Foundations of Technology

Genetic Materials

Foundations of Technology, ITEA 14

Montgomery County Public Schools, eLearning

You will learn

Outcomes:

You will discover information about how the science of biochemistry and molecular biology have made it possible to manipulate the genetic information found in living creatures. (ITEA 14-M)

The possible cloning of human beings is now not relegated to the world of fiction, and the question to the world is this-what should we do with this science?

- James Greenwood

This presentation will explore genetic materials and how plants and animal species are altered using genetic engineering. You have learned that technology involves people designing and using tools and artifacts. This action extends human abilities to control, or modify, the environment. When no object or technical means exists, no technology is present.

All technological objects (human-made objects, called artifacts) are made of materials. The materials that each object is made from can be traced back to one or more natural resources. For example, plastic materials are made from plant fiber (cellulose) or natural gas.

Genetic Materials

Genetic Code

PresenterPresentation NotesHistorically, farmers bread animals to get the most from the animals ability to produce. It was not ethically accepted to breed cows for more milk or beef. Now its commonly accepted, but because of rejection in the past, very few bulls exist that allow farmers not to in-breed their herds. Someday money may grow on trees.

Many resources come from living things. These resources are called organic materials. Some organic materials are from organisms that have been dead for hundreds of years.

Organic Materials

Disintegrated Organic Material

Organic Materials

PresenterPresentation NotesOrganic like bio means living or once lived. Organic chemistry derived from the making of beer and wine. Both processes require things that are living or once lived. Mother-nature works easiest with organic materials she produces.

Other organic materials are obtained during the normal life cycle of plants and animals. These materials may be called genetic materials. We obtain genetic materials through three activities: farming, fishing, and forestry. Each of these activities works directly with nature as plants and animals move through the stages of life.

Typical genetic materials used in the production systems are grains (wheat, oats, barley, and corn, for example), vegetable fibers (wood, flax, and cotton, for example), and animals or fish (meat, hides, and wool, for example).

The origin of all genetic materials is in birth or germination. The appearance of animal life is called birth. Plant life generally starts with the germination of seeds or spores.

Genetic Materials

Genetic Material, DNA

PresenterPresentation NotesThere are ways humans intervene with the natural life cycles of living things. Human harvest larger living things like corn. Humans harvest living cells from plants and animals.

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Most genetic materials are easy to find. Trees and farm crops are on easily used plots of land. Domesticated animals and fish raised on fish farms are contained in specific locations. Only those who fish commercially must seek genetic resources that are sometimes hard to find.

The major challenge for people dealing with genetic resources is to harvest the plant or animal at the proper stage of growth. This stage will vary with the growth cycle and growing habits or organisms.

Finding Genetic Materials

Cells Store Genetic Material

PresenterPresentation NotesHumans now grow food and raise animals, poultry and fish in an environment that are not natural to the items being raised.

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Improvements have been made in animals and plants over hundreds of years. For example, a farmer wants to increase his yield of soybeans. The farmer would crossbreed plants with the highest yield with another variety of the same species that had a resistance to a particular problem, such as drought.

This method, however, takes generations to produce results, and there is no guarantee of success. Today, hardier plants and animals are possible in a single generation through genetic engineering.

Genetic Generations

Genetic Engineering!!!

PresenterPresentation NotesOriginal seeds from plants and animals are being stored in protective places. At what point will humans actually go to far? At some point the research and changes will be happening out of human control. Do you agree with this statement? When do you feel to far is to far?

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Genetic engineering is a technology used to alter the genetic material of living cells. Cells are the basic units of all living organisms. Inside a cell is a nucleus, which contains the hereditary information, or genetic material, of a cell.

This genetic material may determine whether a person is tall or short, whether a cow can produce more or less milk, and whether a plant can withstand drought.

Genetic Materials

Genetic Engineering

PresenterPresentation NotesWhen is a cell considered a living thing? Government today is trying to figure out at what point does life determine protections that are governing the species involved. If tigers are on the endangered list, then when is it a tiger that cannot be genetically altered. Should we genetically grow soldiers or beings to do the heavy or dangerous work of society? What then would be the difference between humans and robots?

Steel and fossil fuels were the resources of the last century. Genes are the resource materials of the twenty-first century. Every living thing, from the smallest beetle to the tallest oak tree, has a set of genes, which we call a genetic code. This code determines precisely what traits it will have.

Genetic Resources

Standard Genetic Code

PresenterPresentation NotesGenetic codes are the combination locks to a living things existence. Unlocking the code is powerful stuff. If the USA does not do it, will other countries do it? Can this be done to purposefully impact man or nature in a negative way? Can it be done for the good of man-kind?

Strands of DNA are the basic building blocks of life. The discovery of DNA opened the way for a more precise understanding of how living things work.

When we discuss the topic of genetics, we are talking about biotechnology. Simply stated, biotechnology is the use of living organisms to develop and improve foods, medicines, and other products. The modern age of biotechnology started in 1953 when James Watson and Francis Crick announced the discovery of the structure DNA, which stands for deoxyribonucleic acid.

DNA

DNA Model

PresenterPresentation NotesSometimes call the double helix, DNA is a spirally ladder that houses genetic codes.

Scientists and technologists started to take the basic blocks of living creatures apart and to put them back together in new and, possibly improved ways. In this way, thousands of these transgenic-plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses could become part of the earths ecosystem.

Transgenic engineering refers to plants and other organisms that have been changed by adding genetic material from another species. This is usually done to increase a plant's resistance to disease or to increase its productivity. Transgenic crops have been genetically engineered.

Transgenic Materials

A Common Method of Transgenic Model Development

PresenterPresentation NotesAdding genetic material to another creates transgenic materials. Sometimes this is done to get materials to bond or act in an agreement. Oil and vinegar dont mix, but add an egg yoke and you get mayonaise.

For example, do a quick search on the Internet for the Enviropig to get an example of transgenic engineering of this animal. Manure from normal pigs can pollute rivers and lakes because of its high phosphorus content. Phosphorous increases the amount of algae in water.

Algae rob fish and other organisms of oxygen. That is why reducing pig pollution is very important. Using genes from other organisms, the Enviropig processes feed more efficiently. This reduces phosphorous in its manure, and water supplies are protected.

Example: Transgenic Engineering

The EnviropigTM

PresenterPresentation NotesGoogle enviropig. What did you learn? Hydroponics is nutrients provided to plants in a controlled environment. Aquaponics grows fish in a controlled pond. Plants need organic waste and fish need plants, so can both just be placed together in one huge ecosystem? No A third element needs to be in place to neutralize and monitor the needs of both species.

A second example is genetically enhanced super rice being used in China. The project involves speeding up the growth of existing hybrid rice by inserting a gene from the corn plant.

A certain gene from the wing-bean is also added to the rice through transgenic engineering in order to improve resistance to stress resulting from severe weather conditions. Transgenic crops are also known as genetically modified crops (GMC).

Transgenic engineered crops, or genetically modified crops, are increasingly popular in Argentina, Canada, China, Mexico, and the United States. There, over half the crops such as soybean, corn, and canola are GMC.

Super Rice

Genetically Modified Crops

PresenterPresentation NotesAs discussed earlier, with genetic alterations to living things comes a trade-off of changing the life-cycle of that organism. Do you think these changes will impact human development to any degree? Is addressing hunger and living, a trade-off for genetically altering foods? Ultimately you will decide and possibly see if there are any affects of altered foods.

Herbicide-resistant crops and insect-resistant, transgenic crops are also popular worldwide. Within the near future, we may see vitamin-enhanced fruits and vegetables, allergen-free nuts, low-calorie bread, genetically decaffeinated coffee, and vaccine-enriched bananas.

Genetic Controversy

Genetic Engineering in Many Forms

These products will be introduced with some controversy. However, one of the best arguments for the development and use of biotech crops is that they will reduce the amount of insecticides used. Fewer insecticides mean less wasted time and energy in spraying, less risk of exposure to people, and less fuel used.

PresenterPresentation NotesDouble-edged sword of genetically altered foods have created major controversy. Most coming from the developing countries and not the countries in need. Altering plants and livestock to resist or control pests eliminate food for those that feed on the pests. Red dye in soda and candy once thought to cause cancer. Took time to prove this and many never believed it. Will altering foods be a hidden death wish?

There is concern about who controls the industries responsible for new biotechnologies. For example, the ten top agrochemical companies control over 80% of the global market. This has an effect on costs. Genetically modified seeds are more expensive than standard seeds.

Often the places that need the genetically altered seeds most are the ones that cannot afford them. With such changes taking place, it is natural that many people have concerns. These people understand that the altered life forms may be restricted to one area.

Genetic Control

We Create, You Harvest, but, Who Benefits???

PresenterPresentation NotesDeveloping countries send aid to under-developed countries. Should we charge more to help them gain crops to sustain their populations? Are they actually lab-rats testing the products underdevelopment? Can there be a win/win? Is putting a label on a package enough? How much altering should be allowed without telling the consumer?

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But at the same time, people know that GMC could migrate to another area where there is little control over them. People are also questioning whether it is a good idea to reprogram the genetic codes of life and artificially create new life forms.

The potential for misuse of this information should compel society to establish ethical mandates for regulating the incidence of testing and the use of test results.

As a minimum, people would like to know that the GMC are labeled so they have a choice. Labeling of foods would help to prevent allergic reactions, respect personal values, religious dietary requirements, and address concerns about environmental practices.

Genetically Modified Crops

PresenterPresentation NotesTechnology is not right or wrong and uncontrolled research can get into what is monitored and controlled. Does this mean stop it? If the USA does stop, do you think other countries will start? Do you think global legislation will work? Discuss black market concerns you may have on the discussion board.

SummaryThe modern age of biotechnology started with the discovery of the structure DNA, which stands for deoxyribonucleic acid.

An important property of DNA is that it can replicate, or make copies of itself.

The DNA molecule consists of two strands coiled around each other called a double helix.

DNA is composed of the following three parts: phosphate, a sugar called deoxyribose, and four compounds called bases. The bases are adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine.

Genetic engineering is a technology used to alter the genetic material of living cells.

Every living thing has a genetic code, which determines precisely what traits it will include.

PresenterPresentation NotesIn summary: Genetic engineering brings hope to an over-populated earth Genetic engineering has ethical challenges Controlling genetic research is like controlling nuclea power

SummaryBiotechnology is the use of living organisms to develop and improve foods, medicines, and other products.

Transgenic engineering refers to plants, and other organisms, that have been changed by adding genetic material from another species.

Cells are the basic units of all living organisms.

Harvesting is gathering genetic materials (living materials) from the earth, or bodies of water, at the proper stage of their life cycle.

Genetic materials are obtained through three activities: farming, fishing, and forestry.

Genetic, or biological, material is a classification of natural resources that includes all substances that are developed by plants or animals.

PresenterPresentation NotesIn summary also: Biotech is a relatively new science but parallels many other science and technologies Everything that lives or once lived has set of genetic codes The rules for some countries are not true for everyone Cells and life can be technology

Foundations of TechnologyThis has been a presentation on

Genetic Materials

Glossary

Genetic Materialis used to store the genetic information of an organic life form; for all currently known living organisms, the genetic material is almost exclusively Deoxyribonucleic Acid DNA; the origin of all genetic materials is in birth or germination

Organic Material is matter that has come from a recently living organism; is capable of decay, or the product of decay; or is composed of organic compounds.

DNA deoxyribonucleic acid; strands of DNA are the basic building blocks of life

Transgenic Engineering

refers to plants and other organisms that have been changed by adding genetic material from another species

Enviropig processes feed more efficiently; this reduces phosphorous in its manure, and water supplies are protected

Super rice genetically enhanced rice

Genetically Modified Crops (GMC)

Crops changed through transgenic engineering

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