Some basic ideas about GENETIC
ENGINEERING and some related ethical and
social concerns.
Introduction
We select the topic of Genetic Engineering because it is a current issue which appears in
the media very often and sometimes it is not very well understood even for those who
talk about it publicly.
The aim is to clarify some basic concepts and to make our students reflect on the
matter.
Another important goal of this activity is to stimulate students to use English:
 to explore the internet and to read some information on the selected scientific
issue
 to practice listening and speaking while working in groups and presenting their
reports in front of the class
 to develop or improve writing and ITC abilities while working on the group
presentation or report.
This work is prepared for learners who study Biology and Geology 4º ESO partially in
English. The topic is related to the Part 2 of the subject (Life evolution), included in the
Unit 2: Genetic Information. It is such a hot debate issue that concerns everyone in
society and, because of that, it would most likely stimulate learners’ motivation.
The whole activity would take about 4 sessions.
Task and process:
What do you know about GMOs? Why are the scientists so excited about Genetic
Engineering? Whom will the technology help? What does this mean for me and for people
in general? Why are some ethicists and ecologists so worried about Genetic Engineering?
Does it have the potential to hurt anyone or anything? Why or why not should scientist go
further in their researching on Genetic Engineering? Who will decide it? How?
This task will help you to explore, understand and criticize what genetic engineering
means and its effects on our health, environment, etc.
You have to choose one of the topics and find other classmates interested in the same
matter. Then you can use the web sites below as a starting point for your previous
homework consisting of gathering some information about the item. After that you
have to share and discuss your information with your group partners and summarize the
main ideas in order to make your report or presentation. Remember to write down the
main web sites you took your information from (2 lessons). Finally you have to explain
your presentation in front of the class and listening to other groups’ reports (2 more
lessons)
As an additional ITC task each group has to look on the Internet for an interview, a
current piece of news or information about Aragonese scientists or researching groups in
GE, GMOs, etc. You might want to follow the suggested links given on the section
Actividades complementarias con TIC links at the end of this paper to carry out your
task. Each team should write a brief summary about the selected item that might help
you to improve your final mark.
Suggested points for further investigation, some related questions and pages
to carry out each group task:

Introduction to basic Techniques


Find three different ways in which genetic engineering is used. Explain at list
two examples including the general method used in each case.
http://www.ifgene.org/beginner.htm
Genetically modified foods or organisms
Some questions to focus on:
 What are GE foods?
 Are genetically engineered food or organisms safe? Are they necessary? Are
they destroying our environment?
 What do we need to know about genetically engineered food as consumers?
 Should genetically engineered food be labelled and why?
Other useful links:
Against GE foods (Green peace) http://truefoodnow.org/ In this website you can
find specific new articles related to the topic like:
http://truefoodnow.org/genetically-engineered-foods/;
http://truefoodnow.org/genetically-engineered-foods/ge-crops/
Arguments for and against GE http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/exist/ .
GE animals http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/ge_animals011509.html

Cloning
Some questions to focus on:
 What is cloning and how it is done?
Why clone?
What are the potential benefits and risks of animal cloning? Is it necessary?
Facts and myths
 What human cloning means?
 What are the potential benefits and risks of human cloning?
Other useful links:
Animal cloning: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/animal-cloning/
Human cloning: http://www.humancloning.org/allthe.html Reasons
http://www.articleswave.com/science-articles/benefits-of-humancloning.html
To learn more (in a funny way) go to the section ‘All about cloning’
To learn more (full information)
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml
http://science.howstuffworks.com/genetic-science/cloning.htm
Darker and lighter sides of Human genetic engineering:


http://www.buzzle.com/articles/human-genetic-engineering.html
Related useful links
Glossary about Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x3910e/x3910e00.htm (FAO, 1999)
http://www.ifgene.org/glossary.htm
http://www.fao.org/biotech/index_glossary.asp
Dangers and risks of Genetic Engineering
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_genetic_en
gineering/risks-of-genetic-engineering.html
Brief http://www.nutball.com/joy/breitmjp2/geneticbad.html
Benefits of GE
Brief: http://www.nutball.com/joy/breitmjp2/geneticgood.html
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/benefits-of-genetic-engineering.html
http://ucsusa.wsm.ga3.org/food_and_environment/genetic_engineering/potentialbenefits-of-genetic-engineering.html
Pros and cons
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_advantages_and_disadvantages_of_genetic_
engineering
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-genetic-engineering.html
http://www.ifgene.org/proscons.htm
History of Biotechnology:
http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BA/aapost/howold.php
Main uses of biotechnology:
http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BA/aapost/remember.php
Actividades complementarias con TIC
Como final de la actividad sobre ingeniería genética cada equipo de alumnos debe
buscar en Internet y seleccionar alguna entrevista, información o noticia reciente
referida a Aragón y relacionada con los organismos transgénicos y la ingeniería
genética, de la que entregará un resumen escrito, que servirá para redondear al
alza la calificación global correspondiente a toda la tarea.
Para conocer grupos y líneas de
investigación en Ingeniería genética
en Aragón pueden resultar útiles los siguientes links:

Equipo del Laboratorio de Genética Bioquímica (Lagenbio)
http://www.unizar.es/lagenbio/investigacion.html

Entrevista a Pilar Zaragoza, Catedrática de Genética y miembro de grupo
de Ing. Genética de Lagenbio
http://www.aragoninvestiga.com/documentacion/biblioteca_detalle.asp?id_biblio
teca=256&fecha=&titulo=&id_tipo=0&intPagActual=4&categoria=&id_categoria

Terapia génica en Aragón
http://www.aragoninvestiga.org/investigacion/temas_detalle.asp?id_tema=136
http://www.aragoninvestiga.org/investigacion/temas_todo.asp?id_tema=136&int
PagActual=1&categoria=Ciencias+Biom%E9dicas&id_categoria=361

Noticia sobre vacuna antituberculosis desarrollada en Aragón mediante
IG. (Heraldo de Aragón, 15 Abril 2009)
http://noticias.ont.es/ficheros/37176876.pdf

Noticias recientes sobre Aragón y OGM (Org. Genét. Modificados)
 Manifestación 18 Ab 09 Contra los transgénicos.
 Sobre el beneficio de los transgénicos para evitar insecticidas tóxicos
contra el taladro del maíz:
http://www.consumer.es/seguridad-alimentaria /2009/04/16/184753.php
 Sobre
liderazgo de Aragón en la producción de transgénicos:
http://www.greenpeace.org/espana/news/greenpeace-llega-a-arag-n-para
http://chacortes.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/preocupanteliderazgo-de-aragon-en-produccion-de-transgenicos/
 Sobre maíz transgénico de Aragón que contamina cultivos ecológicos.
http://www.cooperativaxoaninha.org/spip/spip.php?article86
 Proposición de ley 22/08 para declarar Aragón territorio libre de
transgénicos:
http://bases.cortesaragon.es/bases/boca2.nsf/(D)/950B5DA396FD8
632C12573FE003447B8?OpenDocument