Genetic engineeringAdvantage or disadvantage?

Consequence of genetic engineering Advantage Disadvantage

Genetic engineering borderlines on many moral issues, particularly involving religion, which questions whether man has the right to manipulate the laws and course of nature.

 

Disease could be prevented by detecting people/plants/animals that are genetically prone to certain hereditary diseases, and preparing for the inevitable.

 

Animals and plants can be 'tailor made' to show desirable characteristics. Genes could also be manipulated in trees for example, to absorb more CO2 and reduce the threat of global warming.

 

Infectious diseases can be treated by implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen.

 

Nature is an extremely complex inter-related chain consisting of many species linked in the food chain. Some scientists believe that introducing genetically modified genes may have an irreversible effect with consequences yet unknown.

 

Genetic Engineering could increase genetic diversity, and produce more variant alleles which could also be crossed over and implanted into other species. It is possible to alter the genetics of wheat plants to grow insulin for example.

Genetic engineeringObjectives

State two examples of the current uses of genetically modified crops or animals.

Discuss the potential benefits and possible harmful

effects of one example of genetic modification.

Outcomes3: Describe the processes involved in transferring a gene from one organism to another.

5: Explain examples of where genetic engineering has been used successfully.

7: Evaluate problems and benefits related to genetic engineering.

Key terms: genetic engineering, modification, recombinant.

Genetic engineeringTask

In groups using the information create a sheet to help you explain around that

topic. It can have no more than 15 words but as many

diagrams as you like.

Outcomes3: Describe the processes involved in transferring a gene from one organism to another.

5: Explain examples of where genetic engineering has been used successfully.

7: Evaluate problems and benefits related to genetic engineering.

Key terms: genetic engineering, modification, recombinant.

Genetic engineeringTask

One person stay with your information the others go to another group. You have 2 minutes to explain about

your topic.

Outcomes3: Describe the processes involved in transferring a gene from one organism to another.

5: Explain examples of where genetic engineering has been used successfully.

7: Evaluate problems and benefits related to genetic engineering.

Key terms: genetic engineering, modification, recombinant.

Genetic engineeringAs a group answer the following questions:

1. What are the fears about genetic engineering?2. What is recombinant DNA technology?3. What is often used to produce useful human proteins?4. How have aedes aegypti mosquitoes been modified?5. What is a GMO?6. Why is genetic engineering useful?7. What are two benefits and problems related to GM crops?8. What are the potential benefits to be gained from the genetically modified mosquitos?9. What are the problems people have with using food and products from cloned animals?10. Who controls the sale of food in the UK?

Key terms: genetic engineering, modification, recombinant.

GMOs

• Genetically modified organisms are organisms whose genomes incorporate and express genes from other organisms.

• These transgenic individuals have had a suitable vector used to insert a desired foreign gene into the fertilized egg or early embryo of the host

GMOs examples

• Salt tolerant tomato plants• Golden rice• Herbicide resistant crop plants• Factor IX (human blood clotting factor) in sheep milk

Crops can be given extra genes for new and useful characteristics. They are genetically modified (GM).

What characteristics might be useful in crops?

pest resistance

frost resistance

herbicide resistance

drought resistance

longer shelf life

disease resistance

GM crops

Potatoes can be genetically modified so they are toxic to pests, such as the Colorado beetle.

The gene for a powerful bacterial toxin is added to the potato plant.

If the beetle tries to eat the potato plant, it is killed by the toxin.

What benefits might this have for the environment?

Pest-resistant crops

Crops can be genetically modified so they are resistant to adverse environmental conditions.

For example, lettuces could be genetically modified to be resistant to frost.

GM lettuce non-GM lettuce

Why are some people against the development and use of GM crops?

Frost-resistant crops

Rice can be genetically modified to make beta-carotene, a substance that is converted into vitamin A in the body.

Plants with extra vitamins

The GM rice is called ‘Golden Rice’ and is being developed to help fight vitamin A deficiency and blindness in developing countries.

The colour of the rice is an indication of how much more beta-carotene it contains.

Joint probability curves that compare the likelihood of exposure of monarch larvae to events 176 or Bt11 corn pollen with the percent of larvae demonstrating inhibition of growth.

Mark K. Sears et al. PNAS 2001;98:11937-11942

©2001 by National Academy of Sciences

Should GM crops be allowed?

• Is it moral or ethical to change the genetic the genetic integrity of a species by transferring genes to it from another species?  

• What about the wider question of selective breeding of animals? Is this distinctively different and always acceptable?

• Is it possible that GM animals might suffer?