Debate on Genetically Modified Food.
Debate on Genetically Modified Food For millions of years, the world has evolved and developed, by selective breeding to adapt into the society, which it is today. Natural adaptations and changes have occurred in various species of plants and animals, which even modern scientists cannot explain. Our world has survived for...well forever, without genetically enhanced produce, so why should it invade humanity now, just because 'we can'? Many scientists, who are in favour of GM foods, claim that it is simply the next step on from selective breeding; however they seem to have overlooked one difference. Genetic modification of anything requires the introduction of 'alien' genes into a species, to modify it and this is certainly not a natural process. For example, GM Soya has been modified using genes that will make it resistant to certain herbicides, such as 'roundup'. Although this may seem like a good thing on the surface, what happens when the pollen from these GM foods is passed on to native species? Aspects like this seem to have been overlooked. It is also a worry, because genetic engineering can be very unpredictable and the damaging effects of GM foods irreversible; if left unconfined it could get out of control. It is possible to end up creating harmful characteristics - such as toxins - unawares. This doesn't necessarily condemn GMOs but it proves the
Evaluating the risks and benefits of GM crops.
Evaluating The Risks And Benefits Of GM Crops This essay aims to define GM, evaluate the risks and benefits of it's current existence and finally I will conclude on whether I think GM crops post a greater risk or benefit to consumers and the environment. The contentious subject of GM crops never seems to leave the media spotlight long enough before entering again with claims of it's hazardous effects or the latest innovations, leaving the consumer baffled by the vast amount of contradictory information. The great worldwide debate concerning all aspects of GM crops has drawn many groups of participants with articles, research, and reports proving their stance, ranging from environmental pressure groups to scientists to biotechnology companies to the government. The British Medical Association defines genetic modification as " the process of altering genetic material to express different characteristics1." Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are plant, animal, or microbe resulting from genetic modification. The regulations on all aspects of GM crops are very stringent. In July 2003, the EU lifting a 5-year ban on the sell of GM food, on the basis that they are fully labelled as containing GMO's2. Non-EU countries especially the US companies have reacted angrily to the mandatory labelling of their GM products, as they know how reluctant the Europeans are to GM. Under the
Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria- 750 words Essay Introduction In the past several decades or so, antibiotics use has been crucial in the battle against infectious sickness caused bacteria and other microorganisms. Many diseases that once killed people can now be now treated effectively with antibiotics. Antibiotics caused a dramatic rise in the average life expectancy. However, disease-causing microbes that have become resistant to antibiotic drugs are an increasing public health problem. Wound infections, tuberculosis, septicemia and childhood ear infections are some of the few diseases that have become hard to treat with antibiotics. One part of the problem is those bacteria and other microorganisms that cause infections developing several ways to resist antibiotics. Vaccines are also very helpful in the processes because they very effective. Vaccines are the reason small pox has been extinct and only two of them are kept: one in USA and one in Russia. Some organisms are resistant to all antibiotics and can be only treated with experimental or potentially toxic drugs. There is an alarming increase in the amount of resistant bacteria's, especially in the staphylococci and pneumococci (Streptococcus pneumoniae), which are common causes of disease and death. What happened before antibiotics where invented? And who invented them? Before antibiotics were invented there use to
Embryo Screening. The embryo screening, also referred as PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis), is a procedure tested on an embryo to identify any unwanted diseases that is found in the genes of the embryo.
Embryo Screening Settling down and starting a family is what many couples have in mind. It's a life changing decision the many indivisual choose to endure, however, obstacles and complications have delayed couples from fulfilling their goal. Leaving the chances of pregnancy aside, couples try to prevent many issues that occur with their newborns - infectious and complicated diseases, deformities and abnormalities. In many cultures and races, it is customary, or even the norm, to marry close relatives. This scientifically has been proven to increase the chances of having your offspring inherit the diseases that have been in the past generations, such as diabetes, cancer, anemia and leukemia. [8] One type of solution that has been discovered is embryo screening and human genetic engineering. The embryo screening, also referred as PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis), is a procedure tested on an embryo to identify any unwanted diseases that is found in the genes of the embryo. This then enables the couples to be aware of the problems that they might be facing if they do get pregnant, and leaving their embryo untouched. After enlightening couples about the genetic diseases found in the genes, they have to whether to go through the PGD and modify the genes to contract the ones that contain the genetic information about the disease, abnormality, or deformity. "PGD involves
Ganetics, Inheritance and Cells.
Inheritance Cells New cells are needed for- . Growth- as an organism grows it needs more cells 2. Repair- cells become damaged due to wear and tear 3. Replacement- cells wear out and die so each cell has to be able to make copies of itself. The instructions for doing this are contained in the chromosomes within the nucleus of each cell Each characteristic has it's own set of instructions called a gene These are found in the chromosomes In humans each cell has 46 chromosomes (23 pairs one of each pair coming from each parent) Mitosis Mitosis In this process exact copies of each cell are made This process happens all the time and is used for growth, repair and asexual reproduction in which the offspring are identical to the parent Stages of mitosis . The cell makes copies of all the chromosomes 2. The cell then divides into 2 each having one set of chromosomes. Skin is an example of a tissue that needs to be constantly doing this Each cell then can only make copies of itself ie skin cells only make skin cells and muscle cells only make muscle cells After fertilisation of an egg by a sperm there is just 1 cell and this needs to develop into a complete organism that contains many different tissues and so many types of cell Stem cells This is possible because the early embryo contains stem cells and these cells have the capacity to turn into any type of
Asexual reproduction and cloning
Asexual reproduction. When organisms reproduce asexually, there is no fusion of sex cells. A part of the organism grows and somehow breaks away from the parent organism. The cells it contains were formed by mitosis, so contain exactly the same genes as the parent. A sexual reproduction produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent, and genetically identical to each other. A sexual reproduction is common in plants. For example, flower bulbs grow and divide asexually each season to produce more bulbs. Asexual reproduction also occurs in some animals such as the Hydra, a small freshwater animal, which reproduces asexually by 'budding'. Artificial cloning Artificial cloning of animals is now commonplace in laboratories. The most famous example of animal cloning is Dolly the Sheep, born in the UK in 1996 using a technique called embryo transplanting. Here's how it was done: . An egg cell was removed from the ovary of an adult female sheep, and the nucleus removed. 2. Using micro-surgical techniques, the empty egg cell was fused with DNA extracted from an udder cell of a donor sheep 3. The fused cell now began to develop normally, using the donated DNA. 4. Before the dividing cells became specialised the embryo was implanted into the uterus of a foster-mother sheep. The result was Dolly, genetically identical to the donor sheep. Advantages of embryo
The structure of nucleic acid chains (or DNA).
W.Feltham THE STRUCTURE OF NUCLEIC ACID CHAINS (or DNA). Nucleotides are joined together in DNA and RNA by phosphate ester bonds between the phosphate component of one nucleotide and the sugar component of the next nucleotide. An ester bond is a bond which occurs between a Carbon atom and an Oxygen atom. More and more nucleotides can be added on by the same process of forming ester bonds until an immense chain is formed. But no matter how long a polynucleotide chain is, one end of the nucleic acid molecule always has a free -OH group on the sugar at the Carbon known as C3' (called the 3' end) and the other end of the molecule always has a phosphoric acid group at C5' (the 5' end). The Carbons get this name from a counting system illustrated in the next diagram. (Fig 1) Beginning from the "right-hand" side of the sugar, count the Carbons....1', 2', 3' (where the phosphate group of the next nucleotide in a series can be linked via a chemical bond), 4', 5' (where the phosphate group of the previous nucleotide is linked via a chemical bond). This "counting system" allows the strand of nucleic acid to be oriented: the 5' end of the molecule always ends with a phosphate and the 3' end of the strand always ends with a sugar. You may be wondering why we don't just call the 5' end the "top" of the DNA or RNA molecule and the 3' end the
Genetically modified crops - Do we know all the answers?
Genetically Modified Crops. Do we know all the answers? Genetic Modification is the method of obtaining individual genes, which are then copied and repositioned into another living organism to modify its genetic code and incorporating or removing particular characteristics into or from an organism.1 There are many viewpoints on the issue genetic modification, some scientifically based on environmental factors and potential economic growth, others concerning ethical, moral and social perspectives. Ever since the breakthrough of genetic modification, deliberation has surrounded all issues involving this controversial topic. Many organizations have published books, videos, and leaflets arguing their side of this debate. Advances in GM biotechnology, such as the incorporation of the gene which stops the Arctic Flounder from freezing, has been placed into the genetic sequence of strawberries to stop them shrivelling in the cold British weather2, these 'modifications' have led to many intrinsic and extrinsic moral issues arising from this "new" technology. Dr Robert Farley of the Monsanto Institute, USA3 believes that genetic modification of crops for human consumption is a much more efficient and effective way of creating more resilient wheat crops than traditional cross-pollination. This is because genetic modification is more specific in changing a particular gene,
Evolution, what, and any evidence is there?
Opening In this case study I will be writing about evolution and, what, if any evidence there is. I chose this topic of science because im interested in how our species came about and how it’s been changed from theory to theory, and how it’s still being challenged. This, I hope, will interest and reading group of KS4. This may or may not help them with there GCSEs and revision. After they have read my case study, I hope they will make up there own minds using the for and against evidence presented. I will also so show my own opinion at the end of the study along with a conclusion for for and against, I will also compare the sources that I present and evaluate them to see if they are backing up their claims. Arguments for. A general explanation of how scientists think it works. This is an opening and explanation of evolution from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_evolutionary_synthesis#The_modern_synthesis “The modern evolutionary synthesis (also referred to as the new synthesis, the modern synthesis, the evolutionary synthesis and the neo-Darwinian synthesis) is a union of ideas from several biological specialties which forms a logical account of evolution. This synthesis has been accepted by nearly all working biologists.[1] The synthesis was produced over about a decade (1936–1947), and the development of population genetics (1918–1932) was the
Is Cloning Ethical?
Is Cloning Ethical? For the past few years the political and ethical argument for and against the process of cloning has been raging. So is cloning really unethical? Is it against human rights? Before we decide this we must first understand exactly what cloning is. Cloning can be done using a few different processes, which will be later mentioned. It is the creation of an embryo which is a genetically identical copy of another human (1). There are three main types of cloning. The first is known as Embryo Cloning. This is a technique, the same as the natural process of making identical twins or triplets, where cells are taken from a fertilised egg and encouraged to develop into twins or triplets with identical DNA (2). The second is known as Reproductive or Adult DNA Cloning. This method is used to produce an animal with identical DNA to an existing animal. DNA from an ovum is removed and is replaced by DNA from an adult animal cell. It is then implanted into the womb of a surrogate mother and develops into an animal. This kind of cloning is illegal in many countries as, based on studies performed on animals, it could cause genetic defects. It is considered by many to be unethical and dangerous, however Dr Severino Aninori claims to have used this procedure to initiate pregnancy (2) Biomedical Cloning, better known as Therapeutic cloning is the third process. In the
