Cloning, Gene Therapy, and DNA Technologies

Flashcards covering cloning, gene therapy, DNA sequencing, artificial selection and genetic engineering.

Cloning Definition

The process of cloning involves removing an unfertilized egg and replacing its nucleus with the nucleus of a body cell from the same species.

Cloning and Chromosomes

Because this body cell has a full set of chromosomes, the offspring will have the same genes as the individual that donated the body cell.

Cloning in Food Production

Cloning is used to develop many of the foods we eat. Many plants are cloned simply by taking a small piece of the original and putting it in suitable conditions to grow.

Cavendish Banana

The Cavendish banana is the most common banana for eating. All these bananas are clones of the original plant.

Benefits of Cloning in Crops

Cloning helps to produce crops of consistent quality.

Drawbacks of Cloning

A population with little genetic diversity has drawbacks.

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy involves changing a gene to treat a medical disease or disorder. A normal working gene replaces an absent or faulty gene.

Sickle Cell Disease

This painful genetic disorder is caused by a single mutation that affects hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells.

CRISPR

CRISPR is a gene-editing tool that can help people with sickle cell disease. CRISPR uses a 'guide RNA' and an enzyme to cut out the DNA sequence causing the dangerous mutation.

DNA Sequencing

Determining the exact sequence of nitrogen bases in an organisms DNA.

Genome

The complete set of genetic information an organism carries in its DNA.

Human Genome Project

The goal of the Human Genome Project was to identify the sequence of the entire human genome.

DNA Technologies

DNA technologies help diagnose genetic diseases.

Mutations

Genetic disorders typically result from one or more changed genes, called mutations.

DNA Screening

Medical specialists can carry out a DNA screening to detect the presence of a mutation.

DNA Fingerprint

A pattern is produced creating a DNA fingerprint, like the one shown in Figure 8. Similarities between patterns determine who contributed the DNA.

Artificial Selection

Scientists and breeders have influenced the traits that other organisms inherit through the process of selective breeding.

Selective Breeding (Artificial Selection)

Occurs when humans breed only those organisms with desired traits to produce the next generation.

Animal Husbandry

Breeding and caring for farm animals that have certain genetic traits that humans desire.

Genetic Engineering

Modern scientists can transfer a gene from the DNA of one organism into another. Genetic engineering is used to give organisms traits they could not acquire through breeding.

Genetic Engineering for Insulin

Scientists genetically engineer bacteria to produce the first human protein insulin.

Plasmids

Small rings of DNA, or plasmids, are found in some bacteria cells.