Applications of Genetics and Ethical Concerns

1. Gene Therapy Mutated sections of DNA are replaced with correct sections of DNA

Gene Augmentation Therapy Fixing genes that aren’t working properly Ex. Cystic Fibrosis Gene Inhibition Therapy Blocking harmful genes Ex. Some cancers

Positives (Gains) Cure genetic diseases (ex. Cancer, cystic fibrosis, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s)

Negatives (Risks) Short lived nature of gene therapy - Patients will have to undergo multiple rounds Immune response - Could cause unwanted immune system reactions Overexpression – cause cancer growth Target wrong cells Cause infection by the virus used

2. Genetic Engineering & GMOs Manipulation of an organism’s genome (DNA) to alter its characteristics (phenotype) by cutting DNA from one organism and inserting fragments into a host. The end result is recombinant DNA, or DNA made from two or more different organisms. An organism that has DNA from another organism is called TRANSGENIC (“trans” means across, “gene” means race)

GMO – Genetically Modified Organism Ex) Scientists have made a glow in the dark plant. They did this by removing the fire fly gene from a firefly and inserting it into the plant cell using cut and paste enzymes. GMO – Genetically Modified Organism

Ex) Production of Insulin for Type I Diabetes Patients can’t make insulin which regulates blood sugar levels Patients take insulin to control blood sugar 1. Take the gene that codes for insulin 2. Put it in a bacteria (E.coli) 3. Grow lots of bacteria 4. Extract the insulin from the bacteria 5. Give insulin to diabetic humans

Ex) GMOs in plants Can be used to modify plant crops for: Temperature resilience Nutritional value Growth rate Growth size Pest resistance

The “Arctic Apple” -made in Summerland -doesn’t brown when cut -modified the gene responsible for browning

3. Cloning First successful cloning of an animal was in 1996, creating Dolly the sheep Research is regulated by governments Possible to clone organs in surrogate hosts (such as a pig)

4. Forensics Everyone has a unique DNA sequence like a fingerprint Can be used for: Criminal investigation Paternity tests Tracking of a disease

Ethical Concerns - Many biotechnology applications are very controversial Advantages include: Increased food yield (GMO crops) Increased nutrition of food (GMO crops) Genetic diseases could be removed such as Huntington’s, Cystic Fibrosis (Gene Therapy) Concerns include: Human Health/Safety (GMO crops) “Playing God” (ex. Jurassic Park) Potential negative mutations (Gene Therapy) Human and animal rights (Gene Therapy)