Weird Genetics

Simpsons Video Questions

• 1. Why is the tomato so large? (How did Lisa grow such a large tomato? What must she have done?)

• Answer: She most likely crossed the largest tomatoes she could find to create the largest HYBRID possible.

2. At your table, come up with a definition of what you think

genetic engineering is.

• The selective, deliberate change of genes (genetic material) by man.

• The technique of removing, modifying or adding genes to a DNA molecule in order to change the information it contains.

3. How long have humans been genetically engineering plants

and animals?

• As long as agriculture has existed!!

4. If humans have been genetically engineering for so long, why is there a

relatively new debate in science regarding genetically modified foods?

Could we not argue all food is gen. mod.? What is NEW?

• The technique; instead of random, unpredictable results from crossbreeding, scientists can precisely alter the DNA w/extraction, cutting and separating..they literally change the DNA molecule.

5. Does this mean that Lisa could have spliced in, say, a gene from another type of

plant?

• Yes!!

Mutations

http://www.accessexcellence.org/

A change in genetic information

•Can occur randomly (naturally)

•Or can be deliberately caused in the laboratory by scientists

•Inherited

•Not always harmful

Natural Mutations

These are not albinos; they

have pigmented eyes.

White Bengal Tiger

ALBINOS

• Little or no pigmentation in the eyes, skin, and hair (or in some cases in the eyes alone).

• Inherited an altered copy of a gene that does not work correctly.

• The altered gene does not allow the body to make the usual amounts of a pigment called "melanin".

• True albinos have pink eyes and skin.

White Bluebonnets

Pink Bluebonnets

HUMAN INTERVENTION

SELECTIVE BREEDING

The selection of certain seeds or animals for

reproduction in order to influence the traits inherited

by the next generation.

SELECTIVE BREEDING

• The Liger is the result of breeding a female Tiger to a male Lion.

• The liger has both stripes and spots. The stripes are inherited from its tiger parent and the spots from the lion parent.

• On their hind legs, ligers stand approximately 12 feet tall. At most, ligers may weigh up to 1,000 pounds.

The Cama is the result of breeding a Llama to a Camel.

Parents in background of picture.

The Zebroid is the result of breeding

a female Horse and a male Zebra.

The Zedonk / Zonkey is the result of breeding a female Donkey and

male Zebra.

                                                               

     

Geep - These are the result of a sheep and a goat.

The Mule is the result of breeding a female horse(mare) to a male donkey (jack). The

mule is superior to the horse in strength,endurance, intelligence and disease resistance.

Maroon & Red Bluebonnets

GENETIC ENGINEERING

The selective, deliberate change of genes (genetic material) by man.

The technique of removing, modifying or adding genes to a

DNA molecule in order to change the information it contains.

Bright face of genetically modified corn plant: pest-infected non-GM (left) and pest-free GM plant (right)

planted side-by-side in a field trial. (photo: Dr. Yu Jialin, China Agricultural University)

                                          

                  

                                        

              

French genetic researchers created Alba for artist Eduardo Kac. Thanks to genes borrowed from a jellyfish, the albino rabbit glows green when placed under special lighting. In regular light, Alba appears like any other furry white rabbit. But place her under a black light, and her eyes, whiskers and fur glow a otherworldly green.

                                        

                     

                                        

                                                

"Glow in the dark" fish. these genetically modified fish were developed by a Taiwanese aquatic firm, Taikong Group. They are planning to reproduce these fish in numbers and sell them for pets.

http://www.fluorescentpets.com/index.htm

                                        

 

                                        

                                                 

Scientists in the agriculture department of the Hebrew University inRehovot have genetically engineered a chicken that has no feathers.