Biotechnology Flashcards

Flashcards about Biotechnology

GMOs

Foods that have had their DNA altered through genetic engineering

Arguments for GM Foods

Produce Higher Yields, Lower Food Costs, Reduce Land Use, Reduce chemical usage, Reduce Energy Consumption

Arguments Against GM Foods

No long-term studies, Herbicide resistance genes may lead to overuse of herbicides, Insect resistance genes may threaten beneficial insects, Patents may prove too costly for small farmers

Transgenic Plants

producing transgenic plants begins with a recombinant plasmid containing a gene of interest with use of bacterium

Transgenic Animals

Enzymes that are normally responsible for DNA repair and recombination may help insert the foreign DNA into the chromosomes of the injected cell.

CRISPR

Allows scientists to change the base sequence of a gene without inserting DNA from another source

Cas9

Enzyme that can cut DNA at a specific point in CRISPR

Gene Therapy

Replaces a faulty gene or adds a new gene using a viral vector in an attempt to cure disease or improve your body's ability to fight disease

Gene Therapy: Potential Risks

Unwanted immune system reaction, Targeting the wrong cells, Infection caused by the virus, Possibility of causing a tumor

Cloning

Uses a single cell from an adult organism to grow an entirely new individual that is genetically identical to the organism from which the cell was taken

Reproductive Cloning Benifits

Maintain good DNA in animal reproduction, Cloning genetically modified animals: Xenotransplantation (avoid tissue rejection), Insulin producers

Reproductive Cloning Risks

Highly inefficient: Die mysteriously, High costs., Morally wrong to experiment with animals., Could lead to the cloning of humans.

Therapeutic Cloning

Production of human embryos for use in research: Stem cell research

Therapeutic Cloning Benifits

Produce whole organs from cloned stem cells, Produce healthy cells for transplantation, Reduce need for organ donors, Test drugs, understand diseases.

Therapeutic Cloning Risks

Killing embryos in the process.

DNA/ Gene Cloning

Clones Genes; not cells or entire animals. for large protein production, Study of viruses, Vaccines