Biotechnology

Question 1

what is biotechnology?

Answer 1

The process of using living organisms to modify products or for specific uses

Question 2

what is a germplasm?

Answer 2

a living genetic resource such as seeds or tissue, that are maintained for the purpose of animal and plant breeding, preservation and other research uses

Question 3

Give 2 examples of biotech

Answer 3

Beer brewing - yeast introduced 
Penicillin - mould bio engineered
DNA technology - cystic fibrosis, diabetes 
DNA cloning 
Embryo cloning

Question 4

what are the 2 types of cloning?

Answer 4

• Artificial embryo twinning

- Somatic cell nuclear transfer

Question 5

What is artificial embryo twinning?

Answer 5

technique used to mimic the natural process of creating identical twins

Question 6

describe the process of artificial embryo twinning

Answer 6

• Early embryo is separated into individual cells - undergo mitotic division in petri dish
• Embryos placed back into mother to develop

Question 7

describe the process of somatic cell nuclear transfer

Answer 7

• Body cell (somatic cells) from an adult is isolated
• Nucleus removed - placed in an egg cell
• egg cell w/ new nucleus now starts to behave like a freshly fertilized egg
• Once developed into an embryo, is placed in surrogate mother - gives birth

Question 8

which type of cloning was dolly the sheep made from?

Answer 8

Somatic cell nuclear transfer

Question 9

what is somatic cell nuclear transfer

Answer 9

When a somatic cell nucleus is inserted into an egg cell to develop into an embryo that is placed in a surrogate mother for birthing

Question 10

Name 3 pros of biotechnology

Answer 10

• can cure/ treat diseases
• produce more food for growing populations
• can save endangered species
• advance science to open up more possibilities

Question 11

Name 3 cons of biotechnology

Answer 11

• religious objection (playing god)
• unethical uses (designer babies)
• animal cruelty
• expensive
• more food intolerances/ allergies
• medicine-resistant superbugs

Question 12

what is genetic engineering

Answer 12

the process of using recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology to alter the genetic makeup of an organism.

Question 13

Give 3 examples of genetically engineered products

Answer 13

golden rice = contains beta-carotene to make it healthier – people who can’t access vitamins get a healthy dose of vitamin A in golden rice – good for third world countries

Enviropigs

Glofish

Banana Vaccine

Insecticide corn

Non-crying onions

Question 14

Describe the case study of enviropigs

Answer 14

Enviropigs = transgenic pigs that have the phytase gene in salivary glands to break down phosphorus
- so they excrete 75% less phosphorus

Question 15

Name 3 pros for genetic engineering

Answer 15

• More precise and rapid technology to introduce new traits in livestock and crops
• Medicine: production of human proteins in bacteria, insulin, various growth factors, hormones, blood clotting factor.
• Improving crop and livestock production to feed the growing population
• Improving nutritional content of crops, golden rice, vitamins and minerals
• Crop resistance to drought, salt, flooding
• Plant resistant to pests, insecticides, herbicides

Question 16

Name 3 cons against genetic engineering

Answer 16

• Ethical issues
• Animal cruelty
• Ambiguity on where to draw boundaries – glofish, designer babies
• Can cause/ trigger allergies (food)
• Environmental damage
• Expensive research
• Do not know long term effets
• Cross-pollination – possibility of resistant weeds being pollinated and becoming unmanageable
• Wild gene pools can be altered
• Interrupts evolution
• Can harm food webs – ecology – may negatively affect biodiversity

Question 17

What is somatic cell therapy

Answer 17

A type of gene therapy where a gene is introduced into a patient to help them recover from a disease

Question 18

What is germline therapy

Answer 18

a type of gene therapy where changes are made to genes that will affect subsequent generations

Question 19

why is germline therapy problematic?

Answer 19

Because it will affect subsequent generations - the long term effects are unknown