Download changes the natural gene flow

Genetic Engineering
ANYTHING that humans do that
changes the natural gene flow that
would normally occur within a
population.
Natural Gene Flow
• In nature, genes flow from one generation to
the next in a natural order driven by selective
pressures
• The genes of animals that have a high fitness
are passed on, and the ones that do not, go
extinct
• However, genetic engineering does not always
select the characteristic with the highest
fitness
• Genetic engineering selects characteristics
that are profitable or beneficial to humans
Selective Breeding
• Selective breeding is simply selecting a few
individuals to serve as parents for your next
generation.
• This is not technically engineering new genes,
but it does alter that natural gene flow
• By selectively altering the gene flow, we can
not only create favorable traits in organisms,
but it also can alter how often the trait is
observed.
Inbreeding
• Very often, inbreeding is the way selective
breeding starts.
• It is the easiest and fastest way to selectively
increase the likelihood of a trait in offspring
• Inbreeding is when you cross organisms with
similar characteristics (often times the
organisms are closely related)
Inbreeding
• Dogs, as well as a multitude of other organisms, are
inbred to increase the likelihood of their enjoyable
traits.
• However, inbreeding has its risks. With an increased
chance of gaining favorable recessive traits, you also
increase your chance of non-favorable traits.
• Remember, when a dominant and a recessive trait
cross, you only see the dominant… But crossing the
offspring of that organism, you have a 1 in 4 chance
of seeing a pure bread recessive organism (which can
be deadly)
Hybridization
• Hybridization is the crossing of NON-SIMILAR
individuals (of different species)
• This usual involves crossing members of different
(but related) species
• The hybrids often contain favorable traits from both
parents and are hardier (this phenomena is known as
hybrid vigor)
• Most all commercial corn (as well as most crops) are
hybrids.
• Current corn crops make 10 times the corn!!!
• Hybrids are nearly all sterile (the exception =
Wholphin) and unable to create viable offspring
Lion + Tiger = Liger
Whale + Dolphin = Wholphin
Making Ninja Turtles???
• We know that mutations are incredibly
dangerous, and 9 times out of 10 result in
death, so WHY is it that we spend millions of
dollars trying to force mutations?
• The problem with selective breeding is that it
is ALWAYS confined to genes that are already
found within a population
• Mutations, dangerous as they may be, offer
endless possibility
Mutations
• If a breeder wants to try and get a new trait
into a population, but doesn’t want to wait for
the tides of time and chance to give it, a
mutation must be caused.
• Mutations can be caused by agents or
substances called mutagens.
• Mutagens (such as radiation or chemicals) can
occasionally cause favorable traits to enter a
population
• This has been extremely important in
pharmaceutical drug creation