The Science Behind the Genetic Modification of a Chicken

The Science Behind the Genetic Modification of a Chicken

Olivia Dodd

So how will this be done?

• Because of fairly recent advances in the study of genetics, people can now pick out what their child will look like if they wanted to. Also genes that carry heredity-linked diseases can be made inactive. Ect. People can pretty much customize their own kid.

• Thanks to a genome map, which is a “map” showing where specific genes are located on a DNA strand; scientists can easily turn on or off specific chicken genes to change the animal’s outward appearance.

TeethThis picture shows a normal chicken embryo (left) and a mutant one. The mutant chicken embryo has developedA tooth structures similar to those found in embryotic alligators. By having a map of the chickens’ genome, scientists canfind the exact location of this gene and‘switch it on’.

This is what a full grown chickensauruswould look like equipped with teeth similar to a microraptor

The picture to the left contrasts a normal chicken’sskeleton with what it is predicted to look like onceit has undergone genetic transformation. The chicken’s once fused wing will be separated into dinosaur resembling phalanges. Next the gene thatfuses the vertebra together will be turned off so thatthe chicken will grow a dinosaur-like tail. The pictureabove is a model of a Bambiraptor, the dinosaur thata chickensaurus will most resemble.

Here’s a prefect picture depicting the difference in skeletal structure once the genetic transformations have taken place.