MODERN GENETICS USES DNA TECHNOLOGY CHANGES IN DNA CAN CHANGE AN ORGANISM (via selective breeding and genetic engineering) Random DNA changes may introduce new traits into an organism. Over time certain traits may be more common in 1 group as they interact with environment. THERE ARE RISKS & BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING DNA TECHNOLOGY HAS MANY APPLICATIONS (through DNA identification and Studying Genomes).

DNA CHANGES CHANGING AN ORGANISM SELECTIVE BREEDING: selecting and breeding parent organisms to pass on particular traits to offspring. People were not changing DNA, just letting certain alleles become more common in a particular breed. Different breeds of dogs show this.

CHANGING ORGANISMS Genetic Engineering: a sequence of DNA from an organism is isolated, changed, & returned to an organism or another organism. (can take gene from one species and transfer it into DNA of another). The resulting organism is genetically modified or (GM). Genetically modified plants have insect-resistant genes from micro-organisms spliced into their DNA, protecting them from bugs. Genetically modified tomatoes are now able to grow in very salty soil like the cabbage they received a gene from.

Risks & Benefits with Genetic Engineering Most everyone has eaten GM corn/soybeans. They are insect resistant, so increases food production, and less chemical pesticides needed, so less environmental pollution. Many worry of possible effects on humans. Also, what if they cross-breed so weeds grow out of control. Scientists try to keep genetically modified plants and animals out of the general population in case it would have a negative effect on the natural wild population. Much debate continues dealing with this issue.

DNA TECHNOLOGY HAS MANY USES DNA technology can be used to add nutrients to food, make new & better drugs, see if a drug might cause side effects, screen for and maybe treat genetic disorders. Law enforcement uses DNA fingerprinting (unique unless identical twin) to solve crimes. The more matches between crime scene DNA and suspect’s DNA, the higher the probability suspect is guilty. Experts recommend 4-6 DNA regions be matched to establish guilt (chances are very small someone else would have the same DNA for this number of regions).

DNA technology GENOME: all the genetic material in an organism. HUMAN GENOME PROJECT: tried to sequence the 3 billion nucleotide pairs in a single set of human chromosomes. First sequence finished in 2001, now scientists working to identify the 30,000 genes found We as a society have to decide when it is acceptable to change DNA & how to use the technology we have.

DNA technology continued CLONING: a technique using technology to make copies of DNA. Can be used for a segment of DNA or an entire organism. Cloning has been used with bacteria to make protein & drugs to help fight disease (human insulin from GM bacteria cloned) First mammal cloned in 1996, Dolly the sheep. Ability to clone such a complex animal raises many concerns about the future use of cloning.