Human Intervention In Evolution Flashcards
Artificial insemination
Collection of semen from a selected animal and introducing the semen by artificial means into the reproductive tract of the female.
Cloning
Asexual reproduction in which genetic information of the new organism comes from one ‘parent’ cell only.
GMOs (genetically modified organisms)
Any organism whose genetic make-up has been artificially changed - (genes from same or different species).
Some kind of modification to its genome.
Transgenic organisms
An organism that possess a ‘foreign’ gene or segment of ‘foreign’ DNA in their genome.
Gene therapy
The function of a faulty allele in an organism is replaced by the addition of a normally functioning allele of the gene concerned.
Gene therapy vectors
RNA retroviruses and DNA adenovirus can be used as vectors.
Genetic engineering
Scientific manipulation of DNA, usually the splicing of one gene from one organism to another.
Genetic screening
DNA is sampled and analysed to look for the presence of one or more alleles associated with an inherited disorder.
Stem cells
Are undifferentiated or precursor cells that have the ability to differentiate into many different and specialised cell types.
Totipotent stem cells
Can give rise to all cell types.
Examples of totipotent: fertilised egg cell and 2-8 cell embryo.
Toti are the best for medical research.
Pluripotent stem cells
Can give rise to most cell types, except those involved with embryos.
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent.
Multipotent stem cells
Can give rise to certain cell types .
Adult/somatic stem cells such as bone marrow stem cells and adipose stem cells are multipotent.
Reproductive cloning
Reproductive cloning is to produce a new organism.
Therapeutic cloning
Therapeutic cloning is to produce an embryo to obtain stem cells for the use in treatments.
Artificial selection/selective breeding
Deliberate selection by the breeder for selective organisms to provide the genetic material for the next generation.
Natural selection
Selection pressures act on phenotypes of members of a population.
Speciation
Process leading to formation of a new species.
IVF
Fertilisation of the egg by sperm outside the body.
MOET (Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer)
Female receives hormones to ovulate more than one egg. She is then given sperm to fertilise multiple eggs. At day 6-7 embryos are removed and one put into each of many females.
Sex selection through sperm sorting
Choosing sperm to produce either male or female offspring.
Artificial pollination
Humans artificially transferring pollen to the stigma of a flower.
Sexual reproduction
Fusion of male and female gametes to produce genetically different offspring.
Asexual reproduction
Production of genetically identical offspring.
Infertility
Inability of sperm to meet the egg.
