Download Designer Genes The Science and Ethics

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Program Support Notes
Senior Secondary - TAFE
Designer Genes
The Science and Ethics
Program Support Notes by Dr.
Nicholas Kallincos,
PhD Biochemistry
Produced by VEA Pty Ltd
Commissioning Editor Sven Shepherd B.Ed.
Executive Producer Simon Garner B.Ed.
© VEA Inc Pty Ltd 2009
Suitable for:
Biology
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28mins
Designer Genes – The Science and Ethics
For Teachers:
Introduction
Since its discovery in 1953 mankind has been increasingly fascinated with DNA; the genetic blueprint.
From the selective breeding of plants and animals in agriculture and the production of recombinant
proteins for medical purposes, to the more recent cloning of whole animals, science has investigated
ways of manipulating the basic genetic code. This program gives a brief overview of the basic science
behind DNA and examines how and why genetic engineering has developed. Some of the ways genetic
manipulation is being utilised in medicine, agriculture and the environment is explored as well as the
range of ethical questions arising from genetic engineering and the manipulation of DNA to produce so
called “designer genes”.
Program Timeline
00:00:00
00:01:28
00:04:51
00:08:41
00:14:57
00:18:59
00:23:32
00:26:51
00:27:35
00:28:22
Introduction
Genetic manipulation: the basics
Genetic manipulation: what, why and how
Human uses of genetic manipulation
Agricultural uses of genetic manipulation
Environmental uses of genetic manipulation
Ethical issues
Conclusion
Credits
End program
Website References
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http:nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/dna_double_helix/readmore.html
www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/medicine/genetherapy.shtml
http://www.csiro.au/science/Biotechnology.html
Other Relevant Programs available from VEA
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•
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Genetic Stem Cells and Society
Genes and Cloning
Gene Technology
Understanding Stem Cells
Please visit our website for more relevant programs www.veavideo.com
VEA – Bringing learning to life
-2© VEA Inc. Pty Ltd 2009
Designer Genes – The Science and Ethics
Student Worksheet:
Before Viewing the Program
1.
What is a gene?
2.
What is a gene composed of?
3.
Where would you find a gene in a cell?
4.
What is DNA short for?
5.
Give two possible uses of genetic engineering.
6.
Give two ethical concerns of genetic manipulation.
-3© VEA Inc. Pty Ltd 2009
Designer Genes – The Science and Ethics
While Viewing the Program
1.
Our genes are made up of? (circle the 2 correct answers)
Chromosomes
2.
Building blocks
DNA
Nucleotide base pairs
Place the following in order of largest to smallest.
Nucleus
cell
organ
promoter region
chromosome
nucleotide
3.
If the double helix is described as being like a ladder, what are the rungs made of?
4.
In DNA, A binds to
5.
The process by which DNA is copied to produce a single strand of RNA is called?
6.
The process by which DNA is decoded to make a protein is called?
7.
Each triplet of bases that is read in DNA is called a
single
and
binds to C only.
and corresponds to a
acid.
8.
The three main regions of a gene are called?
9.
Non-coding regions of DNA are also called
gene
DNA.
10. What is a mutation?
11. What does PCR stand for?
12. What is PCR used for?
-4© VEA Inc. Pty Ltd 2009
Designer Genes – The Science and Ethics
13. List at least two different types of cloning.
14. What do we mean when we say an animal is transgenic?
15. Explain how a transgenic animal may be used in medical research.
16. How does “Gene therapy” propose to work?
17. Give one example of disease that might be amenable to gene therapy?
18. What is xenotransplantation?
19. Proteins produced by biotechnology are called
20. Give an example of recombinant a protein.
-5© VEA Inc. Pty Ltd 2009
proteins.
Designer Genes – The Science and Ethics
21. Give two examples of how transgenic plants may be of benefit to agriculture?
22. What two major environmental issues could be tackled using genetic manipulation?
23. List three ethical concerns associated with genetic engineering?
-6© VEA Inc. Pty Ltd 2009
Designer Genes – The Science and Ethics
After Viewing the Program
1.
Find a newspaper/magazine article from the past year that mentions something to do with genetic
engineering. Discuss it with your class.
2.
Invent your own sensational news headline concerning “Designer Genes” and write a short news
article to accompany it. Post it on a class blog of similar articles.
3.
The science magazine you publish is putting out its first issue. Write your own editorial piece (at
least 1 page) on the benefits and dangers of genetic engineering.
4.
Put together a collage (using images, texts found in magazines/ newspapers or printed from the
web) that illustrates either the benefits or the dangers of genetic engineering.
5.
Imagine you are a scientist that has been given the job of explaining the basics of DNA to a group
of uninformed citizens. Prepare a 5 minute presentation to explain the basics of DNA and how it is
manipulated by scientists in genetic engineering. Use diagrams to help.
6.
Do an audio/video or vox pop of people within the school (using a tape recorder or digital
sound/video recorder). Record the answers to these questions.
•
•
What does genetic engineering mean to you?
Do you think it is useful or dangerous?
a)
Edit this audio material to create a podcast program on “Designer Genes” with you or your
classmates as the voice/face of the presenter.
7.
Design a survey to find out what your class/school thinks are the ethical questions surrounding
genetic engineering.
-7© VEA Inc. Pty Ltd 2009
Designer Genes – The Science and Ethics
Suggested Student Responses
While Viewing the Program
1.
Our genes are made up of? (circle the 2 correct answers)
Chromosomes
2.
DNA
Building blocks
Nucleotide base pairs
Place the following in order from largest to smallest.
Nucleus
Organ
cell
Cell
organ
Nucleus
promoter region
Chromosome
chromosome
Gene
nucleotide
Promoter region
gene
Nucleotide
3.
If the double helix is described as being like a ladder, what are the rungs made of?
Nucleotides or base pairs (A C G T)
4.
In DNA, A binds to T and G binds to C only.
5.
The process by which DNA is copied to produce a single strand of RNA is called?
Transcription
6.
The process by which DNA is decoded to make a protein is called?
Protein synthesis or translation
7.
Each triplet of bases that is read in DNA is called a codon and corresponds to a single amino acid.
8.
The three main regions of a gene are called?
The promoter
Coding region
The stop codon (signal)
9.
Non-coding regions of DNA are also called Junk DNA.
10. What is a mutation?
Any change in the genetic code, or alteration of DNA’s structure
11. What does PCR stand for?
Polymerase Chain Reaction
12. What is PCR used for?
PCR is used to amplify up small amounts of DNA like a molecular photocopy machine. i.e. to
increase the amount of DNA for scientists to work with.
13. List at least two different types of cloning.
Molecular cloning
Cellular cloning
Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) cloning
14. What do we mean when we say an animal is transgenic?
We mean that the animal has had a new gene inserted into its genome or its DNA. i.e. it has a
foreign piece of DNA in its cells.
-8© VEA Inc. Pty Ltd 2009
Designer Genes – The Science and Ethics
15. Explain how a transgenic animal may be used in medical research.
A transgenic animal may have a gene inserted that makes it a model for a particular human
disease. Scientists can then examine the animal model to look for ways of correcting the
disease.
16. How does “Gene therapy” propose to work?
Gene therapy is aimed at diseases in which a certain protein is lacking due to its gene being
mutated. If a “good’ functional copy of the gene is inserted into the patient’s cells using a
vector, the missing protein can be synthesised again, making up for its original deficit.
17. Give one example of disease that might be amenable to gene therapy?
Cystic fibrosis
Muscular dystrophy
Some leukemia
Cancers
18. What is xenotransplantation?
Xenotransplantation involves the genetic modification of animal organs (generally pigs) to
look/behave like human organs so they are not rejected from a human during
transplantation. The immune system is tricked into thinking the organs are “self” as
proteins on their surface have been modified to resemble their human counterparts.
19. Proteins produced by biotechnology are called recombinant proteins
20. Give an example of recombinant a protein
Insulin
Growth hormone
21. Give two examples of how transgenic plants may be of benefit to agriculture?
Pest resistance of crops, herbicide resistance of crops, disease resistance, enhanced tolerance
to environment (salinity, low water etc)
22. What two major environmental issues could be tackled using genetic manipulation?
Crops that are able to be grown in high salt conditions, or with less water would mean less
land/water would be used to grow food.
The use of genetically modified bacteria and plants to clean up toxic chemical spillages.
The development of technologies that prevent pest species from breeding.
23. List three ethical concerns associated with Genetic Engineering?
Spread of modified organisms in the environment
Modification of babies for desirable/ removal of undesirable traits
Modification for cosmetic reasons
Who will have access to the benefits of the technologies?
Are we playing god with animal cloning?
Health risks of genetic modification of foods
Risks of gene doping in athletes.
-9© VEA Inc. Pty Ltd 2009