Applications of Genetic Engineering 13-4 Ms. Haut

Applications of Genetic Engineering

13-4

Ms. Haut

Transgenic Organisms

• An organism described as transgenic, contains genes from other species.

Copyright Pearson Prentice Hall

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• Genetic engineering has spurred the growth of biotechnology.– Transgenic animals and plants– The Human Genome Project– The production of vaccines, cancer drugs, and

pesticides– Engineered bacteria that can clean up toxic wastes– Cloning

• Organ replacement



• Transgenic bacteria produce important substances useful for health and industry. Transgenic bacteria have been used to produce:– insulin– growth hormone– clotting factor


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• Transgenic animals have been used to study genes and to improve the food supply.

• Mice have been produced with human genes that make their immune systems act similarly to those of humans. This allows scientists to study the effects of diseases on the human immune system.


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Transgenic Animals

• Nils Lonberg, director at Medarex, bred two genetically modified mice, creating a mouse with a humanized immune system.

• In response to disease-causing agents, these mice make human antibodies in their cells, some of which might be developed into drugs.

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/01/critters/source/4.htm


• Researchers are trying to produce transgenic chickens that will be resistant to the bacterial infections that can cause food poisoning.

Copyright Pearson Prentice Hall http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/magazine/spring03/images/transgenic1.jpg



• Transgenic plants are now an important part of our food supply.

• Many of these plants contain a gene that produces a natural insecticide, so plants don’t have to be sprayed with pesticides.

Transgenic Plants

• Bt Corn– Engineering resistant

corn. Following the insertion of a gene from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, corn becomes resistant to corn borer infection. This allows farmers to use fewer insecticides

http://www.scq.ubc.ca/bt-corn-is-it-worth-the-risk/

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• “Golden rice” has been genetically modified to contain beta-carotene

– This rice could help prevent vitamin A deficiency

Figure 12.18B

Cloning

• A clone is a member of a population of genetically identical cells produced from a single cell.

• In 1997, Ian Wilmut cloned a sheep called Dolly.


Dolly and Bonnie

Cloning

Cloning

• Researchers hope cloning will enable them to make copies of transgenic animals and help save endangered species.


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Cloning

• Studies suggest that cloned animals may suffer from a number of genetic defects and health problems.– Abnormal gene expression– “old” DNA

• Our new genetic knowledge will affect our lives in many ways

• The deciphering of the human genome, in particular, raises profound ethical issues– Many scientists have

counseled that we must use the information wisely

DNA technology raises important ethical questions

Figure 12.21A-C

• Genetic engineering involves some risks– Possible ecological damage

from pollen transfer between GM and wild crops

– Pollen from a transgenic variety of corn that contains a pesticide may stunt or kill monarch caterpillars

Could transgenics harm human health or the environment?

Figure 12.20A, B


Insulin-dependent diabetes can now be treated with insulin produced through the use of

a) transgenic plants.

b) transgenic animals.

c) transgenic microorganisms.

d) transgenic fungi.


Transgenic tobacco plants that glow in the dark were produced by transferring the gene for luciferase from a

a) clone.

b) bacterium.

c) firefly.

d) jellyfish.


The first mammal to be cloned was a a) sheep.

b) horse.

c) dog.

d) cat.


In producing a cloned animal, an egg cell is taken from a female and its nucleus is removed. A body cell is taken from a male. The clone from this experiment will

a) look just like the female.

b) be genetically identical to the male.

c) have a mixture of characteristics from both animals.

d) resemble neither the male nor the female.


Animals produced by cloning have been shown to

a) all be perfectly healthy.

b) suffer from a number of health problems.

c) live longer than uncloned animals.

d) be less intelligent than uncloned animals.

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Applications of Genetic Engineering 13-4 Ms. Haut