1. Genetics, Technology, Society,
And the Environment!

2. GMOs (genetically modified organisms)
Scientists can alter the genes of many different organisms in order to improve their use to people.
Example: COWS!
Cows can have their genes modified in order to produce more milk, and resist diseases.

3. Example: CANOLA!
Agricultural companies have developed canola that is genetically modified to resist herbicides (“Round-Up Ready”)!

4. Biotechnology
Biotechnology describe the use or modification of living things to improve our lives in areas such as medicine, agriculture, and engineering.

5. Selecting Desirable Traits
Selective breeding is the process of selecting and breeding individuals with desirable traits to produce offspring that also have these desired traits.
Example: Horse breeding. Breeders will combine the genes of two champion parents, in hopes of creating offspring that have the prized traits.

6. Example: Corn! Indigenous people have been selectively breeding corn for centuries. Corn was originally bred from teosinte!

7. Artificial Reproductive Technology
Artificial reproductive technology refers to any artificial method of joining a male and a female gamete.
Example: Artificial Insemination (AI). AI is where sperm in collected from a chosen male and inserted into one or many females.
HUGE advantages:
Faster
Safer
Can be used more than once!

8. Example: In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Example: In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Where sperm from a male and eggs from a female are collected.
In a lab, the eggs and sperm are combined in a petri dish to fertilize the eggs. Each embryo is this placed in a female.
Scientists can also determine the sex of the embryos before they are implanted!!
How is this good and bad?

9. Genetic Engineering (GE)
Genetic engineering refers to any technology process that directly alters the DNA of an organism.
Much genetic engineering involves inserting a gene from one species into another species.
Example: Bacteria are GE to produce medicines such as insulin! The human insulin-producing gene is inserted into a bacterium’s DNA.

10. Risks of Biotechnology
Scientists and breeders can produce clones of a single animal.
Review: Why can clones be a bad thing?
Cloning and genetic engineering have been fraught with difficulties. Cattle cloners have reported numerous examples of unsuccessful pregnancies, birth defects, and deaths among clones.

11. Accidental Changes to DNA
Sometimes DNA is inadvertently altered or damaged by environmental factors and personal choices.
Usually, the cell will detect the change and either fix it or the cell is destroyed.
However, if the damage is not detected, normal cell function can be disrupted and diseases, such as cancer, can result.

12. 1. Carcinogens
These chemicals can change a cell’s DNA or change the way a cell reproduces.
Examples:

13. 2. Sun Exposure
Overexposure to the ultraviolet rays from sunlight and from tanning beds is a major cause of skin cancer.

14. Genetic Conditions
A genetic condition is a disease or disorder that is caused by damaged or faulty DNA.
Genetic conditions can be caused by:
1. The combination of alleles. Genetic conditions are caused by recessive alleles. (this is why they are rare.)
2. An error in the copying of DNA during cell reproduction.

15. Examples of Genetic Conditions:
1. Male Infertility: Approximately 10% of all male infertility cases are recognized as a genetic condition.
2. Breast Cancer: Approx. 10% of breast cancers are genetic!

16. Sex-linked genetic conditions: (In humans, our sex chromosomes are the X chromosome and the Y chromosome. Females: XX and Males: XY.
3. Colour Blindness (sex-linked):

18. 4. Hemophilia (sex-linked): Linked to the X chromosome
4. Hemophilia (sex-linked): Linked to the X chromosome. A disease where the blood is unable to clot.

19. 5. Trisomy 21 (formerly Down Syndrome): Where the individual has an extra, or third, chromosome 21.