Advances in Genetics

Selective Breeding Selecting few organisms with desired traits to be parents for next generation Techniques Inbreeding: crossing 2 with identical or similar alleles to produce specific traits, but can increase chance of inheriting genetic diseases. Used for dogs Hybridization: crossing 2 with different traits, so offspring might get the best traits of both. Used for crops Can’t control if desired allele is passed on

Cloning Clone: genetically identical to organism it was produced from Plants: can cut small piece of plant, replant, and grow a new plant Animals: take egg from one animal, replace with nucleus from another, implant in a third animal

Genetic Engineering Genes from one organism are transferred into DNA of another, called “gene splicing” In bacteria: put DNA from another organism into bacteria, ex. To make human insulin In others: genes from bacteria to animals/plants ex. Insert human gene for blood clotting into cows, who produce the blood clotting protein, extract and use to treat hemophilia.

Gene therapy Insert working copies of gene into people with a genetic disorder. Ex. Inserting a necessary gene for lung operation into a virus, use virus with correct gene to “infect” person with cystic fibrosis to help them. Difficult and experimental

DNA fingerprinting Used for crime scenes Enzymes cut DNA into pieces and DNA patterns are compared

Humane Genome Project Genome: all DNA in a cell of an organism HGP’s goal is to identify every DNA sequence of human DNA Information could lead to new understandings and better treatment/ prevention strategies Finished in April 2003. We have 30,000 to 40,000 genes