inquiry question 3 module 6 Flashcards
Does artificial manipulation of DNA have the potential to change populations forever?
examples of reproductive technologies
- artificial insemination
- artificial pollination
artificial insemination
involves the assisted placement of sperm into the female reproductive tract
eg. cattle for more yield and IVF for assisted human reproduction for single mothers
artificial insemination effect on variation within species
Increase → allows crosses that would not usually occur due to distance or physical differences which increases variability within a population
Decrease → one donation of sperm can be frozen and used multiple times with increases levels of genes within a population
methodology of artificial insemination
- Collection of semen using an artificial vagina
- Transfer of semen to a sterilised artificial insemination gun
- Insertion of the gun into the female organism’s cervix or uterus through the rectum
advantages of artificial insemination
- Humans are able to select desirable traits to produce offspring with desired characteristics
- Can be used in conservation, to increase the numbers of endangered species such as wildlife conservation
disadvantages of artificial insemination
- decreased genetic variation as if certain traits are continuously selected artificially increasing the allele frequency of those traits
- Susceptibility to extinction due to decreased total gene pool and allele frequency in the population as the same males / females with those traits are reproducing
- Inbreeding which leads to diseases
artificial pollination
assisted transfer of pollen from the male part of a flower to the female part
- selectively breed plants with desirable traits eg more fruit and larger seeds
methodology
1. Pollen (sperm) is removed from the stamen of one plant
2. Pollen applied to the stigma of another plant by the means of forceps
3. Pollen fertilises the ovum
4. The anthers of the plant receiving foreign pollen are removed to avoid self-pollination.
5. Results in fertilisation and the developments of seeds. These seeds may develop into fruits or new plants.
mechanical and hand
how does artificial pollination alter the genetic variation
Increase → allowing crosses that would not have occurred naturally due to distance or physical factors or time
Decrease → if one type of pollen is transferred to many plants → occurs as it is more efficient for farmers to harvest a field of uniform crops (can result in monocultures)
advantages of artificial pollination
- Ensures that all plants within a crop are pollinated and can produce fruit → increases crop yields and profitability
- Used to create new species of plants with desirable characteristics → increasing genetic variation → new allele combinations are being created
disadvantages of artificial pollination
If performed large scale → may create monocultures (little genetic variation as it is not random anymore) ‘
- Species will be vulnerable to sudden environmental changes eg. irish potato famine
define cloning and types of cloning
the process of making an exact copy of something
- gene cloning
- therapeutic cloning
- whole organism cloning
gene cloning, definition, process, applications
process by which a single gene or segment of DNA is isolated so that multiple copies can be made
methodology
1. Gene of interest is extracted from a sample using a restriction enzyme
2. A bacterial plasmid is cut using the same restriction enzyme
3. Gene of interest and cut bacterial plasmid are annealed together using DNA ligase → joins the ‘sticky ends’ together
4. Recombinant plasmid is reinserted back into the bacterial cell
5. Bacterial cell replicates by binary fission → produces many copies of the recombinant plasmid → gene of interest
6. bacteria cells will express the genes
applications:
-human genes cloned for replacement insulin and healthy genes for cystic fibrosis through gene therapy
- transgenic organisms
make therapeautic later
yuhh
whole organism cloning, definition, process, applications, will they actually look the same and techniques used
process of creating an organism which is an exact genetic copy of another organism
Clones theoretically look identical to the parent because they contain the same genetic material but due to environment conditions → expression of genes differ resulting in slightly different phenotypes
- somatic cell nuclear transfer
whole organism cloning effect on variation
Decrease → populations that reproduce sexually
No effect → populations that reproduce asexually eg. vegetative propagation as the clones have already been produced
difference between whole organism and gene cloning
whole organism is produced instead do the copy of a singular DNA segment being replicated
ethical issues with whole organism cloning
- using large number of embryos
- genetic damage to the clone
somatic cell transfer uses
- dolly the sheep
Protects endangered species - Artificial embryo twinning allows many more offspring to be be produced from a single egg → helps farmers increase their cattle numbers or milk production