Selective Breeding and Transgenics

Selective Breeding Selective breeding is the breeding of individuals of desired traits, in order to combine desired traits in offspring.

Genetic Engineering (AKA gene slicing, AKA Recombinant DNA) Adding a gene from a different organism to a new organism, so the new organism will express those traits. Example: Bacteria producing insulin and medications

How it’s done Restriction enzyme is added to both the donor DNA and the host DNA. (Host DNA is often a plasmid—a ring of bacteria DNA) Bacteria are often used to make insulin and medicine because they are single celled (easy to manipulate), have a single ring of DNA (plasmid) and reproduce asexually and rapidly.

Step 1: Restriction Enzyme

What it is NOT

BUT…believe it or not…

Environmental Effects on Gene Expression

Hydrangea color is soil pH dependent

Genetically Modified Food