Gene Technology and Genetic Engineering Grade 12.

Gene Technology and Genetic Gene Technology and Genetic EngineeringEngineering

Grade 12

Grade 12 OutcomesGrade 12 OutcomesStem CellsGenetic Engineering:→ Cloning→ Medicine (production of insulin, vaccines)→ Agriculture (GMO’s)

Description of ethics and legislation around:→ Genetic Testing→ Genetic Counselling→ Genetic Engineering→ Cloning

Beliefs, attitudes and values concerning genetic diseases.

“The advance of genetic engineering makes it quite conceivable that we will begin to design our own evolutionary progress.”— Isaac Asimov, The Beginning and the End.

“The pressures for human cloning are powerful; but, although it seems likely that somebody, at some time, will attempt it, we need not assume that it will ever become a common or significant feature of human life.”— Ian Wilmut The Second Creation: Dolly and the Age of Biological Control

TerminologyTerminologyGene Technology

→ Broad field which includes all analysis, manipulation and application of genetics.Genetic Engineering

→ Artificial manipulation of genes, adding or subtracting genetic material.Genetically Modified Organism (GMO’s)/ Transgenic Organisms

→ Organisms that have had their DNA artificially manipulated.Cloning (genetic or molecular)

→ A molecular process in which DNA sequences are replicated within host organisms or in vitro.In vitro

→ Taking place in a culture, test-tube… basically outside an organism.Selective Breeding

→ The artificial breeding of plants and animals for particular traits.Stem Cells

→ An undifferentiated cell from a multi-cellular organism that has the potential to give rise to infinite numbers of the same cell and from which certain other kinds of cells arise from differentiation.

Ethics→ The branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles.

Legislation→ Collective set of laws.

Genetic Counselling→ A healthcare professional who specialises in the education and support of patients and families

regarding inherited disorders.

What’s on your mind?What’s on your mind?

Stem CellsStem CellsAn undifferentiated cell from a multi-cellular organism that has the potential to give rise to infinite numbers of the same cell and from which certain other kinds of cells arise from differentiation.

The Nature of Stem Cellshttp://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/scintro/

Embryonic Stem CellsEmbryonic Stem Cells

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/quickref/

Pluripotent

= ability to

give rise to

several

different

cell types.

Somatic Stem CellsSomatic Stem Cells

Stem Cell Quick Referencehttp://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/quickref/

Multipotent=

Can produce

multiple

differentiated

cell types

within specific

tissue only.

CloningCloningNatural process→Asexual Reproduction→ Identical Twins

Artifical Embryo Twinning:→Older method→Fertilized egg cell is removed and stimulated to

divide into two full sets each able to form new embryo’s.

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)→How Dolly was created in 1997

Somatic Cell Nuclear TransferSomatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Stem Cell Quick Referencehttp://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/quickref/

SCNT can also

be referred to

as Therapeutic

Cloning

depending on

it’s use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hepoJgGJtNc

Genetic Engineering in MedicineGenetic Engineering in MedicinePreventing and fighting disease.

→ Stem Cell Therapy → Therapeutic cloning→ Gene Therapy

→ SCIDS (severe combined immune deficiency syndrome: "boy in the bubble")

→ Cancers (including melanoma, hereditary prostate cancer, breast, and colon cancer) – 2/3rds of research.

→ Cystic fibrosis→ Hemophilia→ Rheumatoid arthritis→ Hunter's syndrome (an inherited sex linked enzyme disorder)→ Inherited high blood cholesterol

→ Vaccine production (Hepatitis B, influenza, herpes simplex)→ Drug and hormone production (Insulin)

Producing InsulinProducing InsulinKnown as role player in diabetes for years.In 1922 Frederick Banting and Charles Best successfully treated diabetic dogs and then an 11 year old boy using dog insulin from the pancreas.Initial sources:

→ Cow, horse, pig, porcupine.Allergic reactions to impurities in insulin.1978 Genentech produced first synthetic human insulin. 3D Protein structure of Insulin made up of 51 amino acids.

Human Insulin ProductionHuman Insulin Production

Genetic Engineering in MedicineGenetic Engineering in Medicine

AdvantagesAdvantages DisadvantagesDisadvantagesPreventing and fighting disease.Vaccine production (especially cancers).Gene Therapy.Xenotransplatation.Reproductive Technology

Arguably the Long term effects still not known.Use of Embryo’s in Genetic Engineering (what is technically living).Animal exploitation.Costly and time consuming.

Genetic Engineering in AgricultureGenetic Engineering in AgricultureGMO’s are not a new thing!

→ Selective breeding/artificial selection has been around for years.

Thousands of GM foods and products:→Tomatoes→Tobacco (Quest ® cigarettes with no/low nicotine)→Strawberries (resistant to frost)→Maize (resistant to pesticides)→Beef (leaner meat)→Diary cattle (rBST hormone)→Pork (grow faster)

Genetic Engineering in AgricultureGenetic Engineering in Agriculture

Genetic Engineering in AgricultureGenetic Engineering in Agriculture

AdvantagesAdvantages DisadvantagesDisadvantagesIncrease crop production.Increase livestock production.Help solve food security issues.Reduce environmental risk from pesticides/fertilizers.Reduce pollution and waste (production of GM biofuels)

Long term effects still not known.Affect the biodiversity.Negatively impact environment (create alien invasive plants).Retard natural selection normal evolutionary processes.

Genetic Testing & Genetic CounsellingGenetic Testing & Genetic Counselling

DNA profiling→Detecting and

preventing crime→Mapping Genetic

Disorders

Choice to address and seek professional help

Bioethics in Gene Technology Bioethics in Gene Technology Ethical, legal and social implications surrounding:

→ Fairness in the use of genetic information→ Privacy and confidentiality→ Psychological impact and stigmatization

→ Beliefs, attitudes and values concerning genetic diseases

→ Commercialization of products including property rights

→ Seed patency→ Reproductive issues

→ Larger societal issues raised with reproductive technologies

→ Uncertainties associated with gene tests→ Conceptual and philosophical

implications→ Free will versus genetic determinism

→ Health and environmental issues concerning genetically modified foods

Genetic Engineering legislation in Genetic Engineering legislation in South AfricaSouth Africa

In terms of human genetic modification technologies:→ National Health Act and the ethics research guidelines issued by the Minister of Health.

Under the Act, “the manipulation of any genetic material, including human gametes, zygotes or embryos” is explicitly prohibited. Violation of the ban is punishable with imprisonment for up to five years and/or the imposition of fines (Art. 62).

→ National Health Act, (2003), http://www.parliament.gov.za/pls/portal/web_app.utl_output_doc?p_table=acts&p_doc_col=act_doc&p_mime_col=mime_type&p_id=606077

In terms of GMO’s (except humans):→ “To provide for measures to promote the responsible development, production, use and

application of genetically modified organisms; to ensure that all activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (including importation, production, release and distribution) shall be carried out in such a way as to limit possible harmful consequences…”

→ Genetically Modified Organisms Act, (1997), http://www.info.gov.za/acts/1997/act15.htm

Beliefs, attitudes and values regarding Beliefs, attitudes and values regarding Genetic DisordersGenetic Disorders

Cultural and Societal influences

→ Religion and spirituality→ Marginalization → Chinese “Yousheng” healthy

birth policy (eugenics)Socioeconomic impact

→ Access to information and exposure

Education→ Understanding of genetic

disorders

To answer your questions…To answer your questions…

BibliographyBibliographyAnon, Asimov’s [image online]. Available at: http://www.androidworld.com/prod22.htm [Accessed February 7, 2012a].Anon, BBC - KS3 Bitesize: Science [image online]. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/organisms_behaviour_health/variation_classification/revise5.shtml [Accessed February 7, 2012b].Anon, Bioethics Curriculums Appearing in U.S. High Schools [image online]. Available at: http://www.miller-mccune.com/science-environment/fifth-period-life-and-death-decision-making-12790/ [Accessed February 7, 2012c].Anon, Biotechnology - Health and Medicine [image online]. Available at: http://www.ied.edu.hk/biotech/eng/classrm/class_health5.html [Accessed February 7, 2012d].Anon, Clones debate [image online]. Available at: http://www.sodahead.com/living/lets-picture-an-scenario-if-human-cloning-was-legal-should-those-clones-be-treated-as-other-human/question-1957455/?link=ibaf&q=Clones&imgurl=http://images.sodahead.com/polls/001957455/3752698267_human_cloning_answer_1_xlarge.jpeg [Accessed February 7, 2012e].Anon, 1997. Genetically Modified Organisms Act [No. 15 of 1997]. Available at: http://www.info.gov.za/acts/1997/act15.htm [Accessed February 7, 2012].Anon, Insulin, What isInsulin? [image online]. Available at: http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?ID=196 [Accessed February 7, 2012f].Anon, Stem Cells. Available at: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/ [Accessed February 8, 2012g].Anon, Top 10 Reasons to Label Genetically Engineered Food [image online]. Available at: http://www.ecosphericblog.com/753/top-10-reasons-to-label-genetically-engineered-food/ [Accessed February 7, 2012h].Anon, artificial selection [image online]. Available at: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evo_30 [Accessed February 7, 2012i].Hopkin, M., 2004. Clones may aid work on motor neuron disease [image online]. Nature News. Available at: http://www.nature.com/news/2004/040927/full/news040927-7.html [Accessed February 7, 2012].Krautberger, G., Genetic Engineering [image online]. Available at: http://www.scienceclarified.com/Ga-He/Genetic-Engineering.html [Accessed February 7, 2012].