Note Taking Guide Key
Topic # 3031
The Importance of Improved Genetics
By: Rick Sokol
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Biotechnology In Agriscience
New forms of plants and animals
Improved plant and animal life processes
Improved quality and kind of foods
Genetics
• Traits parents pass to their offspring.
• The difference between animals within the same species is called variability.
• Traits that always show up in the offspring if they are present are said to be
dominant; traits that can be covered up by other traits are recessive. A dominant trait in
cattle is polled cattle. Recessive is red cattle.
Double Helix
• Two strands of DNA are twisted around forming a spiral structure.
• Because of the “rung” structure, segments of DNA can be cut out and new ones
inserted.
• The information in an organism that causes it to function is its genetic code.
• Mutations are changes in the genes and chromosomes; can be genetic and physical
differences. Larger fruits is an example.
Genetic Engineering
• The genetic information in the cell is changed or used to make a product. Sections of
DNA molecules may be cut out and new sections inserted.
• DNA of two different organisms may be combined.
• E. coli bacteria are most often used as carriers of new DNA (vectors) into the cell.
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Ways Genetic Engineering Benefits
Herbicide, Insect, and Disease -Resistant Plants
Transgenic Animals
Frost Protection
Longer Storage Life
New Animal Products
Greater Fertility
• SUPEROVULATION - Injecting a cow with a hormone, such as gonadotropin -the cow may release 8-20 eggs during estrus instead of one egg
• EMBYRO TRANSFER – Flushing an embryo from its dam and placing it in another
female recipient to carry to term. Embryos are transferred seven days after fertilization.
More Production
• Milk Hormones – Inject BST to cows for increased milk production.
• Meat Hormones - Use PST on hogs to produce more muscle.
• Growth Implants – Insert a small pellet under the skin of animals to promote
growth.
• Ammoniating Hay - Treat low quality hay with ammonia to increase protein
content and digestibility.
• Controlled Feeding - Cattle fitted with sensors allowing the animal to eat its’
specific feed ration.
Aquaculture
• SPAWNING - Aquafarmers induce spawning by injecting the female fish with
gonadotropin.
• HATCHING - Artificially hatching eggs involves regulating water movement,
temperature and oxygen level.
• SEX CHANGES - Some species don’t grow well when males and females are left
together; scientists developed a way of changing the sex of newly-hatched fry.
Marketing Strategies
• Food products are produced in different shapes and forms to encourage people to
buy them.
• Miniature vegetables: baby corn and carrots
• The round carrot can be sold for a higher price; the nutritional value is the same.
Predicting the Future
• PLANT GROWTH CHAMBERS - Used to study the effects of changes in the
environment on plants
• COMPUTER SIMULATIONS - Examples of simulations include cropping models
and erosion.
• OTHER EXAMPLES - Using growth regulators, forcing plants, using wastes as
feed
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Issues Concerning The Public Regarding Biotechnology
Uncertainty
Dangers in new life forms
Keep organisms “natural”
Unhealthy food
Labeling
Ethics of joining plants and animals
Lack of information