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Fictional Characters
Created by Biotechnology
Terminology

I. Humans use selective breeding to pass on
desired traits to the next generations of
organisms.

Hybridization: breeding technique that involves
crossing dissimilar organisms to bring together
the best of both traits. Ex. Mocking Jay,
Grafting Plants etc.

Inbreeding: continued breeding of organisms
with similar traits.
-Ex. purebred animals
 The
ultimate source of genetic
variability is from mutations
 Genetic
engineering: process of
making changes in the DNA
code of an organism
 Transformation:
a cell takes in DNA from
an outside cell which becomes part of
the cell’s own DNA
 Recombinant
DNA: combined DNA from
two different sources/species
 Transgenic:
organisms that contains
another species DNA, contains
recombinant DNA
Real Life Transgenic Organisms
http://dsc.discovery.com/technology/tech-10/genetic-engineering/10-transgenic-animals-04.html
http://dsc.discovery.com/technology/tech-10/genetic-engineering/10-transgenic-animals-03.html
So what is all this about
GMOs?

Genetically Modified Organisms
General Term for any organism that has DNA
changed from natural state using genetic
engineering techniques
- includes transgenic organisms
- does not include hybrids
- include micro-organisms such as bacteria,
yeast, insects, plants, fish, and mammals
ISN Activity:
In the movie “The Hunger Games,” the
Capitol (a term used to refer to what we would call the government)
produced genetically enhanced birds called
jabberjays to spy on rebels. Unexpectedly,
these birds bred with mockingbirds,
creating a new hybrid bird called the
mockingjay.
The Capitol did not intend for this to
happen, and the bird became a symbol of
rebellion.
Fictional Transgenic
Organisms
• Jabberjays
• Mockingjay
• Tracker Jackers
thehungergames.wikia.com
• What lessons can we conclude about
genetic engineering from these examples?
• Could a scenario like this, where a
genetically engineered organism
hybridizes with a wild animal or plant,
happen in the real world?
-Why or why not?
• What Biotech method are these
examples of?
Group Activity
Within your group, research a fictional transgenic
organism from other fictional books, movies
cartoons, or TV shows.
Research Must Include…
•
•
A brief summary about the Biotech Character
Description of the organism’s
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origin
significance for being created
realistic and unrealistic behaviors
habitat
diet
unusual abilities
• Description on how this organism was either harmful
or beneficial to the characters in the plot of the story
• Explanation of Biotechnological Method