Genetic Technology Grade 9 Reproduction Unit

Artificial Selection  Artificial selection is the process of intentional modification of a species through human actions which encourage the breeding of certain traits over others

What is the purpose of artificial selection?  Scientists alter the DNA of many organisms in order to improve their use to some people  Examples:  Crops can be changed to be tolerant to drought and frost  Animals can be changed to be more productive

Can artificial selection be dangerous?  Yes  If all the individuals of one species have the same or very similar DNA, then genetic diversity is reduced  Without genetic diversity, disease may spread more quickly  Example- Irish potato famine

Genetic Technology 1) Selective Breeding  Selective breeding is the process of breeding individuals with desirable traits to produce offspring that also have these desirable traits  Example- the grains and fruits you eat  Example- breeding champion horses

Genetic Technology 2) Genetic Engineering  Genetic engineering refers to any technology that directly alters the DNA of an organism  Most genetic engineering involves inserting a gene from one species into another species  Example - bacteria that are engineering to produce insulin - bacteria reproduce so quickly that most of the worlds insulin supply comes from genetically engineered bacteria

Genetic Technology 3) Cloning  Cloning is the process of forming identical offspring from a single cell  Because the clone comes from a single parent, its DNA is identical to the parent  Example - many plants are reproduced by cloning

Genetic Technology 4) Genetically Modified Organisms  GMO’s are any organism in which the DNA has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally by mating  Example - a bell pepper may have DNA from a fish added to it to make it more frost tolerant