Implications Of Genetic Manipulation Flashcards
What are some advantages of genetic manipulation?
Animals and plants can be altered to increase productivity, their nutritional value and disease resistance.
Organisms can be modified so that they produce compounds of therapeutic use. (Pharming)
Animals can be developed to model diseases, furthering medical research.
Animals and plants can be bred to be resilient to extreme conditions.
It is a quicker way to produce new breeds and variety.
Xenotransplantation could be used to treat illness in a range of species.
Animals can be bred to remove characteristics which have a high risk of injury (cattle with horns)
What are some disadvantages of genetic manipulation?
Genetic variation may be lost resulting in a lower disease resistance.
Research and development is long and costly
Facilities are not readily available for use with all animal collections.
There are restrictions on how and when genetic modification can be used.
There can be an increased risk of health conditions due to modification.
Potential transmission of zoonoses can be linked to modified genes.
New diseases can develop
There may be risks to animal health and the environment.
It takes a long time to develop gene modification processes.
