Genetic EngineeringGMOs, Selective Breeding, Gene Therapy, Cloning

Selective Breeding

Controlling the way organisms breed for desired traits

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

An organism whose genetic make-up has been somehow modified by humans for our benefit.

Bt plants: insecticide, golden rice, flavr savr tomato

More GMOs

Cows engineered to produce HGH (Human Growth Hormone)

Nitrogen producing plants-decreased need for fertilizer

Controversy

Is it safe?Antibiotic resistanceNatural

populations/ecosystemGenetic modification of

animals & humans

Spiders + goats…

Canadian scientists combined spider DNA with the cells of lactating goats, they produced silk with their milk

That’s weird right?

Pros

Growing replacement organs for organ transplants

Preventing disease

Medical research: simulating human diseases

Gene Therapy

Introducing a healthy gene to replace a diseased gene in a human being.

Viral vector

Gene Therapy for Cystic Fibrosis

Jesse Gelsinger

Volunteered for experimental gene therapy in 1999

18 yrs old

Died a few days after from massive reaction to viruses

Cloning

How is it done?

What is wrong and what is right?

Ethics, where do we draw the line? Do we draw the line?

Is it safe?GMOs disrupting the balance of nature? I Am Legend Zombies?

Read Chapter 15

Chapter 15 Assessment pg 442

# 4, 5, 6, 23, 27, 28, 29

Choose one topic addressed in this presentation and write an opinion essay. Include facts to support your opinion. Include potential pros and cons. Additional research is encouraged