Molecular Genetics: How will You Modify the Future?
Congratulations ‐ You are in control of your future! The choices you make today will shape the outcomes of your life and the lives of your family and friends. Whether you think so or not, your generation and the generations after you will be responsible for making tough decisions that will shape society on local and global levels. To make a difference in shaping the future for the better, you need to make informed decisions. As your teacher, it is my hope to provide you with the information you will need to shape the future in a positive way! Since the future is in your hands, don’t you think you need to know about the important issues that your choices will impact?
The world has witnessed extraordinary advances in science over the last few decades. Biotechnology -one such area of growth – has major implications related to human and environmental health. You have already been discussing some highly controversial issues in genetics and have discovered the varying perspectives of your classmates. Whether you choose to take action for, against, or do absolutely nothing, about issues in biotechnology, you will be involved in how these technologies are used to shape the future – our genetic future, that is. DNA, your DNA, is related to just about everything!
GOAL
You will find a news article that relates to an application of genetic modification (GM) in one of three areas: (1) Medicine, (2) Research, or (3) Agriculture /Industry (look at Table 1)
FORMAT
You will do an in-class presentation on your topic, on _______________________. You may use a presentation (no more than 10-15 slides!), a poster, a Prezi, etc.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
1. What is the technology, how does it use genetic modification, and what is it used for?
2. What is the impact of this technology on society (social, legal and/or ethical)? a) whom will this hurt/help?
- Advantages (minimum of 3) - Disadvantages (minimum of 3)
b) What regulations are in place in Canada for this technology? If you can’t find Canadian regulations try US or Europe.
c) How do YOU fell about this? What is your opinion about using this technology and what action, if any, will you take about it? What does this mean for you and your family? For others?
3. Propose a course of practical action to deal with this technology. Support your opinion with at least two example.
Table 1. Topic choices for Biotechnology Assignment
Medicine Example
human gene therapy - somatic/germline engineering for treating/curing diseases such as cystic fribrosis, haemophilia, diabetes, X-SCID, Parkinson’s, sickle cell anemia, etc.
recombinant pharmaceuticals
- “Pharming”: production of medication using biotech, ex. insulin, human growth hormone, blood clotting factors, etc.
vaccines - genetically engineered vaccines - cancer vaccines
antisense therapy - antisense drug treatments in cancer, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, HIV/AIDS, etc. human cloning - reproductive
- therapeutic - designer babies
- stem cells (induced pluripotent)
organ pharming - using GM organisms to grow human organs for rejection-free transplants
Research Example
loss of function experiments
- knockouts gain of function
experiments
- opposite of knockouts
tracking experiments - localization/interaction of proteins, ex. using GFP Agriculture/Industry Example
GM foods/transgenic crops
- “pharma” crops - insect-resistant crops - terminator crops
bioremediation - cleaning up oil spills using GM organisms, etc.
biofuels - using GM organisms to make a renewable energy source
Other Example
come ask me! - the Lazarus project (bringing back extinct animals) -archaeogenomics (studying human evolution using DNA) - nutrigenomics (gene-food interactions)
- pharmacogenomics (gene-medicine interactions
BioCanada is a tool to help you locate information on biotechnology from the Government of Canada.
Access policies, research activities and resources from the departments and agencies of the Government of Canada. Find information on R&D, health, ethics, the environment, and the business of biotechnology.
http://www.bioportal.gc.ca/english/BioPortalHome.asp?x=1
http://www.biogateway.gc.ca/english/linksearch.asp?x=1&formAction=SubjectArea
The National Human Genome Research Institute was established in 1989 to carry out the role of the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) in the International Human Genome Project (HGP). The HGP was developed in collaboration with the United States Department of Energy and begun in 1990 to map the human genome. Access credible
information regarding health, education, research, issues and news in genetics. http://www.genome.gov/
Genetics Tutorial and Resource website - http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/ Nature Science Journal - http://www.nature.com/genetics/index.html Source of Articles
- go to the “Library” section of the Adult High School website - under RESEARCH
a) click on eLibrary… username: 32-43718 password: bigchalk
… and run a search for “genetic engineering” in Newspapers and Magazines
- click on Applications to see more ideas b) for more overviews/analysis
Name:
Research Project RUBRIC
You will submit this rubric and your research information in point-form format together with your finished project. You will be evaluated based on the criteria below.
D3. demonstrate an understanding of concepts related to molecular genetics, and how genetic modification is applied in industry and agriculture.
explain what is the technology and how it is used
explain how genetic modification is applied in your chosen technology information makes sense and is correct
key words and ideas are correctly used complicated vocabulary is explained/defined
mark: 4 3 2 1 R
D1. analyse some of the social, ethical, and legal issues associated with genetic research and biotechnology;
explain the social, ethical, and legal impact of this technology on society - three advantages
- three disadvantages
- analysis is unbiased and scientific, not based on personal feelings
- conclusions are drawn based on research finding and justified with reference to scientific knowledge
in a separate paragraph/section - explain your personal stance
- propose a course of practical action to deal with the problems
information makes sense and is correct key words and ideas are correctly used complicated vocabulary is explained/ defined
mark: 4 3 2 1 R
A1. demonstrate scientific investigation skills (related to both inquiry and research) in the four areas of skills (initiating and planning, performing and recording, analysing and interpreting, and communicating);
uses at least one visual model
tables/graphs/models etc. have relevant captions
the references are presented in an appropriate format (Bibliography Worksheet), at least 3 sources are used, one print
in-text citations are used
information flow is good – links/introductions are provided between sections paraphrasing/direct quotations are used judiciously
grammar is correct
the rubric was used to evaluate own work
mark: 4 3 2 1 R
*4 (excellent), 3 (good), 2 (satisfactory), 1 (needs improvement), R (incomplete, please resubmit)
The Canadian government defines biotechnology as "the application of science and engineering in the direct and indirect use of living organisms or parts or products of living organisms in their natural or modified forms." (Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999). In simple terms, biotechnology involves the genetic modification of living organisms to produce goods and services. Genetic modification, genetic manipulation, and genetic engineering all refer to the same thing – the use of modern biotechnology techniques to change the genes of an organism, such as a plant or animal. A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a plant, animal or other organism that has been changed using genetic modification.
How are GMO’s created?
The GM of organisms involves the use of recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques. rDNA techniques include a collection of techniques for creating (and analyzing) DNA molecules that contain DNA from two unrelated organisms. One of the DNA molecules is typically a bacterial or viral DNA that is capable of accepting another DNA molecule; this is called a vector DNA. The other DNA molecule is from an organism of interest, which could be anything from a bacterium, to a plant, to a whale, or a human. Combining these two DNA molecules allows for the replication of many copies of a specific DNA. These copies of DNA can be studied in detail, used to produce valuable proteins, or used for gene therapy, or other applications.
Some examples of techniques and tools involved in creating GMOs include: polymerase chain reaction (PCR), electrophoresis, enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), restriction enzymes, DNA sequencing, DNA fingerprinting, microarray’s etc. Many of theses techniques are used in conjunction with each other in the processes of creating GMOs. Why should I care about biotechnology and GMOs?
As you are conducting your research, you should also be able to see that rDNA techniques are going to have a large impact on the future – your future! And like a lot of new science technology, rDNA has the possibility to be used for "good" and "bad" purposes. There is a bit of grey area here, as each person defines good and bad in a different way. The following is a list of ways rDNA will impact the future with respect to social, legal and ethical issues. It's okay if you don't agree with what is listed as good and bad, and by thinking about the impact for yourself, you will find you have an even better grasp of rDNA and the applications of biotechnology.
Good
Improved medicines
Improved livestock (resistance to disease) Improved crops (resistance to disease, higher
yields)
Prevention of genetic diseases
Lowering the cost of medicines (i.e., Insulin) Safer Medicines (i.e. Insulin)
Treatment for pre-existing conditions (i.e. Cancer)
Bad
Safety concerns
Environmental concerns (developing resistance to fungi)
Ethical dilemmas over human treatment (i.e., Are we playing God? Who owns genetic information? Genetic discrimination, etc.) Potential for Experimental abuse (i.e., doctors using patients as test subjects) Germline treatment going from treating
diseases to a method for picking the traits you want in a child (i.e. specifying hair and eye color,
