Genetics Notes 8: Technology and Ethics PDF

Ms. Small Molecular Genetics Notes 8 SBI 4U Genetic Technology and Ethics: Information from Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-biology/hs-molecular-genetics Terminology: Biotechnology - The use of an organism, o...

Ms. Small Molecular Genetics Notes 8 SBI 4U Genetic Technology and Ethics: Information from Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-biology/hs-molecular-genetics Terminology: Biotechnology - The use of an organism, or a component of an organism or other biological system, to make a product or process. DNA technology - The sequencing, analysis, and cutting-and-pasting of DNA Polymerase chain reaction - technique to make many copies of a specific DNA region in vitro (in a test tube rather than an organism) Gel electrophoresis - A technique used to separate DNA fragments according to their size Recombinant DNA - DNA that is assembled out of fragments from multiple sources DNA cloning - A molecular biology technique that makes many identical copies of a piece of DNA, such as a gene DNA sequencing - The process of determining the sequence of nucleotides (As, Ts, Cs, and Gs) in a piece of DNA. Biotechnology Biotechnology can include both cutting-edge laboratory techniques and traditional agricultural and culinary techniques that have been practiced for hundreds of years. Biotechnology is used in the production of products we see in everyday life, such as alcohol and penicillin. It can also be used to develop new medical treatments, such as gene therapy. Biotechnology has additional applications in areas such as food production and the remediation (cleanup) of environmental pollution. DNA technologies Many examples of modern biotechnology depend on the ability to analyze, manipulate, and cut and paste pieces of DNA. DNA technology is important to both basic and applied (practical) biology. Examples of DNA technologies: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - a widely used DNA manipulation technique, one with applications in almost every area of modern biology. PCR reactions produce many copies of a target DNA sequence starting from a piece of template DNA. This technique can be used to make many copies of DNA that is present in trace amounts (e.g. in a droplet of blood at a crime scene). Gel electrophoresis - a technique used to visualize (directly see) DNA fragments. For instance, researchers can analyze the results of a PCR reaction by examining the DNA fragments it produces on a gel.Gel 1 Ms. Small Molecular Genetics Notes 8 SBI 4U electrophoresis separates DNA fragments based on their size, and the fragments are stained with a dye so the researcher can see them. They can then be used as a way to compare how similar DNA samples are to one another. DNA fragments migrate through the gel from the negative to the positive electrode. After the gel has run, the fragments are separated by size, with the smallest ones near the bottom (positive electrode) and the largest ones near the top (negative electrode). DNA cloning - researchers make many copies of a DNA fragment of interest, such as a gene. In many cases, DNA cloning involves inserting a target gene into a circular DNA molecule called a plasmid. The insertion is done using enzymes that “cut and paste” DNA, and it produces a molecule of recombinant DNA. The plasmid can be replicated in bacteria, making many copies of the gene of interest. In some cases, the gene is also expressed in the bacteria, making a protein (such as the insulin used by diabetics). DNA sequencing - involves determining the sequence of nucleotide bases (As, Ts, Cs, and Gs) in a DNA molecule. In some cases, just one piece of DNA is sequenced at a time, while in other cases, a large collection of DNA fragments (such as those from an entire genome) may be sequenced as a group. Bioethics Biotechnology has the potential to provide benefits to people and societies, but it can also have negative effects or unintended consequences. It is important that biotechnology innovations (like other technological innovations) be carefully tested and analyzed before they are released for general use. Clinical trials and government regulation help ensure that biotechnology products placed on the market are safe and effective. In addition, biotechnology innovations may raise new ethical questions about how information, techniques, and knowledge should or shouldn’t be used. Examples of bioethical considerations Privacy and non-discrimination: Should your health insurance company be able to charge you more if you have a gene variant that makes you likely to develop a disease? How would you feel if your school or employer had access to your genome? Safety, health effects, or ecological impacts of biotechnologies: For example, some genetically engineered crops can make their own insecticide, reducing the need for chemical spraying. However, this raises concerns about plants escaping into the wild or interbreeding with local populations, potentially causing unintended ecological consequences. Difficult decision-making for individuals: For example, a couple may learn via prenatal testing that their fetus has a genetic disorder. Similarly, a person who has her genome sequenced for the sake of curiosity may learn that she is going to develop an incurable, late-onset genetic disease, such as Huntington's. 2 Ms. Small Molecular Genetics Notes 8 SBI 4U Common mistakes and misconceptions Science alone cannot determine how these biotechnology should or shouldn’t be used. Biotechnology is not inherently unsafe, untested, or unpredictable, and scientific research and development can make new information, techniques, and knowledge available. However, it's important for all members of society to have their voices heard in the conversation about biotechnology inventions and products that can affect our everyday lives. Clones are not formed instantly. A common belief is that if a clone is created, it would appear at the same age as the original. For example, if an embryo of an organism is cloned, it must have time to develop into a full-grown individual, much like any other embryo. Because the clone grows and has its own experiences, it may not act anything like the original, even if it is a genetic copy. In addition, not all clones are created artificially. Clones are simply identical genetic copies, and many organisms naturally reproduce through cloning. For example, bacteria reproduce by binary fission, during which they copy their DNA and divide into two. 3