Gene Technology and Genetic
Engineering
Grade 12
Grade 12 Outcomes
Stem Cells
Genetic Engineering:
→ Cloning
→ Medicine (production of insulin, vaccines)
→ Agriculture (GMO’s)
Description of ethics and legislation around:
→ Genetic Testing
→ Genetic Counselling
→ Genetic Engineering
→ Cloning
Beliefs, attitudes and values concerning genetic
diseases.
“The advance of genetic engineering makes it quite conceivable that we will begin to
design our own evolutionary progress.”
— Isaac Asimov, The Beginning and the End.
“The pressures for human cloning are powerful; but, although it seems likely that
somebody, at some time, will attempt it, we need not assume that it will ever become
a common or significant feature of human life.”
— Ian Wilmut The Second Creation: Dolly and the Age of Biological Control
Gene Technology
→
Terminology
Broad field which includes all analysis, manipulation and application of genetics.
Genetic Engineering
→
Artificial manipulation of genes, adding or subtracting genetic material.
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO’s)/ Transgenic Organisms
→
Organisms that have had their DNA artificially manipulated.
Cloning (genetic or molecular)
→
A molecular process in which DNA sequences are replicated within host organisms or in vitro.
In vitro
→
Taking place in a culture, test-tube… basically outside an organism.
Selective Breeding
→
The artificial breeding of plants and animals for particular traits.
Stem Cells
→
An undifferentiated cell from a multi-cellular organism that has the potential to give rise to infinite
numbers of the same cell and from which certain other kinds of cells arise from differentiation.
Ethics
→
The branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles.
Legislation
→
Collective set of laws.
Genetic Counselling
→
A healthcare professional who specialises in the education and support of patients and families
regarding inherited disorders.
What’s on your mind?
Stem Cells
An undifferentiated cell from a multi-cellular organism that has the
potential to give rise to infinite numbers of the same cell and from
which certain other kinds of cells arise from differentiation.
The Nature of Stem Cells
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/scin
tro/
Embryonic Stem Cells
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/quickref/
Somatic Stem Cells
Cloning
Natural process
→ Asexual Reproduction
→ Identical Twins
Artifical Embryo Twinning:
→ Older method
→ Fertilized egg cell is removed and stimulated to
divide into two full sets each able to form new
embryo’s.
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)
→ How Dolly was created in 1997
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
http://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=hepoJgGJtNc
Genetic Engineering in Medicine
Preventing and fighting disease.
→ Stem Cell Therapy
→ Therapeutic cloning
→ Gene Therapy
→ SCIDS (severe combined immune deficiency syndrome: "boy in the
bubble")
→ Cancers (including melanoma, hereditary prostate cancer, breast,
and colon cancer) – 2/3rds of research.
→ Cystic fibrosis
→ Hemophilia
→ Rheumatoid arthritis
→ Hunter's syndrome (an inherited sex linked enzyme disorder)
→ Inherited high blood cholesterol
→ Vaccine production (Hepatitis B, influenza, herpes simplex)
→ Drug and hormone production (Insulin)
Producing Insulin
Known as role player in
diabetes for years.
In 1922 Frederick Banting
and Charles Best
successfully treated
diabetic dogs and then an
11 year old boy using dog
insulin from the pancreas.
Initial sources:
→
Cow, horse, pig, porcupine.
Allergic reactions to
impurities in insulin.
1978 Genentech produced
first synthetic human
insulin.
3D Protein structure of Insulin made up of 51 amino acids.
Human Insulin Production
Genetic Engineering in Medicine
Advantages
Preventing and fighting
disease.
Vaccine production
(especially cancers).
Gene Therapy.
Xenotransplatation.
Reproductive Technology
Disadvantages
Arguably the Long term
effects still not known.
Use of Embryo’s in Genetic
Engineering (what is
technically living).
Animal exploitation.
Costly and time
consuming.
Genetic Engineering in Agriculture
GMO’s are not a new thing!
→ Selective breeding/artificial selection has been around for
years.
Genetic Engineering in Agriculture
Thousands of GM foods and products:
→ Tomatoes
→ Tobacco (Quest ® cigarettes with no/low nicotine)
→ Strawberries (resistant to frost)
→ Maize (resistant to pesticides)
→ Beef (leaner meat)
→ Diary cattle (rBST hormone)
→ Pork (grow faster)
Genetic Engineering in Agriculture
Advantages
Increase crop production.
Increase livestock
production.
Help solve food security
issues.
Reduce environmental risk
from pesticides/fertilizers.
Reduce pollution and
waste (production of GM
biofuels)
Disadvantages
Long term effects still not
known.
Affect the biodiversity.
Negatively impact
environment (create alien
invasive plants).
Retard natural selection
normal evolutionary
processes.
Genetic Testing & Genetic Counselling
DNA profiling
→ Detecting and
preventing crime
→ Mapping Genetic
Disorders
Choice to
address and seek
professional help
Bioethics in Gene Technology
Ethical, legal and social implications
surrounding:
→ Fairness in the use of genetic information
→ Privacy and confidentiality
→ Psychological impact and stigmatization
→ Beliefs, attitudes and values
concerning genetic diseases
→ Commercialization of products including
property rights
→ Seed patency
→ Reproductive issues
→ Larger societal issues raised with
reproductive technologies
→ Uncertainties associated with gene tests
→ Conceptual and philosophical
implications
→ Free will versus genetic determinism
→ Health and environmental issues
concerning genetically modified foods
Genetic Engineering legislation in
South Africa
In terms of human genetic modification technologies:
→
National Health Act and the ethics research guidelines issued by the Minister of Health.
Under the Act, “the manipulation of any genetic material, including human gametes,
zygotes or embryos” is explicitly prohibited. Violation of the ban is punishable with
imprisonment for up to five years and/or the imposition of fines (Art. 62).
→ National Health Act, (2003),
http://www.parliament.gov.za/pls/portal/web_app.utl_output_doc?p_ta
ble=acts&p_doc_col=act_doc&p_mime_col=mime_type&p_id=606077
In terms of GMO’s (except humans):
→
“To provide for measures to promote the responsible development, production, use and
application of genetically modified organisms; to ensure that all activities involving the
use of genetically modified organisms (including importation, production, release and
distribution) shall be carried out in such a way as to limit possible harmful
consequences…”
→ Genetically Modified Organisms Act, (1997),
http://www.info.gov.za/acts/1997/act15.htm
Beliefs, attitudes and values regarding
Genetic Disorders
Cultural and Societal
influences
→ Religion and spirituality
→ Marginalization
→ Chinese “Yousheng” healthy
birth policy (eugenics)
Socioeconomic impact
→ Access to information and
exposure
Education
→ Understanding of genetic
disorders
To answer your questions…
Bibliography
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