1. Activity 1
Genetic Techniques

2. Activity 1: Genetic Techniques
Directions: Using the information from the PowerPoint, fill out the charts in your guided notes.
You will have minutes to complete this task.

3. Genetic Engineering
Taking the DNA from one organism and inserting this DNA into a DIFFERENT organism
Purpose
Some organisms such as humans are unable to produce certain molecules that they need to survive.
Scientists insert the genes (pieces of DNA) that contain the instructions for making these molecules.

4. Procedure: Genetic Engineering
Step 1: Take a piece of DNA that codes for a specific trait (a gene) from Organism 1
Step 2: Insert the gene into a DIFFERENT organism: Organism 2
Outcome
Organism 2 will now either:
A. Express a certain trait (physical characteristic) unique to organism 1
B. Produce a molecule that is usually produced by organism 1

5. Example: Genetic Engineering
A gene for producing insulin in humans is inserted into bacteria.
Now the bacteria AND its offspring will make insulin because they have that gene.

6. Selective Breeding
When humans intentionally (on purpose) breed certain animals together because of their desirable traits.
Purpose
We want our animals and food to have certain traits that make them:
Taste good
Be resistant to disease
Live in extreme conditions
make more products

7. Procedure: Selective Breeding
Step 1: Find two animals OR plants that contain traits that you want to see in the offspring.
Step 2: Breed (make them have sex) these two organisms together
Outcome
- Offspring that will have the desirable traits of both their parents

8. Example: Selective Breeding
A dog owner wants a dog that will have long smooth hair that does not shed.
A Poodle has long hair that is smooth but it sheds.
A Labrador has short hair that is rough but that does not shed.
We breed these two dogs together.
Outcome:
Some of the offspring with have long hair that is smooth but that does not shed.

10. Cloning Making an identical copy of an animal or plant.
Because plants are asexual, the offspring are ALWAYS clones of the parent plant.

11. Cloning
However, for organisms that sexually reproduce, there is a procedure that must be followed.
Purpose
To produce more of a certain organism because they:
Are going extinct
Contain some desirable trait

12. Procedure: Cloning Outcome
Step 1: Take an egg cell from Organism 1 and remove the nucleus from the egg
Step 2: Take a body cell from a second organism: Organism 2
Step 3: Place the nucleus of this body cell from Organism 2 into the egg cell
Step 4: Place the egg cell with this nucleus into Organism 3
Step 5: Organism 3 becomes pregnant and has offspring
Outcome
The offspring is genetically identical (has the same DNA) as the organism whose nucleus was placed in the egg cell
In this case it is Organism 2

13. Example: Cloning You have an egg cell from a dog.
1. You take out the nucleus of the dog egg cell
2. You take a skin cell (body cell) from a dog named Sally
3. You place the nucleus of Sally’s skin cell into the egg cell
4. You place this egg cell with Sally’s nucleus into another dog named Maggie
5. Maggie gets pregnant and has a puppy.
6. The puppy is identical to Sally.