MUTATIONS
MUTATIONS = A sudden change in the genetic makeup of
a gene or a chromosome.
HARMFULL MUTATION = A gene or chromosomal mutation that causes a
disorder or disease may result.
HARMLESS/NEUTRAL MUTATION = A gene or chromosomal mutation that gene
effect on the organism does not have.
USEFUL MUTATION = A gene or chromosomal mutation that is beneficial
for the organism can be.
GENE MUTATION = A permanent change in the DNA sequence of
organism.
CHROMOSOME MUTATION = A sudden change in the structure
and/or amount of chromosomes in the
cells of an organism.
SINGLE-GENE DISORDERS = when a mutation causes a part of a
none changed or missing.
CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITIES = when a whole chromosome or large
sections of thereof goes missing by
"omission", "doubling/duplication",
"inversion" or where part of a chromosome
breakdown and join at a non-homologous
chromosome.
1. DISEASES CAUSED BY GENE MUTATIONS:
- Hemophilia = absence of the blood clotting factors.
- Color blindness = due to the absence of a specific protein
at either the red or the green cones or photoreceptors
in the eye.
- Albinism = hereditary recessive condition caused by
mutations of certain genes and are characterised by the
inability of the patient to remove melanin from the skin, hair
and producing eyes.
2. DISEASES CAUSED BY CHROMOSOME MUTATIONS:
- Down syndrome = due to the extra copy of chromosome 21 as a
consequence of non-disjunction during meiosis.
GENETIC ENGINEERING
GENETIC ENGINEERING/MANIPULATION = A process by which genes present in
DNA can be changed and/or
transferred by scientists to create a
genetically different organism.
BIOTECHNOLOGY = the manipulation of biological processes to meet
human needs.
ASPECTS OF GENETIC MANIPULATION:
1. STEM CELLS = unspecialised cells that can develop into any kind of
specialised cell. Stem cells can be used to treat and replace
any type of damaged tissue.
2. STEM CELL RESEARCH = the area in research where the characteristics
of stem cells and their potential uses in
medicines are being studied.
3. CLONING = creating a type of living material such as a cell or an
organism that has an identical genetic makeup of that
of the parent material or organism.
THE PROCESS OF CLONING:
1. An ordinary body cell (eg. Muscle cell) is extracted from the organism that will
be cloned.
2. The nucleus is removed from the cell.
3. An ovum is also extracted from a female organism of the same species.
4. The nucleus of the ovum is also removed.
5. The nucleus removed from the somatic cell is inserted into the empty ovum.
6. An electric shock is administered to the ovum.
7. The ovum begins mitotic division.
8. An embryo forms and grows in the uterus of a female organism of the same
species placed.
9. The embryo develops normally.
10 An offspring is produced.
THE PROCESS OF RECOMBINANT GENE TECHNOLOGY:
1. The human insulin gene is extracted/cut from the DNA of
a human cell.
2. The gene is added to the plasmid DNA of a bacterium through added enzymes.
3. The genetically engineered bacteria produce human insulin every time
the bacteria divides.
4. The bacteria is placed in a fermentation tank.
5. Human insulin is extracted.
ADVANTAGES OF CLONING:
- Can produce organisms with desirable traits which can have a longer shelf
life, be more nutritious, yield larger crops etc.
- Conservation of endangered species.
- To produce tissue/organs fr transplants.
WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE OPPOSED TO CLONING?
- Cloning is a very expensive process, the funds can be used for more
significant needs.
- It is unethical and interferes with nature.
- It can pose potential health risks.
- There is no information yet on the long-term effect this may have.
