Retrieved from: http://www.engineersgarage.com/articles/biotechnology
BIOREMEDIATION
Bioremediation is the process of using organisms to remove or neutralize pollutants from a contaminated site into less toxic or non toxic substances.
The picture on the left shows rocks cleaned by bioremediation in the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, using oil degrading microbes (e.g. Pseudomonas). The genus contains four different species, each using a different component of oil as a food source. In 1975, Dr. Chakrabarty and his team inserted plasmids from all four species of the oil eaters and put them into a single microbe. While these plasmids would usually not operate together in the same cell, exposing the cell to ultraviolet light caused the plasmids to join into one. This allowed the expression of components from all four pathways, allowing several components of oil to be broken down at the same time. Students can follow the engineering of the oil eating super bug by Dr. Charkrabarty and his team. They can also further discuss the importance of the infamous case of Diamond vs. Chakrabarty that led to the first patent of a genetically modified micro-organism in the United States. (Note that student may first need to understand the process of engineering a recombinant plasmid and the patent process.)
The picture on the left shows rocks cleaned by bioremediation in the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, using oil degrading microbes (e.g. Pseudomonas). The genus contains four different species, each using a different component of oil as a food source. In 1975, Dr. Chakrabarty and his team inserted plasmids from all four species of the oil eaters and put them into a single microbe. While these plasmids would usually not operate together in the same cell, exposing the cell to ultraviolet light caused the plasmids to join into one. This allowed the expression of components from all four pathways, allowing several components of oil to be broken down at the same time. Students can follow the engineering of the oil eating super bug by Dr. Charkrabarty and his team. They can also further discuss the importance of the infamous case of Diamond vs. Chakrabarty that led to the first patent of a genetically modified micro-organism in the United States. (Note that student may first need to understand the process of engineering a recombinant plasmid and the patent process.)
AGRICULTURE
Retrieved from: http://www.allowgoldenricenow.org/
Crops have been genetically engineered, the direct manipulation of genes for practical purposes, to increase yield, hardiness, uniformity, insect, virus and cold resistance and tolerance to herbicides. In 1981, Eugene Nestor and Mary Dell Chiton devised a method that used the tumor-inducing plasmid (Ti) in soil bacteria to introduce foregin genes into plant cells to make transgenic plants. This method was only useful for dicotyledon plants but gene guns were used to infect the monocotyledon, such as wheat, corn, and rice. Golden rice was genetically engineered as a solution to the vitamin A deficiency in countries that predominantly had rice in their diet. Due to the presence of beta-carotene (a pre-curson for vitamin A), the rice appears yellow in colour compared to the wild rice.
Crops have been genetically engineered, the direct manipulation of genes for practical purposes, to increase yield, hardiness, uniformity, insect, virus and cold resistance and tolerance to herbicides. In 1981, Eugene Nestor and Mary Dell Chiton devised a method that used the tumor-inducing plasmid (Ti) in soil bacteria to introduce foregin genes into plant cells to make transgenic plants. This method was only useful for dicotyledon plants but gene guns were used to infect the monocotyledon, such as wheat, corn, and rice. Golden rice was genetically engineered as a solution to the vitamin A deficiency in countries that predominantly had rice in their diet. Due to the presence of beta-carotene (a pre-curson for vitamin A), the rice appears yellow in colour compared to the wild rice.
The following activity allows students to walk through the steps of the positve and negative impacts of golden rice and asks the student to make a decision based on the information they are given.
Retrieved from: http://agroplus.rs/geni-pasulj-i-sef-policije/
One of the first products successfully to be developed and approved to be marketed to consumers were the Favr Savr tomato. The expression of the genes that coded for an enzyme that was responsible for the ripening of the tomato were reduced, giving the genetically modified tomato a longer shelf life.
One of the first products successfully to be developed and approved to be marketed to consumers were the Favr Savr tomato. The expression of the genes that coded for an enzyme that was responsible for the ripening of the tomato were reduced, giving the genetically modified tomato a longer shelf life.
Retrieved from: http://koreanewsonline.blogspot.ca/2012/10/philippine-discovered-and-invented-bio.html
A transgenic corn was engineered to produce Bt toxin that is a natural herbicide against the European cornborer, found in bacteria. Since corn pollinates by the wind, the pollen of the engineered corn coated other plants. Studies revealed that only 56% of monarch butterfly larvae that ate plants coated with the pollen of Bt corn survived compared to 100% of larvae that survived when they ate plants coated with non-transgenic corn pollen. |
FORENSICS
Genetic engineering has had an enormous impact on the field of forensic science. DNA fingerprinting has become one of the most valuable tools to match suspects to crime scenes. RFLP and PCR are processes that use a sample of DNA to create a pattern of bands on a gel that can be compared with other samples. This process uses the advantage of non-coding regions of the human genome. The non-coding regions differ in the quantity of variable number tandem repats and, therefore, can be used to differentiate between individuals.
Retrieved from: http://winfoxprotocol.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/dnabasics2.jpg
Retrieved from: http://winfoxprotocol.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/dnabasics2.jpg
medicine
Retrieved from: http://www.darkdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/next-gen-gene-sequencing-by-sciencedailycom-5665959-298x300.jpg
Biotechnology has been used in the identification of human genes whose mutations lead to genetic diseases. These discoveries may potentially lead to diagnosing, treating and even preventing such conditions. By comparing gene expression in healthy and diseased tissues may help researchers find genes that are turned on or off in particular diseases.
Gene therapy is the process of introducing genes into an infected individual for therapeutic purposes. A normal allele of a defective gene could be inserted into the somatic cells of the tissue affected by the disorder. Bone marrow cells multiply throughout the person's life and are prime candidate to recieve the normal allele to make the therapy permanent.
Biotechnology has been used in the identification of human genes whose mutations lead to genetic diseases. These discoveries may potentially lead to diagnosing, treating and even preventing such conditions. By comparing gene expression in healthy and diseased tissues may help researchers find genes that are turned on or off in particular diseases.
Gene therapy is the process of introducing genes into an infected individual for therapeutic purposes. A normal allele of a defective gene could be inserted into the somatic cells of the tissue affected by the disorder. Bone marrow cells multiply throughout the person's life and are prime candidate to recieve the normal allele to make the therapy permanent.
All of the above mentioned topics can be easily used in a debate. As a teacher, it is important that you do not make the choices for your students. You should only provide the resources so that they can make an informed decision. Each topic can be dispersed to a group of students and after each debate the rest of the class can vote on a motion. The following document will provide you with information on how to conduct a debate.
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