6.3 Applications of Genetic Technologies

Question 1

Genetically modified organism (GMO)

Answer 1

any organism with genetic material that has
been altered through genetic engineering

Question 2

transgenic

Answer 2

if it has acquired one or more genes from a different type of organism

Question 3

In vitro fertilization

Answer 3

process of fertilizing an egg in a test tube or laboratory dish and transferring the embryo to the uterus (womb)

Question 4

“pharming”

Answer 4

Using transgenic animals to produce pharmaceuticals

Question 5

Dolly the sheep (1996–2003)

Answer 5

the first mammal to be successfully cloned from a somatic cell

Question 6

How is producing a GM plant different from producing a GM animal?

Answer 6

Biologists can produce a genetically engineered plant cell that grows into an entire plant with new traits.
Recombinant DNA technology can be used to create transgenic plant cells. Biologists often use a plasmid from the soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens to introduce new genes into plant cells.

In vitro fertilization is the process of fertilizing an egg
in a test tube or laboratory dish and transferring the embryo to the uterus (womb). One procedure is to extract an egg cell from a female. Sperm from the same species is then used to fertilize the egg in a test tube or laboratory dish. Then the desired gene is injected into the fertilized egg. After a few rounds of cell division, the early embryo is transferred to an
animal’s uterus, where it can develop further. It usually takes many attempts before a fertilized egg will incorporate DNA from another source. If the embryo develops successfully, the result is a GM animal.

Question 7

Compare the techniques for producing a GM mammal and a cloned mammal

Answer 7

in vitro fertilization: process of fertilizing an egg
in a test tube or laboratory dish and transferring the embryo to the uterus (womb)

nuclear transplantation: nucleus of a single cell is obtained from the donor, the adult animal to be cloned. The donor nucleus from the adult cell replaces the nucleus of an unfertilized egg cell from another
animal of the same species

The egg then develops into an animal that has the same genome as the donor. The new animal is a clone of the animal that supplied the nucleus.

Question 8

Give an example of a potential risk posed by GMOs

Answer 8

There are concerns that transgenic species
could be harmful to human health or to the environment.
For example, people are concerned that GM salmon could escape and compete with wild salmon

Another concern is that GM plant or animal products could have unknown risks to human consumers

Question 9

Gene therapy

Answer 9

process of supplementing or replacing a gene in order to treat a medical condition.

Question 10

2 challenges in gene therapy

Answer 10

Two challenges are delivering a gene to the
correct target and making sure the therapy works in the long term

Question 11

What is a genetically modified organism?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

List some benefits obtained from genetically
modifying plants

Answer 12

delayed ripening, improved nutritional content, stress tolerance, or resistance to spoilage or disease

Question 13

Describe a method for genetically
modifying animals

Answer 13

In vitro fertilization is the process of fertilizing an egg
in a test tube or laboratory dish and transferring the embryo to the uterus(womb).

One procedure is to extract an egg cell from a female. Sperm from the same species is then used to fertilize the egg in a test tube or laboratory dish. Then the desired gene is injected into the fertilized egg.
After a few rounds of cell division, the early embryo is transferred to an animal’s uterus, where it can develop further.

Question 14

What is nuclear transplantation?

Answer 14

-used to clone an animal

The nucleus of a single cell is obtained from the donor, the adult animal to be cloned. The donor nucleus from the adult cell replaces the nucleus of an unfertilized egg cell from another animal of the same species.

Question 15

What is the name of the agency responsible
for regulating the development and testing of
genetically modified foods in Canada?

Answer 15

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Question 16

What is Bt toxin? Why have people engineered
corn to carry the Bt toxin gene?

Answer 16

Bacillus thuringiensis

The Bt toxin kills specific types of insects, such as corn borers and cotton bollworms, without harming humans or most other animals. Upon ingesting Bt toxin, the enzymes of the insect’s digestive system convert the toxin to a form that kills the insect. Corn and other crop plants carrying the toxin gene produce high yields without having to be sprayed with chemical pesticides.

Question 17

How is Agrobacterium tumefaciens used in
genetic engineering?

Answer 17

Biologists often use a plasmid from the soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens to introduce new genes into plant cells. This technique has been used to create transgenic varieties of tomato, potato, tobacco, soybean, walnut, and apple.

Question 18

What might a scientist examine to
determine whether a person is a carrier
for a genetic disorder?

Answer 18

Genetic tests can be done on small samples of blood or saliva (spit). In pregnant women, genetic testing can be done on amniotic fluid (through amniocentesis) or the placenta (through chorionic villus sampling). Testing can also be done on an embryo during in vitro fertilization (IVF)

Question 19

The phrase “in vitro” means “in glass.”
Why is in vitro fertilization a suitable
name for the technique?

Answer 19

Because fertilization occurs in the Petri dish rather than in the woman’s body, this process has been called “in vitro.” The eggs and sperm are maintained in a special culture media (nutrient fluid) within a controlled environment (incubator).

Question 20

Describe how to use genetic engineering to
produce desired protein products from each
of the following.
(a) bacteria

Answer 20

Using restriction enzymes, scientists can cut and paste together DNA from different species. For example, by cutting and pasting the gene for human insulin into bacteria, we can use the bacteria as biofactories to produce insulin for diabetic patients

Question 21

Describe how to use genetic engineering to
produce desired protein products from each
of the following.
(b) plants

Answer 21

For example, genetic engineers have developed lines
of safflower plants that produce a wide variety of products. One of these products is insulin, for the treatment of diabetes.
Transgenic safflower can efficiently produce authentic molecules of human insulin. Insulin is then extracted from the oily seeds of the safflower plant.
Typically, insulin is produced from genetically engineered yeast or bacteria.

Question 22

Describe how to use genetic engineering to
produce desired protein products from each
of the following.
(c) mammals

Answer 22

Most cases involve adding a gene for a desired human protein, such as a hormone, to the genome of a farm mammal. The gene is added in such a way that the desired human protein is secreted in the animal’s milk. The human protein can then be purified.

Question 23

How has genetic engineering increased genetic
variation in some species?

Answer 23

In vitro fertilization

The offspring contains one or more genes from a third
“parent” that may even be of a different species.

Genetic Engineering could increase genetic diversity and produce more variant alleles that could also be crossed over and implanted into other species.

Question 24

How does gene therapy differ from taking
medications such as pain killers?

Answer 24

Gene therapy is the process of supplementing
or replacing a gene in order to treat a medical condition. Gene therapy allows the body to make the protein that is not being made by the missing or malfunctioning gene

Pain killers could be addictive and have side effects

Question 25

What are some concerns related to the safety
of genetically modified foods?

Answer 25

Pharmaceuticals produced from transgenic farm animals may also pose certain risks.
For example, human proteins produced in the milk of a
transgenic mammal can differ slightly from natural human proteins.
For this reason, transgenic products used in medicines or foods have to be tested very carefully.
It is important to make sure that the proteins produced by GMOs will not cause allergic reactions or other negative health effects in people

Question 26

Describe a way in which a GMO could
be used to reduce chemical pollution of
the environment

Answer 26

The use of genetically modified (GM) crops can reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers and pesticides used during the cultivation of crops.

These chemical substances are used to increase the yield of the crops to meet the demand for the plant crop for food production, feeds, or as processing ingredients.

However, it can cause detrimental effects to the environment if continuously used in intensive practices.

Using GM crops with characteristics that make them insect-resistant can decrease the use of pesticides during the cultivation of crops.

GM crops also have enhanced characteristics that can promote better yield than their traditional counterparts that can reduce the amount of fertilizers used during cultivation.

Question 27

What are some potential concerns about releasing
transgenic species into the environment?

Answer 27

For example, people are concerned that GM salmon could escape and compete with wild salmon.

Another concern is that GM crops could pass their new genes to closely related plants in nearby wilderness areas.

Pollen from crop plants carrying genes for
resistance to herbicides might fertilize the flowers of wild plants. The offspring might then become “super weeds” that would be very difficult to control.

Question 28

Why is it necessary to proceed with caution
when conducting gene therapy experiments?

Answer 28

Therapies are still in the early stages of development and considered to be high-risk experimental procedures.
Two challenges are delivering a gene to the correct target and making sure the therapy works in the long term.
Researchers are working out reliable ways to insert therapeutic genes, while ensuring that the DNA and delivery methods used do not harm patients

Question 29

The frog in the photo was genetically
engineered to be transparent. How might a
transparent frog be useful in biology, especially
to biology students?

Answer 29

-can see the organs and insides of the frog without cutting it open
-can save many frogs from being used in labs and being cut open

Question 30

Ethical issues of transgenic animals

Answer 30

Are animals that combine species an unethical alteration of the natural order of the universe?

Is it unethical to modify an animal’s genetic make-up for a specific purpose, without knowing in advance if there will be any side-effects that will cause suffering to the animal?

Question 31

Suggest why someone may choose not to learn
if he or she carries an allele associated with a
serious disease.

Answer 31

-if it’s fatal there’s nothing they can do about it, so there’s no point in upsetting them and wasting time and money trying to take meds + treatments when there isn’t a cure

Question 32

How does our genetic similarity to many model
organisms make these species important in
genetic research?

Answer 32

Research organisms have many of the same genes as human beings. When scientists discover a link between a particular gene and a human disease, they typically find out what that gene does in a research organism and this can be helpful when trying to figure out how to remove the disease or for other research purposes

Question 33

Give an example of a disease that gene therapy could be used on

Answer 33

Gene therapy is being studied for the treatment of Huntington’s disease, skin cancer, and cystic fibrosis, among other conditions

Question 34

Give an example of how using recombinant DNA technology can give an organism a purpose/ ability to help the environment

Answer 34

Using recombinant DNA technology, genetic engineers have given C. crescentus a very useful property: surface molecules that bind heavy metals. Researchers hope that this genetically engineered bacterium will provide a safe and inexpensive way to remove heavy metals from a lake that provides drinking water for millions of people

Question 35

Give an example of another technique used to produce genetically modified plants

Answer 35

Another technique, which works to modify corn, is to
use a “DNA gun” to shoot DNA-coated particles into plant cells.

Question 36

Two salmon are the same age, but the salmon at the top is larger than the salmon on the bottom. Give a reason why this could occur.

Answer 36

-Genetic modification
it can make fish that will mature in a shorter time, therefore making some fish that grow at a way faster rate than others

Question 37

What other mammals besides sheep have been cloned?

Answer 37

goats, cows, mice, pigs, cats, and rabbits

Question 38

Why do some consumers think labelling
that clearly identifies GM products should be required

Answer 38

because genetically modified products and non GM products look identical (e.g flax seeds)

Question 39

What are knock-out mice?

Answer 39

Knockout mice are transgenic mice used in medical research. The genome is altered in knockout mice so that a gene no longer functions (the gene is “knocked out”).
This technique is sometimes compared to removing
a part from a car engine, then driving the car to find out what the part was for.
Once the alteration is made in the mice, they are bred in captivity in order to create a population referred to as a “line” of mice with the new trait

Question 40

Give an example of how researchers have used knock-out mice to better understand a disease

Answer 40

Researchers have used knockout mice to better understand obesity. The researchers cloned and bred mice with a defect in the so-called obese (ob) gene. These mice were unable to control their appetites and became obese. By studying these mice, researchers
discovered that the ob gene codes for a protein called leptin, which sends the brain signals of feeling full.

Leptin plays in important role in fat and glucose metabolism. With knowledge gained from the ob
knockout mice studies, researchers are working on treatments for childhood obesity disorders linked to the leptin gene mutation

Question 41

Which kind of model organisms are used to understand the genetic basis for inherited diseases and are important for testing new drugs and therapies?

Answer 41

Knockout mice can help us not only to determine gene functions but also to understand the genetic basis for inherited diseases. These model organisms are also important for testing new drugs and therapies

Question 42

Describe the method used in gene therapy

Answer 42

One method uses viruses that are engineered to contain the therapeutic gene. The modified virus is administered to the patient in order to infect the
person’s cells. The virus inserts the therapeutic gene into the person’s DNA, thereby correcting the missing or malfunctioning gene.
Other possible delivery methods are cell or tissue transplants, microscopic injections, or aerosol inhalers.

Question 43

example of GMO

Answer 43

Caulobacter crescentus bacterium is a natural inhabitant of Lake Erie
Used in bioremediation
They can stick to rocks to create a layer of cells called biofilm
Recombinant DNA technology has allowed scientists to insert genes that make C. crescentus absorb heavy metals in polluted areas

Question 44

Genetically Modified Organism:

Answer 44

any organism with genetic material that has been altered through genetic engineering

Question 45

Transgenic Organism:

Answer 45

has acquired one or more genes from a different type of organism

Question 46

GM plants

Answer 46

Genetic engineering is replacing traditional breeding methods (used by Mendel)
Can improve:
crop yield
size of organism
pest resistance,
delayed ripening,
nutrient value
produce pharmaceuticals
Viral and herbicide resistance

Question 47

Whole plants can be grown from a _____ cell

Answer 47

single plant

Question 48

___________ is a soil bacterium commonly used to introduce new genes into plant cells

Answer 48

Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Question 49

what is Agrobacterium tumefaciens used to make?

Answer 49

Used to create Bt corn

Question 50

Bt corn

Answer 50

Bacillus thuringiensis is a soil bacterium—produces toxin that kills corn borers
Plasmid from this introduced into corn to kill pests that eat it
Leaves corn unharmed

Question 51

GM animals

Answer 51

More complicated process than in plants
Uses In vitro fertilisation techniques
Extracted egg cell combined with sperm in petri dish
Desired gene injected into zygote

Question 52

Pharming

Answer 52

Useful when bacteria can’t produce certain proteins properly
Transgenic animals that produce a large amount of raw materials used for pharmaceuticals
Protein is secreted in the animal’s milk
Protein can be purified

Question 53

cloning

Answer 53

Can clone entire genomes
Scottish scientist Ian Wilmut cloned Dolly the sheep in 1997 – first mammal to be cloned from a somatic cell

Question 54

nuclear transplantation

Answer 54

Nuclear transplantation:
Donor (animal you want to clone) gives nucleus
Unfertilized egg taken from second animal
The entire donor nucleus is inserted into the egg
Mitosis occurs
Embryo implanted into surrogate mother

Question 55

drawbacks of genetic technology

Answer 55

Many embryos do not survive
Can have many health problems if they do survive (Dolly died young and was very sick…)
GMO plants could cross pollinate via wind and affect other non-GMO crops

Question 56

medical research

Answer 56

Knockout genes: a particular gene is inactivated to determine its effect
helped researchers understand obesity
Gene controls obesity, codes for a protein called leptin which signals brain that stomach is full

Question 57

knockout genes

Answer 57

when a particular gene is inactivated to determine its effect

Question 58

the gene that controls obesity, codes for a protein called ______ which signals brain that ____________

Answer 58

leptin; stomach is full

Question 59

gene therapy

Answer 59

Supplementing or replacing malfunctioning genes in an ill individual
Allows for the body to produce proteins it otherwise cannot
Must target specific areas or cells – uses viruses
Modified virus enters body and splices its DNA into host
Currently studying treatment of Huntington’s (neurodegenerative disorder), skin cancer, and cystic fibrosis
Very new, therefore high risk procedure

Question 60

gene therapy definition

Answer 60

Supplementing or replacing malfunctioning genes in an ill individual

Question 61

gene therapy allows for the body to produce ________ it otherwise cannot

Answer 61

proteins

Question 62

potential concerns with GMOs

Answer 62

Transgenic species may be harmful to human health and/or environment

GMOs could cross with native/wild species and cause contamination or uncontrollable “super-organisms”

Pharmaceuticals may have slight molecular differences that can affect their use in humans (allergic rxns, etc.)

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulates genetically engineered organisms

Question 63

There are no laws that require companies to ___________________ in North America

Answer 63

label products as GMO