Genetic Engineering Chapter 5

Genetic engineering: the alteration of the genetic components of organisms by human intervention. Genetic engineering: the alteration of the genetic components of organisms by human intervention.

Mutations Variations from the normal genetic makeup of an organism Variations from the normal genetic makeup of an organism A gene mutates or changes and a new characteristic is made A gene mutates or changes and a new characteristic is made Also called genetic accidents Also called genetic accidents Organism usually dies from mutations Organism usually dies from mutations Missing a limb, too many limbs, organ defects etc. Missing a limb, too many limbs, organ defects etc.

Mutations continued Not all mutations are bad Not all mutations are bad Seedless watermelon Seedless watermelon Polled (no horned) Hereford cattle Polled (no horned) Hereford cattle A farmer noticed that some of his cattle that were born, naturally did not have any horns A farmer noticed that some of his cattle that were born, naturally did not have any horns He bought other polled Herefords from other farmers and started a new breed of cattle He bought other polled Herefords from other farmers and started a new breed of cattle Yellow Delicious apples Yellow Delicious apples Original color is red Original color is red A farmer noticed that there were yellow apples on his red delicious apple tree A farmer noticed that there were yellow apples on his red delicious apple tree

DNA DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid Makes up chromosomes Makes up chromosomes Different segments of a chromosome controls a different trait that is expressed in an organism Different segments of a chromosome controls a different trait that is expressed in an organism DNA is shaped like a double-helix or a twisted ladder DNA is shaped like a double-helix or a twisted ladder Discovered by Watson and Creek Discovered by Watson and Creek

DNA continue Made up of nitrogen base pairs that connect the two strands Made up of nitrogen base pairs that connect the two strands A-adenine A-adenine T-thymine T-thymine G- guanine G- guanine C- cytosine C- cytosine A always pairs up with T A always pairs up with T G always pairs up with C G always pairs up with C

Gene Mapping Finding the location of certain genes on chromosomes Finding the location of certain genes on chromosomes The arrangement of the nitrogen base pairs (A,T,C and G) determines what an organism looks like The arrangement of the nitrogen base pairs (A,T,C and G) determines what an organism looks like Human Genome Project Human Genome Project Trying to find where certain traits are located in humans’ DNA (Alzheimer's, diabetes, etc.) Trying to find where certain traits are located in humans’ DNA (Alzheimer's, diabetes, etc.)

Gene Splicing Once the DNA sequence is found, enzymes are added to separate the two strands at a certain location Once the DNA sequence is found, enzymes are added to separate the two strands at a certain location Other DNA can be inserted into the location and the original DNA is taken out Other DNA can be inserted into the location and the original DNA is taken out First gene splicing was done with bacteria First gene splicing was done with bacteria

Gene Splicing continued First use of gene splicing was to make human insulin for diabetics First use of gene splicing was to make human insulin for diabetics Insulin was harvested from the pancreas of cattle that were slaughtered Insulin was harvested from the pancreas of cattle that were slaughtered Very expensive- only a little amount of insulin was obtained from cattle Very expensive- only a little amount of insulin was obtained from cattle Some people were allergic to this type of insulin Some people were allergic to this type of insulin Used E. coli bacteria- reproduce quickly and could pass on the insulin making gene to their offspring Used E. coli bacteria- reproduce quickly and could pass on the insulin making gene to their offspring

Gene Splicing continued BST- bovine somatotropin BST- bovine somatotropin Naturally occurring hormone in cattle that increases the production of milk Naturally occurring hormone in cattle that increases the production of milk Helps the cow produce less fat and more milk Helps the cow produce less fat and more milk E. coli bacteria used again E. coli bacteria used again Tissue Culture- regenerating plants from a single cell Tissue Culture- regenerating plants from a single cell

Gene Splicing continued Round-Up ready corn (round up won’t kill the corn plants, but will kill all other plants) Round-Up ready corn (round up won’t kill the corn plants, but will kill all other plants) Resistance to certain insects and diseases Resistance to certain insects and diseases Scientists spliced DNA from fireflies into a tobacco plant, which resulted in a plant that could glow in the dark Scientists spliced DNA from fireflies into a tobacco plant, which resulted in a plant that could glow in the dark Future: naturally colored cotton? Future: naturally colored cotton?

Transgenetic Transferring genetic material between different types of organisms Transferring genetic material between different types of organisms Done shortly after an egg was fertilized by sperm Done shortly after an egg was fertilized by sperm Adding growth genes of humans into mice Adding growth genes of humans into mice Adding the glowing genes of fireflies into plants Adding the glowing genes of fireflies into plants

Societal Concerns Why geneticially altered food? Why geneticially altered food? More people = less land to raise food More people = less land to raise food Ownership of the genetically altered organisms Ownership of the genetically altered organisms Companies will spend millions of dollars Companies will spend millions of dollars Some believe that no one should have ownership of genetic materials- especially human Some believe that no one should have ownership of genetic materials- especially human

Societal concerns continued Effects on the environment Effects on the environment Kudzu Kudzu Genetically altered fish Genetically altered fish Are genetically altered organisms safe to eat? Are genetically altered organisms safe to eat? Should humans be “playing God”? Should humans be “playing God”?

Regulation of Genetic Engineering USDA- United States Department of Agriculture USDA- United States Department of Agriculture Strict guidelines for testing genetically altered organisms Strict guidelines for testing genetically altered organisms APHIS- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service APHIS- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Enforces the regulations that the USDA set Enforces the regulations that the USDA set