Download Pharming for Farmaceuticals

Name: _______________________________ Period: _______ Date: ___________________
KIPP NYC College Prep
Genetics and Biotech
UNIT 10: Genetic Engineering
Lecture 4: GMOs Paper and Evaluation day #3!
By the end of today, you will have an answer to:
Is it good to genetically modify your organism?
Do NOW:
1. What part of the presentation do you feel confident about?
2. What else do you have to do?
3. How can Mr. Becker help?
Pharming for Farmaceuticals
Pharming: it's not just another misspelled word! The term "pharming" comes from a combination of the words
"farming" and "pharmaceuticals." It's a melding of the most basic methods of agriculture with the most
advanced biotechnology.
Gene pharming is a technology that scientists use to alter an animal's own DNA, or to splice in new DNA,
called a transgene, from another species. In pharming, these genetically modified (transgenic) animals are used
mostly to make human proteins that have medicinal value. The protein encoded by the transgene is secreted into
the animal's milk, eggs, or blood, and then collected and purified. Livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats,
chickens, rabbits, and pigs have already been modified in this way to produce several useful proteins and drugs.
Spiderman II: Spidergoat?
It sounds like a sequel to "Spiderman: The Movie"—Spidergoat! OK, maybe not, but it is a very interesting application of
transgenics. The dragline form of spider silk is regarded as the strongest material known; it's 5 times stronger than steel
and twice as strong as Kevlar. People have actually tried starting "spider farms" to harvest silk, but the spiders are too
aggressive and territorial to live close together. They also like to eat each other.
Though the genes for dragline silk were isolated several years ago, attempts to produce it in bacterial and mammalian cell
culture have failed. When the genes were put into a goat and expressed in the mammary glands, however, the animal
produced silk proteins in its milk that could be spun into a fine thread with all the properties of spider-made silk. This
material can be used to make lighter, stronger bulletproof vests, thinner thread for surgery, and stitches or indestructible
clothes.
Part I: The Public Service Announcement (30 points)
This is the crux of your project. The presentation should be clear and informative. It should detail some
background information, how and why your organism is modified, risks or benefits (depending on your
viewpoint). It should be creative and flow nicely from segment to segment. This is a group assignment.
Information is clearly
depicted in an organized
manner.
Background Information:
problem GMO trying to
solve or WHY???
How organism is modified:
the science behind the
modification
Benefit OR Risk
5
4
3
Comments:
2
1
5
4
3
Comments:
2
1
5
4
3
Comments:
2
1
5
4
3
Comments:
2
1
Creativity—was this
presented in an interesting
way.
Five different sources
5
4
3
Comments:
2
1
5
4
3
Comments:
2
1
Presentations will begin Wednesday, March 4 and end Thursday, March 5.
Part II: Critical Analysis Paper (20 points)
Here, you will get a chance to analyze another groups’ public service announcement. You will have to
summarize their presentation, evaluate its effectiveness and reflect on your overall feelings about the use of
GMOs in a one-page 1 ½-spaced document. This is an individual assignment.
Summary of PSA’s
viewpoint
5
4
3
Comments:
2
1
Information conveyed in
the PSA that you found
particularly interesting
Evaluation—how well you
think the other group stated
their point of view.
Your personal point of view
concerning the usage of
GMOs.
5
4
3
Comments:
2
1
5
4
3
Comments:
2
1
5
4
3
Comments:
2
1
The paper will be due Monday, March 9.

This project is worth 50 points. It is part of the Evaluation category.
________________ /50 points