1. Modern Day Genetics

2. The Human Genome Project
Two main goals:
To determine the nucleotide sequence of all the DNA in human chromosomes
To identify the location and sequence of every human gene
A genome is the full DNA sequence of an organism

3. Some Interesting Findings
Only about 1.5-2% of the human genome contains genes
The remaining 98% includes repeated nucleotide sequences, regions that regulate genes and even DNA sequences inserted by viruses
3.2 billion base pairs
Approximately genes

4. Genetic Technologies

5. Biotechnology The use of organisms to make useful products
Micro organisms are used to produce:
Vaccines
Antibiotics
Hormones
food products
enzymes that are added to detergents

6. Genetic Engineering
The intentional production of new genes and alteration of genomes by the substitution or introduction of new genetic material
Gives us the ability to modify the abilities of living organisms to meet specific needs in agriculture, industry and medicine

7. Genetic Recombination
Combining genes from different sources – even different species – into a single DNA molecule

8. Applications

9. Genetically Modified Organisms
GMO
Any organism with genetic material that has been altered through genetic engineering
A GMO is said to be transgenic if it has acquired one or more genes from a different type of organism
Many applications in agriculture and medicine
Unexpected effects

10. Genetically Modified Plants
Characteristics of crops can be improved
Delayed ripening
improved nutritional content
stress tolerance
Resistance to spoilage or disease
Transgenic varieties of tomato, potato, tobacco, soybean, walnut and apple

11. Pest Resistant Crops Incorporation of genes for a bacterial toxin
Once toxin ingested by insect, its converted to a form that kills insect
Allows for high yields of corn and other crops without having to spray chemical pesticides
Some crops have traits with tolerance to herbicides or resistance to viral infection

12. Plants as Factories
GM plants are used in biotechnology for development of pharmaceuticals
Lines of safflower plants that produce authentic molecules of human insulin
Can be used to treat the ever increasing number of diabetics
Can reduce cost and increase yield
Usually created from yeast or bacteria, but challenging to purify

13. Genetically Modified Animals
Typically involved in vitro fertilization
The process of fertilizing an egg in a test tube and transferring the embryo to the uterus
Fertilize an egg with sperm from same species
Desired gene then injected into fertilized egg
Early embryo transferred to an animal’s uterus
If embryo develops, result is GM animal with one or more genes from a third “parent” that may even be from a different species

14. Farm Animals and “Pharming”
Goals of GM animals
Better quality wool from sheep
Pig with leaner meat
Fish that will mature in a shorter time
Make a transgenic animal that produces a large amount of rare biological substance
Using animals to produce pharmaceuticals is called pharming
Adding a gene for a desired human protein (eg. Hormone) to animal genome
Gene is added in such a way that the desired human protein is secreted in the animal’s milk

15. Animal Cloning
Dolly the sheep was first mammal to be successfully cloned from a somatic cell (1997)
Goats, cows, mice, pigs, cats and rabbits have been successfully cloned

17. Regulating the Use of GMOs
Concerns that transgenic species could be harmful to human health or to environment
Escaped GM salmon competing with wild salmon
Crops could pass new genes to closely related plants (herbicide resistance) – super weeds
GM plant or animal products could have unknown risks to human consumers
Human proteins produced in milk of transgenic mammal can differ slightly from natural human proteins
Allergic reactions?

18. Genetic Technology in Medical Research
Model organisms used to help determine gene function and to develop therapies
Knockout mice
Altering genome so that a gene no longer functions
Can then study the line mice with new trait
Obesity is an example

19. Gene Therapy
Process of supplementing or replacing a gene in order to treat a medical condition
Allows the body to make the protein that is not being made by the missing or malfunctioning gene
Use of modified virus to deliver therapeutic gene
Challenges
Delivering gene to correct target
Making sure the therapy works in long term

20. Well …
What do you think!?

21. Questions Define the term “genetically modified organism”.
Give two examples of genetically engineered micro-organisms.
Identify each of the following as an example of biotechnology, genetic engineering or both.
Using bacteria to make yogurt from milk
Using goats to produce pharmaceuticals in their milk
Using safflower plants to produce insulin
Creating a transgenic rat for medical studies
Why might someone with food allergies be concerned about eating a GM food?

22. 5. Describe two challenges in gene therapy technology. 6
5. Describe two challenges in gene therapy technology. 6. Do you think someone should be allowed to undergo gene therapy for a disease such as cystic fibrosis, even if the treatment is experimental? Explain. 7. If you could clone a favourite pet, would you? Justify your response. 8. List 5 ways in which genetic engineering affects your life that you became aware of during this presentation.