1. Advances in Genetics

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

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

7. 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 We have 30,000 to 40,000 genes