2. What is genetic engineering???
Genetic engineering: is the artificial
manipulation or alteration ofgenes.
Genetic Engineering involves:
• removing agene (target gene) from oneorganism
• inserting target gene into DNAof anotherorganism
• ‘cut and paste’process.
3. Some important terms!!!
Recombinant DNA: the altered DNAis called
recombinant DNA( recombines after small sectionof
DNAinserted into it).
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO): isthe
organism with the alteredDNA.
4. Genetic Engineering breaks the
species barrier!!!
•Genetic engineering allows DNAfrom different species
to be joinedtogether.
•Thisoften results in combinations of DNAthatwould
never be possible in nature!!! For this reason genetic
engineering is not anatural process.
•If DNAis transferred from one speciesto another the
organism that receives the DNAis said to betransgenic.
5. Genetic engineering breaks the species
barrier!!!
• Examples of cross-species transfer of genes:
- ahuman gene inserted into abacterium
- ahuman gene inserted into anotheranimal
- abacterial gene placed in aplant
6. Appl at o of Ge et E g eer g
A mal
There is agrowing trend to experiment with inserting
human genesinto the DNAof other mammals. The
transgenic animals formed in this way will then produce a
human protein and secrete it into their milk or even into
their eggs.
7. Appl at o of Ge et E g eer g
Youmustknowthree applications: oneinvolvinga plant,
oneanimal andonefor a micro-organism.
Plants:Weed killer-resistant crops
•many types of crop plants have bacterialgenes
added to them.
•these genesmake the plants resistant to certain
weed killers (herbicides).
•this means that the weed killers kill the weeds but do
not affect the transgenicplants.
8. Appl at o of Ge et E g eer g
Animals:Sheepproducehumanclotting factor
•Ahuman gene hasbeen inserted into the DNAof
sheep.
•Thisallows the adult sheep to produce aclotting
chemical needed by haemophiliacs to clot theirblood
– produced in the milk of the sheep.
Pharming: isthe production of pharmaceuticals by
genetically modified animals i.e. sheep,cows,goats etc.
10. Appl at o of Ge et E g eer g
Micro-organisms: Bacteriamake insulin
•Thehuman insulin gene hasbeen inserted into a
bacterium (E-coli).
•This allows the bacterium to produce insulin for use
by diabetics.
11. Eth al I e ge et e g eer g
Thereleaseof GMO’sinto the environment:
•Danger of possibility of GMO’s being releasedinto
the environment.
•GMO’sgrown in bioreactors do not provokeas
much fear.
•GMO’s grown outdoors - fears of foreigngenes
they contain being spread to otherplants.
12. Eth al I e Ge et E g eer g
GMO’sasa foodsource:
Outlined below are some fears associated with theuseof
GMO’sasafood source:
• Cannibalism:
– eating an animal containing ahuman gene is a
form of cannibalism.
- feeding GMO’scontaining human genesto
animals that would later be eaten byhumans.
•Religious reasons: – eating cow genesthat areinserted
into sheep would be offensive toHINDUs.
•Offensive to vegetarians/vegans: – eating animalgenes
contained in food plants causeconcern.
13. Eth al I e Ge et E g eer g
Animal Welfare:
•There is serious concern that animals will sufferasa
result of being geneticallymodified.
•useof growth hormones may causelimbdeformation
and arthritis asanimals grow.
14. Eth al I e Ge et E g eer g
Genetic Engineeringin Humans:
Thefollowing issuesare acausefor concern:
•If tests are carried out for genetic diseases,who is
entitled to seetheresults?
•Testson unborn babies – could this lead toabortion
if adisease is shown to bepresent?
•Insurance/lending companies – will they insist on
genetic tests before they will insure/lend money to a
person?
•Need for legal controls over the usestowhich human
cells can be put.
• Development and expansion of eugenics.
15. Project
Develop a brochure on GMOs to
inform the public on the facts
about GMOs and to give answers
to frequently asked questions.
Deadline:
January 24,2023
