Assessment of LO 3 – Ethical dilemmas

1. Assessment of LO 3 – Ethical dilemmas • Discuss whether insurance companies should have the right to refuse cover for a child if prenatal tests results indicate that the child will suffer a severe genetic disorder? • Using the technology available today, suppose that you could learn with certainty, that by the age of 60 you would suffer from a genetic disease. Would you like to know? • Makae and Sipho want to marry. Show, in a family tree form, all the possible genotypes of a child they intend to have. (Gg xGg) gg = cystic fibrosis.

2. Genetic counseling • Genetic counseling, a process where information and advice is given about inherited disorders. Often it is given to a couple who are planning to have a child but who suspect that there is a greater than normal risk of the child being affected by a genetic disorder

3. Genetic modification

4. In genetic modification, scientists use restriction enzymes to isolate a segment of DNA that contains a particular gene of interest (1). • In this instance, it is a human gene. A plasmid extracted from its bacteria and treated with the same restriction enzyme can hybridize with this fragment’s “sticky” ends of complementary DNA (2). • The hybrid plasmid is reincorporated into the bacterial cell, where it replicates as part of the cell’s DNA (3). • A large number of daughter cells can be cultured and studied, and their gene products may be extracted for further use (4).

5. Examples of Genetic modification A scorpion venom gene, engineered into a virus, is used as a spray to kill insects Poultry with modified genes are resistant to salmonella food poisoning bacteria, and lay bigger eggs more often

6. Salmon eggs have genes inserted into them which make them grow ten times faster than normal Genetically modified pigs grow faster, have less fat, and produced cholesterol-free meat

7. Assessment (LO3) These tomatoes have been given genes from fish which make them frost resistant and fresh for longer. Would you eat them?

8. Do a survey on the following two questions: Do people know what is genetic modified food? Will they eat genetic modified food? • Design a questionnaire • Use two groups of people • Group 1: 15 - 30 • Group 2: 30 – 50 years old • Draw bar graph on the results obtained in the two questions – plot both sets of data on the same graph • Draw a Pie chart with the results • Write down a hypothesis for your investigation • Write down your independent and dependant factors • Write down your conclusion for this investigation LO1 assessment

9. Extinct zebra Etienne Tracy Interbreeding

10. The story of the extinct zebra • Baby of the thought extinct zebra is in the Cape museum since 1858 – stuffed by taxidermist • Later Mr Rau curator of the museum decided to send it to be re-stuffed • They discovered some muscle tissue left on the inside of the skin • DNA testing show this zebra is related to Equus burchelli (still alive today) • Special inbreeding programme was started and today we have back the original species

11. Resources • The internet www.google – images http://rubistar.4teachers.org • Britannica 2006 • Encarta 2006