1. Gene Technology and Genetic Engineering
Grade 12

2. Grade 12 Outcomes Stem Cells Genetic Engineering:
Cloning
Medicine (production of insulin, vaccines)
Agriculture (GMO’s)
Description of ethics and legislation around:
Genetic Testing
Genetic Counselling
Genetic Engineering
Beliefs, attitudes and values concerning genetic diseases.

3. “The advance of genetic engineering makes it quite conceivable that we will begin to design our own evolutionary progress.”
— Isaac Asimov, The Beginning and the End.
“The pressures for human cloning are powerful; but, although it seems likely that somebody, at some time, will attempt it, we need not assume that it will ever become a common or significant feature of human life.”
— Ian Wilmut The Second Creation: Dolly and the Age of Biological Control

4. Terminology Gene Technology Genetic Engineering
Broad field which includes all analysis, manipulation and application of genetics.
Genetic Engineering
Artificial manipulation of genes, adding or subtracting genetic material.
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO’s)/ Transgenic Organisms
Organisms that have had their DNA artificially manipulated.
Cloning (genetic or molecular)
A molecular process in which DNA sequences are replicated within host organisms or in vitro.
In vitro
Taking place in a culture, test-tube… basically outside an organism.
Selective Breeding
The artificial breeding of plants and animals for particular traits.
Stem Cells
An undifferentiated cell from a multi-cellular organism that has the potential to give rise to infinite numbers of the same cell and from which certain other kinds of cells arise from differentiation.
Ethics
The branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles.
Legislation
Collective set of laws.
Genetic Counselling
A healthcare professional who specialises in the education and support of patients and families regarding inherited disorders.

5. What’s on your mind?

6. Stem Cells
An undifferentiated cell from a multi-cellular organism that has the potential to give rise to infinite numbers of the same cell and from which certain other kinds of cells arise from differentiation.
The Nature of Stem Cells

7. Embryonic Stem Cells
Pluripotent= ability to give rise to several different cell types.

8. Somatic Stem Cells
Multipotent= Can produce multiple differentiated cell types within specific tissue only.
Stem Cell Quick Reference

9. Cloning Natural process Artifical Embryo Twinning:
Asexual Reproduction
Identical Twins
Artifical Embryo Twinning:
Older method
Fertilized egg cell is removed and stimulated to divide into two full sets each able to form new embryo’s.
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)
How Dolly was created in 1997

10. Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
SCNT can also be referred to as Therapeutic Cloning depending on it’s use.
Stem Cell Quick Reference

11. Genetic Engineering in Medicine
Preventing and fighting disease.
Stem Cell Therapy
Therapeutic cloning
Gene Therapy
SCIDS (severe combined immune deficiency syndrome: "boy in the bubble")
Cancers (including melanoma, hereditary prostate cancer, breast, and colon cancer) – 2/3rds of research.
Cystic fibrosis
Hemophilia
Rheumatoid arthritis
Hunter's syndrome (an inherited sex linked enzyme disorder)
Inherited high blood cholesterol
Vaccine production (Hepatitis B, influenza, herpes simplex)
Drug and hormone production (Insulin)

12. 3D Protein structure of Insulin made up of 51 amino acids.
Producing Insulin
Known as role player in diabetes for years.
In 1922 Frederick Banting and Charles Best successfully treated diabetic dogs and then an 11 year old boy using dog insulin from the pancreas.
Initial sources:
Cow, horse, pig, porcupine.
Allergic reactions to impurities in insulin.
1978 Genentech produced first synthetic human insulin.
3D Protein structure of Insulin made up of 51 amino acids.

13. Human Insulin Production

14. Genetic Engineering in Medicine
Advantages
Disadvantages
Preventing and fighting disease.
Vaccine production (especially cancers).
Gene Therapy.
Xenotransplatation.
Reproductive Technology
Arguably the Long term effects still not known.
Use of Embryo’s in Genetic Engineering (what is technically living).
Animal exploitation.
Costly and time consuming.

15. Genetic Engineering in Agriculture
GMO’s are not a new thing!
Selective breeding/artificial selection has been around for years.

16. Genetic Engineering in Agriculture
Thousands of GM foods and products:
Tomatoes
Tobacco (Quest ® cigarettes with no/low nicotine)
Strawberries (resistant to frost)
Maize (resistant to pesticides)
Beef (leaner meat)
Diary cattle (rBST hormone)
Pork (grow faster)

17. Genetic Engineering in Agriculture
Advantages
Disadvantages
Increase crop production.
Increase livestock production.
Help solve food security issues.
Reduce environmental risk from pesticides/fertilizers.
Reduce pollution and waste (production of GM biofuels)
Long term effects still not known.
Affect the biodiversity.
Negatively impact environment (create alien invasive plants).
Retard natural selection normal evolutionary processes.

18. Genetic Testing & Genetic Counselling
DNA profiling
Detecting and preventing crime
Mapping Genetic Disorders
Choice to address and seek professional help

19. Bioethics in Gene Technology
Ethical, legal and social implications surrounding:
Fairness in the use of genetic information
Privacy and confidentiality
Psychological impact and stigmatization
Beliefs, attitudes and values concerning genetic diseases
Commercialization of products including property rights
Seed patency
Reproductive issues
Larger societal issues raised with reproductive technologies
Uncertainties associated with gene tests
Conceptual and philosophical implications
Free will versus genetic determinism
Health and environmental issues concerning genetically modified foods

20. Genetic Engineering legislation in South Africa
In terms of human genetic modification technologies:
National Health Act and the ethics research guidelines issued by the Minister of Health. Under the Act, “the manipulation of any genetic material, including human gametes, zygotes or embryos” is explicitly prohibited. Violation of the ban is punishable with imprisonment for up to five years and/or the imposition of fines (Art. 62).
National Health Act, (2003),
In terms of GMO’s (except humans):
“To provide for measures to promote the responsible development, production, use and application of genetically modified organisms; to ensure that all activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (including importation, production, release and distribution) shall be carried out in such a way as to limit possible harmful consequences…”
Genetically Modified Organisms Act, (1997),

21. Beliefs, attitudes and values regarding Genetic Disorders
Cultural and Societal influences
Religion and spirituality
Marginalization
Chinese “Yousheng” healthy birth policy (eugenics)
Socioeconomic impact
Access to information and exposure
Education
Understanding of genetic disorders

22. To answer your questions…

23. Bibliography
Anon, Asimov’s [image online]. Available at: [Accessed February 7, 2012a].
Anon, BBC - KS3 Bitesize: Science [image online]. Available at: [Accessed February 7, 2012b].
Anon, Bioethics Curriculums Appearing in U.S. High Schools [image online]. Available at: [Accessed February 7, 2012c].
Anon, Biotechnology - Health and Medicine [image online]. Available at: [Accessed February 7, 2012d].
Anon, Clones debate [image online]. Available at: [Accessed February 7, 2012e].
Anon, Genetically Modified Organisms Act [No. 15 of 1997]. Available at: [Accessed February 7, 2012].
Anon, Insulin, What isInsulin? [image online]. Available at: [Accessed February 7, 2012f].
Anon, Stem Cells. Available at: [Accessed February 8, 2012g].
Anon, Top 10 Reasons to Label Genetically Engineered Food [image online]. Available at: [Accessed February 7, 2012h].
Anon, artificial selection [image online]. Available at: [Accessed February 7, 2012i].
Hopkin, M., Clones may aid work on motor neuron disease [image online]. Nature News. Available at: [Accessed February 7, 2012].
Krautberger, G., Genetic Engineering [image online]. Available at: [Accessed February 7, 2012].