Genetic modification and biotechnology


Understandings:
• Gel electrophoresis is used to separate proteins or fragments of DNA according to size.
• PCR can be used to amplify small amounts of DNA.
• DNA profiling involves comparison of DNA.
• Genetic modification is carried out by gene transfer between species.
• Clones are groups of genetically identical organisms, derived from a single original parent cell.
• Many plant species and some animal species have natural methods of cloning.
• Animals can be cloned at the embryo stage by breaking up the embryo into more than one group of cells.
• Methods have been developed for cloning adult animals using differentiated cells.

Applications and skills:
• Application: Use of DNA profiling in paternity and forensic investigations.
• Application: Gene transfer to bacteria using plasmids makes use of restriction endonucleases and DNA ligase.
• Application: Assessment of the potential risks and benefits associated with genetic modification of crops.
• Application: Production of cloned embryos produced by somatic-cell nuclear transfer.

Theory of knowledge:
• The use of DNA for securing convictions in legal cases is well established, yet even universally accepted theories are overturned in the light of new evidence in science. What criteria are necessary for assessing the reliability of evidence?

• Aim 6: The design of a rooting experiment should ideally lead to the experiment actually being carried out by students.
• Aim 8: The ethics of genetic modification could be discussed.

• Skill: Design of an experiment to assess one factor affecting the rooting of stem-cuttings.

Guidance:
• Students should be able to deduce whether or not a man could be the father of a child from the pattern of bands on a DNA profile.
• Dolly can be used as an example of somatic-cell transfer.
• A plant species should be chosen for rooting experiments that forms roots readily in water or a solid medium.

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In what ways can the above procedure be used to benefit humans?   Research insulin production.
Are you good enough to thwart the green zombie toxin from transforming us all?

Cloning
What is the new CRISPR?

How does it work?  What advantages does it give us?  Are there limitations we should think about with the use of this technology? 
Try your knowledge out to see if you can correct the space aliens problems with gene therapy through viruses.  
What are Bt crops?
Skill: Analysis of data on risks to monarch butterflies of Bt crops.

Electrophoresis : Skill: Analysis of examples of DNA profiles.

Use BOTH of these excellent simulations to see electrophoresis in action and how the results are used! 
Complete this animation!
Electrophoresis simulation
Use for criminal cases, paternity suits, relationships between species..
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