WHAT IS GENETIC ENGINEERING?

Genetic engineering is the manipulation of an organism’s genes to create a desired characteristic.

AKA= changing an organism’s DNA

Scientists uses genetic engineering to knock out certain genes from an organism in order to observe the effects and mutations caused by those genes.

With the mapping of the human genome and the genomes of other important animals and plants, scientists have been able to manipulate the genes of other organisms in order to produce beneficial products for humans.

WHAT IS GENETIC ENGINEERING IS USED FOR?

Selective Breeding: Allowing only those animals with the desired charcteristics to reproduce the next generation.

Ex. Nearly all domestic animals

TYPES OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

SELECTIVE BREEDING

HybridizationThe Crossing of

dissimilar individuals to bring together the best of both organisms.Hybrids are usually

hardier than either parent.

Labradoodle

TYPES OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

The continued breeding of individuals with similar charcteristics

1. Breeders use this to maintain desired characteristics of a line of organisms.

2. Problems result b/c there is always a chance that a cross between 2 individuals will bring together 2 recessive alleles.Ex. Blindness, joint- deformities.

INBREEDING

GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS

Just kidding. Farmers have been producing foods that have been genetically altered to be more nutritious, delicious, resistant to harmful pesticides and have the ability to repel pests.

Harmful long term effects have yet to be seen in consumers.

Scientists and doctors have been able to genetically plan certain characteristics in embryos. Since the mapping of the human genome, finding specific genes and their qualities has become much simpler. Parents now have an opportunity to “design” their ideal child.

CREATING YOUR OWN CHILD

CONTROVERSIES Consumers of the

genetically engineered foods are worried about the adverse effects that the foods might have on them. Since this is a new technology, there hasn’t been a lot of time to examine the long term effects of these new foods.

Some consider it inorganic.

1.Samples of organism’s DNA is exposed to restriction enzyme which cuts it into pieces2.DNA is run through an electrophoresis machine using gels3.Since DNA is cut at certain sequences, each piece is a different length and has a different weight4.Pieces that are heavier stay at the top of the gel, while lighter will “run” to the bottom of the gel

DNA FINGERPRINTING

5. Every person is genetically different so their gels would appear different

A. identical twins have identical DNA fingerprints

B. people who are closely related have similar DNA markers

DNA FINGERPRINTING

A. can be used to identify or eliminate suspectsB. can be used to determine paternity of a childC. can be used to identify a deceased person

DNA FINGERPRINTING APPLICATIONS