Chapter 13 Genetic Engineering Outline
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Selective Breeding (Page 319)
Definition: Process of allowing only organisms with desired traits to reproduce the next generation.
Explain the purpose of selective breeding: Humans use selective breeding to take advantage of naturally
occurring genetic variation in plants, animals, and other organisms, to pass on desired traits to the next
generation.
Describe 2 techniques used in selective breeding: 1. Hybridization – cross breeding organisms with different
traits. 2. Inbreeding – continued breeding of organisms that have similar traits.
Why do breeders try to induce mutations? To increase the genetic variation (number of different genes) in a
population.
Manipulating DNA (page 322)
Define Genetic Engineering: Making changes in the DNA code of a living organism,
Explain the entire procedure of gel electrophoresis: DNA is pulled out of a cell. Then the biologist uses a
restriction enzyme to cut up the DNA into short pieces. The DNA pieces are then put into a gel and an
electrical current is applied to it. This causes the DNA pieces to move and spread out in a unique way.
Cell Transformation (Page 327)
Summarize what happens during transformation: During transformation a cell will take in DNA from outside of
the cell, this DNA then becomes part of the cells original DNA.
Explain how you can tell if a transformation experiment has been successful: If the organism expresses the
new DNA. (the new gene)
Genetically Modified Foods (Page 330)
Read the entire article, and then give your opinion: Do you think stricter regulations are needed for GM foods?
*No, because – genetically modified foods contain vitamins and nutrients that many people don’t get in their
diets. These foods can be produced in large amounts and without the use of chemical pesticides. These could
lead to new products in the future.
*Yes, because – genetically modified foods might have negative effects on people, we don’t know enough
about them. These crops could be a danger to the environment like antibiotic resistance that can cause more
dangerous types of bacteria. These plants could also be dangerous to some insects that help us pollinate our
plants.
Transgenic Organisms (Page 331)
Transgenic Organisms are created through the use of Gene Splicing. Describe the process of making a
transgenic organism: a gene is removed from one organism and place into a different organism. That gene is
then expressed in the phenotype of that different organism. For example the glowing gene from fireflies can be
placed in a plant causing the plant to glow in the dark.
Describe how transgenic organisms can be useful to humans: Humans can use these organisms to treat
serious diseases and conditions, like diabetes and hemophilia.
Cloning (Page 333)
Summarize the main steps for cloning an organism: Take an egg cell from a donor, remove the nucleus from
the cell because that is where the DNA is. Remember that eggs cells only have half the number of
chromosomes as the other cells in the body. Next take a body cell from the organism that you want to clone,
and take out the nucleus (remember this nucleus has the full amount of chromosomes) Place the nucleus from
the body cell into the egg cell. This egg now has the full amount of chromosomes so it will divide and grow into
an organism after being implanted into a foster mother.
DNA Fingerprinting (Page 357)
What is DNA fingerprinting? Analysis of sections of DNA in order to identify individuals.
Summarize the process of DNA fingerprinting: through the use of gel electrophoresis (explained above)
Gene Therapy (Page 359)
What is gene therapy? When an absent or faulty (bad) gene is replaced by a normal working one
Describe the practice of gene therapy: Viruses are used to transfer the new normal gene in to replace the
faulty one.
Use the space below for any additional notes on the chapter or class discussion.