Download PROS AND CONS OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

PROS AND CONS OF
GENETIC ENGINEERING
FEBRUARY 7, 2013
GENETIC ENGINEERING
• Changing the traits of one organism by
inserting genetic material (DNA /
genes) from a different organism into its
genetic material (genome).
WHY CHANGE GENOMES?
1. Regular breeding practices performed by
Man takes too long
2. G.E. is cheaper than regular breeding
3. One species can be used to make another
totally different species:
• Resistant to disease (medicine)
• Have increased crop yield (agri.)
• Make hormones, enzymes and medicines
in a shorter time
HOW ARE GENOMES CHANGED?
1. The scientist determines which trait is
needed.
2. He locates and extracts the gene for the
trait from an organism from one species.
3. He then uses a number of techniques to
insert copies of the gene into the genome
of another organism usually from a different
species.
4. He perform tests to determine which of the
new organisms is expressing the trait.
USES OF GENETIC
ENGINERING
1. Yeast engineered to make alcohol from
various sugars other than glucose.
2. Bacteria engineered to produce human
hormones e.g. insulin for diabetics
3. Plants engineered to have delayed
ripening, to be resistant to frost, resistant to
fungal and viral infections and resistant to
insect attack.
4. Plants engineered to increase yield.
•
Right here in Jamaica:
1. Papaya,
Peppers
and
Citrus
engineered to be resistant to viruses.
2. Cotton engineered to be resistant to
insects.
DRAWING THE LINE
• The world has only recently allowed the general
sale and consumption of GE animals, while GE
plants have been on the market for years (corn,
soybean).
• We have drawn the line on legally genetically
manipulating humans, however………
ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES OF GENETIC
ENGINEERING
• ADVANTAGES
• Time, money and
labour saving
• Yields many useful
products which
could help eradicate
poverty, starvation,
deficiency diseases,
illnesses etc.
• DISADVANTAGES
• Changes the natural
genome of the
organism which
may be passed to
future generations
and so original
genes lost.
• Ethical issues
• Religious issues
• Social issues
ARTIFICIAL SELECTION VS.
GENETIC ENGINEERING
• ARTIFICIAL
SELECTION
• Man attains desired
traits in organisms
by breeding similar
organisms
• Takes a longer time
to perfect
• GENETIC
ENGINEERING
• Man attains desired
traits in organisms
by inserting gene for
trait into another
species
• More efficient
process