Cloning and the Green RevolutionCloning and the Green RevolutionMarch 1, 2010March 1, 2010

Dr. Olga M. LazínDr. Olga M. Lazín

UCLA Visiting ScholarUCLA Visiting Scholar

The First Green RevolutionThe First Green Revolution

The Green Revolution is the name of the The Green Revolution is the name of the phenomenon of modifying agriculture using phenomenon of modifying agriculture using molecular means in order to improve yield.molecular means in order to improve yield.

This method was propagated by Norman This method was propagated by Norman Borlaug.Borlaug.

Increased output of Agriculture in the Increased output of Agriculture in the Countries of Mexico and India in the 1960s Countries of Mexico and India in the 1960s and 1970s.and 1970s.

The First Green RevolutionThe First Green Revolution

This method utilized the usage of pesticides, This method utilized the usage of pesticides, fertilizer, and improved techniques of fertilizer, and improved techniques of irrigation.irrigation.

Used the process of “natural selection” to Used the process of “natural selection” to select for the most efficient strains of plants select for the most efficient strains of plants to be used for crops.to be used for crops.

Crops with favorable traits such as Crops with favorable traits such as resistance to disease and high yield were resistance to disease and high yield were selected for. selected for.

Downfalls of First Green RevolutionDownfalls of First Green Revolution

The pesticides used were found to harm The pesticides used were found to harm both the plants and the animals that both the plants and the animals that ingested these plants, including humans.ingested these plants, including humans.

DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane) is DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane) is a major example of a pesticide that a major example of a pesticide that negatively affects humans and animals. negatively affects humans and animals.

It has been shown to cause reproductive It has been shown to cause reproductive harm, has been linked to cancer, and other harm, has been linked to cancer, and other illnesses.illnesses.

DDTDDT

Downfalls of First Green RevolutionDownfalls of First Green Revolution

Another downfall to this technique is that it Another downfall to this technique is that it takes a long time (~months to years) and takes a long time (~months to years) and must be done in the field. must be done in the field.

It is inefficient as the results are often It is inefficient as the results are often irreproducible and the productive strains can irreproducible and the productive strains can be lost. be lost.

The Second Green RevolutionThe Second Green Revolution

The second revolution focused more on The second revolution focused more on genetic manipulations to create more genetic manipulations to create more productive strains of plants.productive strains of plants.

This could be done in the laboratory rather This could be done in the laboratory rather than in the field.than in the field.

Results were reproducible and easily done.Results were reproducible and easily done. Traits like taste, yield, resistance to virus Traits like taste, yield, resistance to virus

and disease could be selected for. and disease could be selected for.

The Second Green RevolutionThe Second Green Revolution

This was a very This was a very efficient technique that efficient technique that could produce results could produce results rapidly (~few weeks)rapidly (~few weeks)

Genetic ManipulationGenetic Manipulation

You can alter the genes at the nucleotide You can alter the genes at the nucleotide level.level.

All of the genomes of multicellular terrestrial All of the genomes of multicellular terrestrial organisms are encoded in the form of DNA.organisms are encoded in the form of DNA.

DNA is made up of a varying sequences of DNA is made up of a varying sequences of the nucleotide bases Adenine(A), the nucleotide bases Adenine(A), Guanine(G), Thymine(T), and Cytosine(C). Guanine(G), Thymine(T), and Cytosine(C).

Central Dogma of BiologyCentral Dogma of Biology

DNA is transcribed into RNA DNA is transcribed into RNA where it is translated into a where it is translated into a functional proteins. functional proteins.

Proteins are responsible for Proteins are responsible for most of the characteristics that most of the characteristics that organisms exhibit including organisms exhibit including functionality, taste, and other functionality, taste, and other

qualities.qualities.

CloningCloning

These concepts are not as controversial in These concepts are not as controversial in plants as they are in animals because this plants as they are in animals because this type of genetic variation and manipulation type of genetic variation and manipulation occurs in plants naturally. occurs in plants naturally.

This occurs in animals to a much smaller This occurs in animals to a much smaller scale and over evolutionary time (millions of scale and over evolutionary time (millions of years).years).

History of CloningHistory of Cloning

In 1938 the German scientist Hans In 1938 the German scientist Hans Spemann proposed a method to transfer Spemann proposed a method to transfer one cell's nucleus into an egg without a one cell's nucleus into an egg without a nucleus which is the basic method for nucleus which is the basic method for cloning.cloning.

In 1972 Paul Berg created the first In 1972 Paul Berg created the first recombinant DNA molecules. recombinant DNA molecules.

History of CloningHistory of Cloning

In 1973, Cohen and Boyer applied this method In 1973, Cohen and Boyer applied this method and create the first recombinant DNA organisms. and create the first recombinant DNA organisms.

In 1977, Karl Illmensee claims to have created In 1977, Karl Illmensee claims to have created mice with only one parent. mice with only one parent.

In 1978, David Rorvik releases a book, In 1978, David Rorvik releases a book, In His In His Image: The Cloning of a ManImage: The Cloning of a Man, which sparked a , which sparked a worldwide debate on cloning ethics. worldwide debate on cloning ethics.

History of CloningHistory of Cloning

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that live, human In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that live, human made organisms are patentable material. made organisms are patentable material.

In 1984, Steen Willadsen, a Danish scientist, reported that In 1984, Steen Willadsen, a Danish scientist, reported that he had made a genetic copy of a lamb from early sheep he had made a genetic copy of a lamb from early sheep embryo cells a process now known as "twinning.“ This embryo cells a process now known as "twinning.“ This method will eventually be used on cattle, pigs, goats, method will eventually be used on cattle, pigs, goats, rabbits and rhesus monkeys. rabbits and rhesus monkeys.

In 1986, Steen Willadsen clones cattle from differentiated In 1986, Steen Willadsen clones cattle from differentiated cells. cells.

In 1986, First, Prather, and Eyestone clone a cow from In 1986, First, Prather, and Eyestone clone a cow from embryo cells. embryo cells.

History of CloningHistory of Cloning

In 1990, the Human Genome Project began, which In 1990, the Human Genome Project began, which aimed at sequencing the entire human genome. aimed at sequencing the entire human genome.

In 1996, Dolly the sheep became the first animal In 1996, Dolly the sheep became the first animal cloned from adult cells; this was not announced cloned from adult cells; this was not announced until a year later. until a year later.

In 1997, President Bill Clinton proposed a five year In 1997, President Bill Clinton proposed a five year moratorium on cloning. moratorium on cloning.

History of CloningHistory of Cloning

In 1997, the same scientists who produced Dolly In 1997, the same scientists who produced Dolly announced that they had produced a lamb with a announced that they had produced a lamb with a human gene in every cell of its body using human gene in every cell of its body using techniques similar to those used to produce Dolly.techniques similar to those used to produce Dolly.

In 1997, Richard Seed announced his plans to In 1997, Richard Seed announced his plans to clone a human.clone a human.

In 1998, Japanese scientists reported that they In 1998, Japanese scientists reported that they had cloned eight copies of a single cow, the third had cloned eight copies of a single cow, the third mammal to be cloned.mammal to be cloned.

History of CloningHistory of Cloning

In 1998, a hybrid embryo created from human leg In 1998, a hybrid embryo created from human leg cells and anucleated cow egg was created; it was cells and anucleated cow egg was created; it was not developed due to ethical issues.not developed due to ethical issues.

In 2000, a Rhesus monkey was cloned.In 2000, a Rhesus monkey was cloned. In 2000, Britain became the first country to grant a In 2000, Britain became the first country to grant a

patent for cloned early-stage human embryos. patent for cloned early-stage human embryos. Geron Corporation, which received the patent, Geron Corporation, which received the patent, said that it did not have the intention of creating said that it did not have the intention of creating cloned humans.cloned humans.

History of CloningHistory of Cloning

In 2000, the group that created Dolly the In 2000, the group that created Dolly the sheep announced that they cloned pigs; sheep announced that they cloned pigs; there was hope that pigs could be there was hope that pigs could be genetically engineered for use in human genetically engineered for use in human organ transplants.organ transplants.

In 2003, a mule and a horse were cloned.In 2003, a mule and a horse were cloned. In 2003, the FDA released a study and In 2003, the FDA released a study and

approved the public consumption of cloned approved the public consumption of cloned meat.meat.

Potential of CloningPotential of Cloning

Can be used to prevent hunger and Can be used to prevent hunger and increase crop yield in Mexico, Latin increase crop yield in Mexico, Latin America, and the rest of the world.America, and the rest of the world.

Can be used to treat human disease Can be used to treat human disease through the study and utility of stem cells.through the study and utility of stem cells.