The cloning of Dolly.

Contents Subject Page No. Introduction 2 Definitions of Terms 3 - 4 Arguments for and against 5 - 10 What the law states on the subject 1 Case studies 2 - 14 Islamic Perspective on Cloning 5 - 17 Personal Evaluation 8 Bibliography 9 Introduction Cloning On the 23 February 1997, the world woke up to news of a new technological advance. This advance was embodied in a "little lamb" going by the name of Dolly. At first glance, one could be forgiven for wondering what was so special about this white-faced sheep. Dolly looked like hundreds of the other lambs that dot the hills and fields of Scotland; and indeed for six months this lamb had grazed quietly and unnoticed among them. Dolly appeared positively ordinary. However, Dolly, despite appearances, had a most unusual conception. She was not the end result of a fusion of sperm with egg, which had been cloned from a single cell taken from the breast tissue of an adult sheep. It was the idea that this technology could be applied to humans. The cloning of Dolly raises serious ethical questions, particularly with respect to the possible use of this technology to clone human embryos. Religious groups across the world wondered if this is a miracle was to which we can thank God for, or to ignore it as an ominous way of playing God ourselves. Ethical choices must also have to be made. The public response to

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Revision notes - origins of life on Earth, chemistry of life

8.4 LIFE ON EARTH 8.4.1 Origin of life 8.4.1.1 Identify the r/ship between the conditions on early Earth and the origin of organic molecules * Early earth contained no ozone layer › large amounts of UV radiation reached the earth * Little free oxygen (anoxic) therefore no ozone layer. * The volcanic emissions filled the atmosphere with methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), H, CO2, CO and small amounts of water vapour. * The violent electrical storms and acidic rain formed the present warm and mineral-rich oceans. * There are only two possible ways organic molecules could have formed either - formed on earth from simpler molecules (Abiogenesis) - arrived from the cosmos (Panspermia) 8.4.1.2 Discuss the implications of the existence of organic molecules in the cosmos for the origin of life on Earth Panspermia * Elements found in space (H, He, C, O, N, P) can combine to form organic molecules. * Some of these compounds including amino acids have been found in meteors that have struck the earth's surface. * Panspermia proposes that living organisms were seeded on earth as passengers on comets and meteors (ie. Life evolved elsewhere and travelled to earth) 8.4.1.3 Describe two scientific theories relating to the evolution of the chemicals of life and discuss their significance in understanding the origin of life Chemosynthesis * Formation of complex organic molecules on

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microbiology ph and temperature effect on bacterial culture

Aim of this experiment is to investigate the effect of pH and temperature on bacteria growth. Apparatus: 4 universal bottles at different pH's, Escherichia coli, micrococcus luteus, pipettes, incubator, 4 test tubes, colorimeter. Method of pH Four bottles where used which contained nutrient growth at pH 5, 6, 7, 8. By using aseptic techniques, a pipette is used as each nutrient broth is inoculated with one drop of culture Escherichia coli. After this each of the nutrient broth was incubated at a temperature of 25 degrees for 3 days. After 3 days the contents within each of the bottle are mixed and their contents are transferred into a test tube. At first each pH condition is set to absorbance to zero by using a nutrient broth without any bacterial culture. After this was done the nutrient broth which contained the bacteria is measured to find out it's absorbance by using a colorimeter. This procedure is done with the micrococcus luteus bacteria. These results are shown in a table below of the effect of growth of bacteria Escherichia coli pH range pH4 pH5 pH6 pH7 Absorbance group 1 -0.05 .57 .41 0.88 Absorbance group 2 0.08 0.97 2 .14 Absorbance group 3 0.06 0.7 0.3 0.83 Absorbance group 4 0.14 .77 .77 .09 Absorbance group 5 0.04 .24 .09 0.63 Absorbance group 6 0.04 .9 .08 .61 Absorbance group 7 0.06 .03 .04 .5 Absorbance group

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Summarize the aspects of Mendel(TM)s work that suggests his results stood a good chance of being accurate and valid.

Summarize the aspects of Mendel's work that suggests his results stood a good chance of being accurate and valid. Gregor Mendel was an Austrian priest and scientist, whom is widely known as the 'father of genetics' for his study of inheritance in pea plants. Mendel spent a vast amount of his life planting pea plants, which came to his discovery of the major foundation of genetics as a science. In his experiment, he used an organism plant which was a common garden pea which has a flower that lends itself to self- pollination. The male parts of the flower are termed as anthers and produce pollen which contains the male gametes (sperm). While female parts of the flower are the stigma, style and ovary. The female gamete is produced in the ovary. During the process of pollination (the transfer of pollen from anther to stigma), the pollen grain grows a pollen tube in which allows the sperm to travel though the stigma and style, eventually reaching the ovary. Afterwards, the ripened ovary wall becomes the fruit which in this case, is the pea pod. Most flowers allow cross - pollination, which can be difficult to deal with in genetic studies if the male parent plant is not known. Since pea plants are self pollinators, the genetics of the parent could be more easily understood. Peas are also self compatible which allows self fertilized embryos to develop as readily as out fertilized

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Daphnia Write-Up

Daphnia Write Up In this experiment we investigated the effects of caffeine on the heart rate of living organisms. We chose to use daphnia in this experiment, a kind of small organism found in water, similar to a prawn or insect, which has completely transparent skin, making it easy to see the heart, and thus count the rate of its heart beat. My prediction was that the caffeine would increase the heat rate of the daphnia. Procedure The procedure was not too complicated, but there was a lot to keep in mind, and to be careful about. Since we were working with living organisms, we had to be extremely careful with there lives, and take care not to harm and stress them. . We set up a microscope, and got a ball of cotton wool ready. 2. We set up the different concentrations of caffeine. 0%, 0.125%, 0.25% and 0.5%. We couldn't use tap water, only distilled water, as tap water contains chlorine which can harm the daphnia. So 0% contained no caffeine, only distilled water. 3. We took two glass slides, and put a drop of chilled water in between them: this was so that the heat of the microscopes bulb did not harm the daphnia. 4. We captured a daphnia from the main tank which contained many; we tried to select the largest one possible. We caught it using a pipette, carefully drawing it into the pipette without harming it. 5. After we had caught it, we put it into the first

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Does Gattaca Portray A Realistic View Of The Future And Gene Manipulation?Target Audience: Possible Parents

Media Essay: Gattaca- The Movie Essay Title: Does Gattaca Portray A Realistic View Of The Future And Gene Manipulation? Target Audience: Possible Parents Text/ Writing Style: Magazine Article/ Website Media. It controls a lot of what we think, what we believe and so changes our attitude and behaviour towards certain things. It has changed our thinking so much so that we believe almost anything and everything the media say and do. Without the media, life would not be as it is. Newspapers, magazines, television, internet, radio, the lot have very much altered our thinking. Lately, there have been many talks on the issues regarding genetic manipulation and human cloning. Parents who once disagreed with the idea of cloning are now beginning to reconsider, as to whether or not genetic manipulation should be considered as good and right. Genetic manipulation is the process in which genes from a fertilized egg are changed or modified by doctors/ scientists to produce the 'best' from the parents. One form of media- the film Gattaca, nearly all the characters are gene- manipulated. Those who are born naturally, referred to as 'God Children' in the film, are looked down upon and as an inferior to those who are gene- manipulated. It can happen at work, at school, outside and even in the family. This is the case with Vincent- he is a God Child, whereas his own brother, Anton

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Evolution - Darwin and the Christian view. Before Darwins discovery many believed and still belive that all creation was created by God almighty as the first book of Genesis 1:1 explains.

Claudia Maya Evolution Darwin's theory Development of Darwin's theory Charles Darwin was a ''naturalist'' who did some personal observation on how different species came about, he travelled to the Galapagos island where he compared the examination of different birds beaks, he brought his interest back to England and did some further examination with pigeons. Charles Darwin influenced the thought to science that all organisms of all species came about from originating as a bacteria or simple organisms and evolved over time from there ancestors, some of these organism changed their features to meet the demands of the environment this process is known as natural selection which shows that organisms that are unfit will be eliminated and only the fittest ones survive and go on reproducing. Peoples believes before Darwin's theory Before Darwin's discovery many believed and still belive that all creation was created by God almighty as the first book of Genesis 1:1 explains that ''in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth'' and so went on to create the rest. Darwin's theory has caused contrivers among religious believers as his theory proves that no creator originates with the making of all different living species. Many also believed in paganism which is a belief that enables a person to believe in anything rather then any current world religions such as

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Do genes govern our behaviour?

Do genes govern our behaviour? Introduction Scientists recently announced they had "cracked the code of life". The culmination of the Human Genome Project was hailed as a revolutionary breakthrough. The genes in the human body which "determine the shape and colour of your eyes, your height, your ability to absorb cholesterol, your sexual orientation and your susceptibility to disease". The genes also "determine if you are gay, athletic, musically talented or a manic depressive. Some researchers say your genes will even determine your criminal record." The Human Genome Project is the most expensive scientific project ever undertaken. Yet it will tell us few of the things claimed by its backers. What Are genes!? Genes are chemicals in every cell in the human body, and of every living thing. They are made of four chemicals, which are linked, together in long chains in various combinations. The idea of the Human Genome Project was to map the entire sequence of these chemicals. This "genome" would be the "blueprint for life", and open the door to explaining human biology and behaviour, and herald miracle cures to disease. The whole notion is deeply flawed. If the genome is a "blueprint", it is only so in the sense of a very general definition of what a house is - it has walls, a roof and so on. Such a definition does not tell you the specific design of a particular

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Cloning; Medical Breakthrough or a step too far?

Cloning; Medical Breakthrough or a step too far? Cloning, a term surrounded by controversy and fear, describes the making of an individual with identical genetic material as its parent. Contrary to belief, there are many natural clones already living in the world, since any animal that reproduces asexually produces a clone. Therefore, many plants, such as potato and strawberry plant are clones of their parent's . Tumours, many insects, identical twins, algae and even some multi-cellular organisms such as the armadillo produce clones as well. In addition to this, every time a cutting of a plant is taken and grown, a clone of the parent is produced. However, when scientists speak of cloning, they are talking of three different types; Therapeutic Cloning, Reproductive Cloning or DNA Cloning and their uses are significantly different. Therapeutic Cloning refers to the cloning of human embryos, in order for scientists to remove Stem Cells. These are extremely useful since they can develop into nearly any cell in the body, thus making them invaluable in medicine, since scientists hope to grow new organs or tissues from them. To attain the Stem Cells, human embryos are cloned, and after 5 days of cell division, the Stem Cells harvested. Unfortunately, the embryo is destroyed once the Stem Cells have been removed. Reproductive Cloning is possibly the most famous type of cloning

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Recombinant DNA is a DNA molecule artificially made from different sources. The different portions are combined into a single molecule. Genetic engineering with recombinant DNA is the re-designing of organisms at the gene level

Recombinant DNA is a DNA molecule artificially made from different sources. The different portions are combined into a single molecule. Genetic engineering with recombinant DNA is the re-designing of organisms at the gene level with the purpose of achieving specific goals. The first step in genetic engineering usually involves inserting a short piece of 'foreign' DNA into the DNA of a host organism. In a procedure known as gene splicing, a piece of human DNA for example may be inserted into a bacterium. The DNA ring of the bacterial plasmid is broken open to insert the human DNA. The bacterium then acquires the ability to synthesise the protein for which the foreign DNA codes. Gene splicing relies on a group of enzymes called restriction endonucleases. One of these would cut a bacterial plasmid open at a specific site that is determined by the sequence of bases in that region. These bases are a DNA code, made up of adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G) and cytosine (C). The four bases are paired on the DNA molecule in a very specific manner, A always with T and G always with C. Connecting the base pairs are alternating sugar and phosphate units, forming a structure that resembles a ladder. The ladder is three-dimensional and takes the form of two strands twisted into a long spiral known as the 'double helix'. The same enzyme will cut foreign DNA wherever an identical base

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