA is placed in a virus, the virus then delivers the normal DNA or RNA to target cells.

Gene Therapy

Gene Therapy

Already completed Section 1 in 5.2Do Section 2 and part of 3 togetherStudents do Section 4 and 5 on own

Gene Therapylearn.genetics.com

Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular traits.

Selective Breeding

A farmer wants to breed a variety of cow that produces a lot of milk, the farmer will then identify the cows that produce the most milk and allow them to breed with one another. Repeat the process as many times as necessary by allowing the offspring to reproduce with another until desired goal has been achieved.

Selective Breeding

Dogs are another good example of selective breeding.

Gamekeepers who hunted birds for leisure in the 1800s wanted a dog that didn’t actually exist so they selectively breed a mastiff and a bulldog to get the qualities that they wanted. Mastiffs were big and strong who were also good companions but they lacked in speed and aggression. The bulldog however was aggressive and fast but lacked in strength. The selective breeding process eventually produced a bullmastiff which was large, quick, strong and aggressive.

Selective Breeding

Selective Breeding

mastiff

bulldog

bullmastiff

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Selective Breeding

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/engineer/select.html

Genetically engineered Breeding

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/etc/video.html

Genetically Engineered Plants

Genetic engineering can produce improvements in crop plants (corn, wheat, rice).

You select a gene that produces a desired trait in one plant and then insert that gene(s) into a different plant.

Genetically Engineered Plants

Genetically Engineered Plants

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/coming/coming.html

Stem Cellslearn.genetics.com

The Nature of Stem Cells video - watch together

Unlocking the Stem Cell Potential - video - watch together

Go, Go Stems Cells - students must choose 3 types of cells and answer various questions (where are the stem cells located for this tissue?)

Stem Cell Quick Reference - students do on own with worksheet

The Stem Cell Debate - students do on own with worksheet

Stem Cells

Stem Cells

Cloninglearn.genetics.com

Click and Clone - online lab - students do on own

Is it cloning or not - online quiz

Why Clone - students do on own with worksheet

What are the Risks of Cloning? - students do on own with worksheet

What are some Issues in Cloning? - discuss as a class