Genetic Engineering

Tools for Manipulating & Studying DNA

Restriction enzymesUsed to cut DNA where needed

PCRUsed to make multiple copies of genes for studying

Gel electrophoresis

Selective Breeding

Allows only those animals with wanted characteristics to produce a new generation

Takes advantage of naturally occurring genetic variation

Hybridization: bringing together two dissimilar individuals to bring together the best of both organisms

Inbreeding: Continued breeding of individuals with similar characteristics

Recombinant DNA

Joining together DNA from to or more sources

PlasmidSmall circular pieces of DNA used to transform the chromosomes of bacteria and yeast cells

Can used recombinant bacteria to produce, for example, human hormones to treat disease

Gene is placed into Bacterial DNA

Bacterianow

makes insulin

Transgenic Organisms

Produced by insertion of recombinant DNA into the genome of a host organism

Cloning: producing a new organism that is genetically identical to an adult organism

Applications of Genetic Engineering GM Crops: corn, wheat, sugar, rice, squash, soybeans GM Animals: cows, pigs, salmon Health and medicine

Preventing disease: enriching foodsMedical research: test subjectsTreating disease

Gene therapy – changing gene to treat disorders Genetic Testing - find mutations Personal identification

DNA fingerprinting: determine whether two DNA samples are from the same person, related people, or non-related people. Uses a small number of sequences of DNA that are known to vary among individuals a great deal, and analyze those to get a certain probability of a match. Forensic science

Establishing relationships – maternal mitochondrial DNA

Ethical Issues

Should we manipulate DNA just because we can?

Are GM foods safe? Privacy of your genes…

Health insurance

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

The Clone AgeThe Clone Age

Types of CloningTypes of Cloning

Recombinant/Gene Recombinant/Gene transfertransfer

ReproductiveReproductive

TherapeuticTherapeutic

Recombinant (1972)Recombinant (1972)

Genes are inserted Genes are inserted into bacterial genomesinto bacterial genomes

Polly – (Sheep, 1997)Polly – (Sheep, 1997)–Cloned sheep Cloned sheep containing human containing human genetic informationgenetic information

Why clone?Why clone?Medical researchMedical research–Models of diseaseModels of disease–Study human developmentStudy human development–Design new drugsDesign new drugs

Endangered or extinct speciesEndangered or extinct speciesPetsPetsHumans ??!?!Humans ??!?!http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/38036-discovery-news-tech-human-cloning-video.htm

ReproductiveReproductive

Somatic cell DNA is inserted into Somatic cell DNA is inserted into a egg and placed into a host a egg and placed into a host (surrogate) parent(surrogate) parent

The offspring is genetically The offspring is genetically identical identical http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/cloning/whatiscloning/scnt.cfm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJmoT7xbrvw

What organisms have been cloned?What organisms have been cloned?

In 1952, the first animal, a tadpole, was cloned. In 1952, the first animal, a tadpole, was cloned.

Before the creation of Dolly, the first mammal Before the creation of Dolly, the first mammal cloned from the cell of an adult animal, clones cloned from the cell of an adult animal, clones were created from embryonic cells. were created from embryonic cells.

Since Dolly, researchers have cloned a number Since Dolly, researchers have cloned a number of large and small animals including sheep, of large and small animals including sheep, goats, cows, mice, pigs, cats, rabbits, and a goats, cows, mice, pigs, cats, rabbits, and a gaur. All these clones were created using gaur. All these clones were created using nuclear transfer technology. nuclear transfer technology.

Cloning & Your Food!Cloning & Your Food!FDA has concluded that cattle, swine, and goat clones, and the FDA has concluded that cattle, swine, and goat clones, and the offspring of any animal clones traditionally consumed as food, are offspring of any animal clones traditionally consumed as food, are safe for human and animal consumption.safe for human and animal consumption.

Food labels do not have to state that food is from animal clones Food labels do not have to state that food is from animal clones or their offspring. FDA has found no science-based reason to or their offspring. FDA has found no science-based reason to require labels to distinguish between products from clones and require labels to distinguish between products from clones and products from conventionally produced animals.products from conventionally produced animals.

The main use of clones is to produce breeding stock, not food. The main use of clones is to produce breeding stock, not food. These animal clones—copies of the best animals in the herd—are These animal clones—copies of the best animals in the herd—are then used for conventional breeding, and the sexually reproduced then used for conventional breeding, and the sexually reproduced offspring of the animal clones become the food-producing offspring of the animal clones become the food-producing animals.animals.

Due to the lack of information on clone species other than cow, Due to the lack of information on clone species other than cow, goat, and pig (for example, sheep), FDA recommends that other goat, and pig (for example, sheep), FDA recommends that other clone species do not enter the human food supply.clone species do not enter the human food supply.

TherapeuticTherapeutic

Garner stem cells that Garner stem cells that can differentiate into can differentiate into a wide range of a wide range of specialized cells specialized cells (neurons, pancreatic (neurons, pancreatic cells)cells)

Risks of CloningRisks of Cloning

High failure rate – 90%High failure rate – 90%

Problems in later Problems in later developmentdevelopment

Abnormal gene expressionAbnormal gene expression

Lifespan differences?Lifespan differences?

Issues to ConsiderIssues to ConsiderEthicalEthical issues are those that ask issues are those that ask us to consider the potential us to consider the potential moral outcomes of cloning moral outcomes of cloning technologies.technologies.LegalLegal issues require researchers issues require researchers and the public to help and the public to help policymakers decide whether and policymakers decide whether and how cloning technologies should how cloning technologies should be regulated by the government.be regulated by the government.SocialSocial issues involve the impact issues involve the impact of cloning technologies on of cloning technologies on society as a whole.society as a whole.

Bioethics of Cloning Bioethics of Cloning

What are the benefits? What are the benefits?

What are the risks? What are the risks?

Whom will the technology help? Whom will the technology help? Does it have the potential to hurt Does it have the potential to hurt anyone? anyone?

What does this mean for me? For What does this mean for me? For my family? For others around me? my family? For others around me?

Why might others not share my Why might others not share my view?view?

Questions…Questions…

Is human cloning "playing with Is human cloning "playing with nature?"nature?" If so, how does that compare If so, how does that compare with other reproductive technologies such with other reproductive technologies such as as in vitroin vitro fertilization or hormone fertilization or hormone treatments? treatments? If a clone originates from an existing If a clone originates from an existing person, who is the parent?person, who is the parent? What are some of the social What are some of the social challenges a cloned child might face?challenges a cloned child might face? Should cloning research be Should cloning research be regulated?regulated? How, and by whom? How, and by whom?

Point of ViewPoint of ViewWould your views be the same if Would your views be the same if you were a different person? you were a different person? How might they change if you... How might they change if you...

1.1. ……had a medical condition that had a medical condition that therapeutic cloning might someday therapeutic cloning might someday benefit? benefit?

2.2. ……knew a family member or close knew a family member or close friend with such a medical friend with such a medical condition? condition?

3.3. ……worked as a research scientist? worked as a research scientist?

4.4. ……were a policymaker, involved in were a policymaker, involved in making laws?making laws?

Be educated!Be educated!

A basic understanding of the A basic understanding of the different types of cloning is different types of cloning is key to taking an informed key to taking an informed stance on current public stance on current public policy issues and making the policy issues and making the best possible personal best possible personal decisions.decisions.