Genetic Engineering in GM crops

Genetic Engineering in foods could potentially help the whole world. If we could create crops that grow faster and have a greater yield. We could change the environment that crops grow best in. If we think about it, the people in Africa could be just as capable to grow corn and soybeans as we can here, in the United States. There would no longer be a food shortage. People wouldn't go to bed hungry.

Over the last 30 years scientists have been working to create crops that could grow better and faster. The usage of technology comes into place when the genes are actually inserted into the genes of the plants. Laboratory tools to insert, alter, or cut out pieces of DNA. 

The difference between conventional breeding and genetic engineering is: 

Figure 1: Comparing conventional breeding and genetic engineering (The dots represent genes, with white representing the gene of interest)

*these diagrams are all taken from http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/pocketk/17/default.asp

Conventional Breeding	Genetic Engineering
Limited to exchanges between the same or very closely related species Little or no guarantee of any particular gene combination from the million of crosses generated Undesirable genes can be transferred along with desirable genes Takes a long time to achieve desired results	Allows the direct transfer of one or just a few genes, between either closely or distantly related organisms Crop improvement can be achieved in a shorter time compared to conventional breeding Allows plants to be modified by removing or switching off particular genes

Pros and Cons

Genetic Technology in Agriculture:

Pros:

1. It could produce more yield

2. It could help crops to be better and grow faster.

Cons:

1. It could produce new toxins.

2. Increase in the weed population.

Yes or No to Gene Therapy Resarch

Gene Therapy is a technique used to correct defective genes responsible for disease development. There are four different ways to correct genes.

*A normal gene can be inserted in place of the defective gene. This is the most common approach in gene therapy.

*An abnormal gene could be swapped or a normal gene in a homologous recombination.

*The abnormal gene could be repaired through selective reverse mutation, which would change the gene back to a healthy one.

*The  regulation (degree to which a gene is turned on or off) of a particular gene could be altered.

To do any of these altercations, a carrier molecule, also called a vector, must be used to deliver the therapeutic gene to the patients target cells. These vectors are sent to a location chosen by the doctor or scientist. If any slight problem occurs, the person could be worse off than before. This process is too new for human trial and error in our groups perception. We have decided that, if properly tested, this process could be life changing for the people it helps, but it still has a long way to go before being safe. It is a good idea though, and we think research should definitely continue.

Genetic Technology

There are many types of genetics technology. The definition of genetic is "the science of heredity dealing with resemblances and differences of related organisms resulting from the interaction of their genes and the environment" and the definition of technology is "the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and pure science." From dictionary.com. So genetic technology is machines used to help determine problems and cures in humans health. That was best summed up in my words. 

1. The first type of genetic technology I could find was PCR amplification.

*PCR is polymerase chain reaction. It is an extremely powerful technique that can use make a strand of DNA a million times bigger in a single afternoon. It was invented in 1983, by Kary Mullis.

2. Electrophoresis(see other blog post) 

*http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/labs/gel/

*This is a lab you can do to more fully understand gel electrophoresis.

3. Genetic fingerprinting

*The is a powerful forensic tool used to identify a criminal. Police use the leftover fingerprint to determine who the person could be, given their genetic make up.  In this machine, a probe looks for multiple repetitions of several different strands o DNA.

4. Gene splicing(see other blog post)

Human Genome Project

In 1976, the first successful genetic manipulation took place on mice. Scientists almost always test genetic manipulations on small animals first, such as rats. Then they work their up to trying manipulations on dogs, monkeys (animals closest to the genetic background to humans), and eventually humans. Scientists reached a breakthrough to fund their research in November 2001, when they successfully managed to genetically alter a baby monkey that had successfully carried a jellyfish gene in his genome. All of the years of work scientists had put into research became worth it in 2008. Dr. Jacques Cohen reported the first modification in a human genome. He produced two babies from the DNA of two mothers. This was the first genetic modification that worked in humans that resulted in a healthy child. Although this altercation could do good, over 90% of people say that it is wrong to try and increase ability in a child, or in their words, "creating a superhuman".

Yes or No to designer babies

We believe designer babies should be allowed because they could help to save many people. They could eliminate the possibility of having a genetic disease, and increase the ability of humans.  Designer babies could pose a threat to society, people may become obsessed with making the perfect baby, and forget about the more important things in life. This project would definately have to be extremely monitered by scientists. There would have to be legal contrats involved, and it could only be used to treat disease first, not to change or alter appearances. It would start out being limited to only people who could afford it, but hopefully, in time, with more progress, it could be used for everyone.

Definitions and Labs

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/labs/gel/

* this is a lab about gel electrophoesis

Gel electrophoesis is looking at the molecules that create DNA and sort DNA according to length.

Gene Splicing is cutting of the DNA of a gene to add base pairs.

Inheritable gene modification is changing the genes of future generations. These genes would be changed in the eggs and sperm, or early embryos . It has not been tested on humans, there could be terrible consequences. It could, in the future, alter the entire human species.