Genetic engineering.

Genetic engineering The use of various methods to manipulate the DNA (genetic material) of cells to change hereditary traits or produce biological products. The techniques include the use of hybridomas (hybrids of rapidly multiplying cancer cells and of cells that make a desired antibody) to make monoclonal antibodies - an antibody that is mass produced in the laboratory from a single clone and that recognizes only one antigen, gene splicing or recombinant DNA, in which the DNA of a desired gene is inserted into the DNA of a bacterium, which then reproduces itself, yielding more of the desired gene; and polymerase chain reaction - laboratory process in which a particular DNA segment from a mixture of DNA chains is rapidly replicated, producing a large, readily analyzed sample of a piece of DNA which makes perfect copies of DNA fragments and is used in DNA fingerprinting - any of several similar techniques for analyzing and comparing DNA from separate sources, used especially in law enforcement to identify suspects from hair, blood, semen, or other biological materials found at the scene of a violent crime. It depends on the fact that no two people, save identical twins, have exactly the same DNA sequence, and that although only limited segments of a person's DNA are scrutinized in the procedure, those segments will be statistically unique. Genetically engineered products

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  • Level: AS and A Level
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The term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption that have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits

David Aziz EAE3UI-02 Mr. Gravelle April 18, 2011 Dig in to the Genetically Modified Future "Fear is the lengthened shadow of ignorance" (Arnold Glasow). The population has a fear of the unknown; they are uninformed about certain subjects which leads them to an irrational fear of the issue in question. That is the case with genetically modified foods. The term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption that have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. This subject matter is highly debated for the simple reason that the public is not correctly informed about the positive side of these GM foods. If they were, they would know that genetically modified foods have the potential to solve many of the world's hunger and malnutrition problems and have many other benefits. A genetically modified plant is like a superhero compared to natural plants: it can resist to pests and disease, it has the ability to grow in a drought, survive in flood and harsh temperatures, it does not need toxic chemicals to act as pesticides or otherwise aid or protect the plants' growth; and has a nutritious and delicious outcome. These plants with enhanced capabilities are said to be the solution to world hunger because

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  • Level: AS and A Level
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I will explain how Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA, stores all of our genetic information and the processes of transcription and translation which expressed genetic information.

Biochemical techniques DNA to Protein Introduction On this essay I will explain how Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA, stores all of our genetic information and the processes of transcription and translation which expressed genetic information. DNA is an extremely long slim macromolecule made up of many different deoxyribonucleotide subunits. Each DNA molecule is made up of two very long polymers linked by hydrogen atom and coiled in the shape of a double helix. Each of this two polymers contain many structures called nucleotide. Which broken down in three parts: deoxyribose ( a five carbon sugar) a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base. There are four crucial different nitrogenous bases that present in DNA: thymine, cytosine, adenine and guanine. These bases are the foundation of the genetic code. Sometime represented as T, C. A. G. this bases always pair up in the same way, adenine forms a bond with Thymine and cytosine bonds with guanine as shown in the below diagram. [1] This four sequence of DNA have big role in living organisms, the main function of nucleic acids is to store and transmit genetic information and use that information to direct the synthesis of new protein. Human DNA is nearly a meter in length whereas viral DNA is 1.7mm. DNA is the molecule which controls the synthesis of proteins. Proteins are used for growth and repair and also as enzymes, in

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  • Level: AS and A Level
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Westlakes Science Park- Genetics Department Visit

Westlakes Science Park - Genetics Department Visit On Wednesday 21st of April I visited Westlakes Science Park to find out more about its genetics department and what it does. Westlakes is a research institute and it does research into many things to do with environmental sciences and health as well as other things. Westlakes does research and industrial consultancy for bigger businesses. Westlakes has many different sections and the part that I visited was the genetics department which does both the research and the consultancy. Its research is into sensitivity to radiation which is the variation in how much radiation affects different people. Its consultancy is for BNFL this is the radiation effects on workers that have worked there and retired, that are working there now and the offspring of workers to find out if radiation on workers affects their offspring. The two aspects of genetics that they use are cytogenetics and molecular genetics and this report is for AS level students. Cytogenetics Cytogenetics is the microscopic analysis of changes to chromosomes; they are a good biological marker as radiation affects chromosomes quite easily and leaves pretty obvious effects. Westlakes genetics department studies damages in workers exposed to radiation at work for BNFL. It has examined blood samples, blood lymphocytes or white blood cells from workers at Sellafield for many

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Should Gene therapy be allowed to prevent cystic fibrosis?

Should Gene therapy be allowed to prevent cystic fibrosis? "Every week on average five babies are born every week with cystic fibrosis, and 3 sufferers die from it, usually caused by the damage to the lungs"1. CF is a life threatening disease that cannot be cured with the current treatments. The treatments include exercise, dietary programs, inhalation of antibiotics; breathing control techniques and daily physiotherapy. The initial cause of cystic fibrosis has been agreed by many sources such as www.cftrust.org.uk to be the single faulty gene that controls the movement of salt in the body resulting in the growth of internal organ's becoming clogged with thick sticky mucus. Problem: Although the methods mentioned above increase life span, they only target specific symptoms, rather than curing the defect itself, on the other hand, gene therapy is undergoing research, in both clinical and laboratory to see if it is safe and effective. "Only 33% of clinical trials have been focussed on 'single gene' diseases, and one of them is the common cystic fibrosis."15 The other 67% is clinical trials of gene therapy in humans have been cancer treatments. So treating gene therapy with cystic fibrosis is something which will have to be taken into consideration, but the technique gene therapy is always going under thorough research. Here are few reasons why gene therapy will not be

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Genome Project

What is the Human Genome Project? Begun formally in 1990, the U.S. Human Genome Project was a 13-year effort coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health. The project originally was planned to last 15 years, but rapid technological advances accelerated the completion date to 2003. Project goals were to * identify all the approximately 20,000-25,000 genes in human DNA, * determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make up human DNA, * store this information in databases, * improve tools for data analysis, * transfer related technologies to the private sector, and * address the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) that may arise from the project. To help achieve these goals, researchers also studied the genetic makeup of several nonhuman organisms. These include the common human gut bacterium Escherichia coli, the fruit fly, and the laboratory mouse. A unique aspect of the U.S. Human Genome Project is that it was the first large scientific undertaking to address potential ELSI implications arising from project data. Another important feature of the project was the federal government's long-standing dedication to the transfer of technology to the private sector. By licensing technologies to private companies and awarding grants for innovative research, the project catalyzed the multibillion-dollar

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Can Germ line Gene Therapy be used as a treatment for Huntingtons Disease?

Can Germ line Gene Therapy be used as a treatment for Huntington's Disease? Target Audience: Biology A-Level Graduates Report Outline Gene Therapy has been used to reduce the effects of many diseases, but so far, very few solutions have arisen for Huntington's disease. I will be exploring the effectiveness of germ line therapy compared to its risks and morality. Problem Huntington's disease is a genetic condition where there is a mutation in the DNA sequence on the dominant gene 'huntingtin'. The mutation is repetitive so there is more than just one chromosome effected by this mutation. This means the offspring of a Huntington's disease carrier has a 50% chance of developing the disease. Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder which means the neurones in the brain can lead to a cognitive decline over time. Because this process takes years before it shows any signs of effect, most people don't realize they have Huntington's disease until they reach mid-life. The gene 'huntingtin' codes for the Huntington protein, commonly found around areas of the brain. When a mutation occurs, this protein is no longer produced and instead a different form of protein is produced. This protein initially causes very little harm to the brain, but after a prolonged time, it damages nerve cells in the brain and leads to Huntington's disease. The full process of

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DNA Technology in Medicine

DNA Technology in Medicine 4th of April 2002 The intervention of humans in nature has increased dramatically as the years have gone by. As we start this millennium, a very powerful new technology with much potential is being unravelled that will allow humans to continue unearthing nature's secrets, and to continue tinkering with them: DNA technology. With the human genome fully sequenced, the possibilities to apply DNA technology in a field such as medicine are tremendous. Imagine: drugs tailored to your DNA, that work the first time round leaving no side effects; predictive medicine that will tell you what diseases you might some day suffer, and the gene therapy that is best suited to curing them; the elimination of a genetic disease you have even before your birth; medical checks that involve but a blood test. The possibilities are indeed great. The risks are also great as this technology goes through its baby-steps. Will its benefits be accessible to everyone? Is it dangerous to play with nature? Will its use be adequate to our real needs? Just how far should we go with it? If we go too far, what will the consequences be? These are the types of questions that must be answered in making a judgment on how beneficial DNA technology is, and may prove, for humans. DNA technology in medicine, which in some cases is already being applied, will have immense effects on

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The use of recombinant DNA can only benefit humans?

The use of recombinant DNA can only benefit humans? Contents * Page 1 - What is recombinant DNA technology? * Page 2 - What are its uses? * Page 3 -What hazards are there? * Page 4 - Conclusion. * Page 5 - Bibliography. * Page 6 - Analysis of types of argument and knowledge used. What is recombinant DNA technology? If one were to look up "recombinant DNA technology" in the dictionary one would be directed to "genetic engineering". Here you would be given the following explanation, "Genetic engineering, method of changing the inherited characteristics of an organism in a predetermined way by altering its genetic material." (The concise oxford dictionary). Although this is and acceptable explanation, a more in-depth explanation would be, "Recombinant DNA technology is a collection of techniques, including DNA cloning, that allows molecular biologists to analyse and manipulate the genetic material" (http://www.wooster.edu/biology/wmorgan/bio306/Gene_engineer_overview.html) Recombinant DNA is one of the core techniques of genetic engineering. It's the process of removing DNA from one organism and inserting it into the DNA of another, thus giving it new traits. Prior to DNA cloning it was virtually impossible to isolate and study individual traits of complex organisms. Now though, with the advent of recombinant DNA technology, genes can be isolated from a complex

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Cloning Reasearch Paper

CLONING REASEARCH PAPER Prepared for Prepared by March 25, 2012 Cloning is a cell, a cell product, or organism that is genetically identical to the unit or individual from which it was derived. Nothing more. Here in this research paper we will argue that a copy of a human cell will save human life and even increase the human life longevity. Cloning has always been in science fiction movies, and always remain an inaccessible solution because of many reason such as religion, government law, associations and so on. Nowadays we can easily imagine that a copy of an organ would not be harmful for a human being and would be also a human evolution. Here we are going to see in which measure the cloning would be acceptable and ethical. If you remember well before the medicine on human was forbidden. On the beginning Christians condemned people to make experience on dead bodies. First scientist has to stay hidden to make experience but nowadays those people save our life today because the try to understand our body even if it was illegal, and today we thanks them. Today we are in the same configuration we are against it because it is not ethical it goes against our belief about human being. Would not we be thankful if our mentality changes about it? We should think about it, about what happened in the middle age. Human being has to face to new disease, which are incurable. Should we

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
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