Genetic Technology Review

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells. They have the potential to become any type of cell in the body. They are already used in treating many diseases, and scientists hope to learn how to use them to regenerate damaged or destroyed parts of the body.

Which of the following sources of stem cells presents the greatest ethical problems or controversies?

• Stem cells can be created from many types of cells in adults, such as skin cells.

• Stem cells can be harvested by destroying human embryos.

• Stem cells can be harvested from umbilical cord blood after the birth of a baby.

• Stem cells can be harvested from certain tissues and organs in adults, such as bone marrow.

People suffering from diabetes need to be injected with insulin in order to keep their blood glucose levels stable. In the early 1900s, insulin for diabetes patients was extracted from slaughtered cows and pigs. However, in the 1970s, genetic engineering technology allowed scientists to engineer a bacterium to produce human insulin.

How does this new form of biotechnology most likely benefit society?

• There is no longer a large market for cow and pig organs.

• Patients with diabetes now have a steady, inexpensive supply of insulin available.

• Genetically engineered bacteria cannot become pathogenic to humans.

• There are no benefits to this form of biotechnology.

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What was produced as a result of the Human Genome Project?

• a gene map of the human genome

• clones using human embryonic DNA

• stem cells from the human genome

• mutant cells containing human DNA

Many crops such as tomatoes and corn are now routinely genetically manipulated to become more resistant to disease and herbicides. What is one disadvantage of this genetic resistance?

• The genes are transferred to their own progeny when they reproduce.

• The genes may be transferred to weeds during pollination.

• The crops are no longer able to reproduce.

• The crops always become less flavorful and less nutritious.

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Scientists have genetically engineered some strains of bacteria to consume toxins, such as oil. These bacteria ingest certain kinds of toxins, metabolize them, and then excrete harmless substances.

How might these bacteria most likely impact society?

• They can bring about digestive problems in local animals.

• They can cause a significant decrease in the available fuel supply in some locations.

• They can lead to more bacterial infections in people.

• They can enable people to more easily clean up spilled pollutants in the environment.

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Many scientists believe that stem cells might be useful for treating certain human diseases in the future. Stem cells are cells that

• are modified viruses that can be used to transfer genetic information.

• lack the ability to undergo cell division through mitosis.

• have the potential to differentiate into various specialized cell types.

• are very small and can only be found in plants.

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Genetic engineering is the process of manipulating genes for practical purposes.

How could genetic engineering most likely benefit people with genetic diseases in the future?

• Genes causing diseases could be replaced with various types of plant genes.

• Genes causing diseases could be cloned and placed into other human cells.

• Genes causing diseases could be replaced through the use of recombinant DNA.

• Genes causing diseases could be eradicated from the human genome through the use of restriction enzymes

Biotechnology can have advantages and disadvantages. Which would be considered a disadvantage of cloning?

• Individual organisms with desirable traits can be duplicated.

• Traits of clones can be predicted in advance.

• Many organisms with desirable traits can be produced.

• Cloning reduces genetic variation.

Which of the following best describes recombinant DNA?

• molecules that have undergone DNA fingerprinting analysis

• genetic information from selectively bred organisms

• DNA molecules composed of DNA from different sources

• genetic information that has been cut with restriction enzymes

Farmers across many centuries have used selective breeding to enhance certain qualities in their crops. Which of the following qualities would most likely be selected for in breeding?

• decreased nutrient composition

• decreased harvest production

• harmful insect resistance

• bioluminescence/attraction to fireflies

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