What is Cloning?
1. Who is Dolly? A sheep that has been valuable to cloning technology.
2. When a zygote divides into to separate cells, it is called: A two-celled embryo.
3. Somatic cells are also called: Germ cells.
4. In order to clone a gene, a gene is inserted into a: Plasmid.
5. In order to create an embryo from a somatic cell, the donor egg cell must have its __________nucleus_________ removed.
Click and Clone
6. List all the materials needed to clone a mouse.
CHemical to stimulate cell division, blunt and sharp pipette, petri dishes, microscope, a surrogate mother, and somatic cell donor.
7. Place the following steps in the correct order.
____4___Stimulate cell division
____6____Deliver baby
____2____ Remove and discard the nucleus from the egg cell
____1____ Isolate donor cells from egg donor and germ cell donor
____3____ Transfer the somatic cell nucleus into the egg cell
____5____ Implant embryo into a surrogate mother
8. There are two time gaps in the process of cloning. What are they? (ie. what do you have to wait for?)
8a. The DNA needs to reprogram itself.
8b. The cells need to divide, and it take several hours to do so.
9. What color with the cloned mouse be? ___Brown__________ What is the name of this mouse? ______MIni-Mimi________
Why Clone?
10. Why is cloning extinct animals problematic? Because extinct animals may be fiercer or more hostile than previously thought. Extinct animals might not be used to certain common bacteria on Earth that were introduced after the extinction.
11. What are some reasons a person might want to clone a human?
An infertile couple wanting a baby, or a couple with deceased children.
The Clone Zone
12. What animal was cloned in 1885? _____Sea Urchins__________________
13. How did Spemann separate the two cells of the embryo of a salamander in 1902? ___________He created a noose from a strand of his babies hair and tightened it around the embryo until it split____________
14. The process of removing a nucleus is called ______enucliation__________________
15. In 1952, the nucleus of a ___Frog_________ embryo cell was placed into a donor cell. Did it work to clone the animal? ___Yes_________
16. Can the nucleus of an adult cell be injected into an egg cell and produce a clone? _____Yes______
17. Why are mammals hard to clone? _____The DNA is very complex and they often develop differently depending on environment._________________________________________
18. What were the names of the first two cloned cows? _____________Fusion and Copy____________________
19. In what year was the National Bioethics Advisory Council formed? ____2009__________________
20. The first mammal clone to be produced from an adult (somatic) cell? _________________Sheep___________
21. What do scientists do to adult cells to make them "behave" like embryos? ____________Force them to divide._________________________
22. Transgenic, cloned sheep were used to produce what medical protein? _________Factor 9_____________________
23. What is a stem cell? _______A cell whose job in the body is not yet determined._________________________________________
Cloning Myths
24. Briefly describe in your own words, why CC the cat was not identical in color to Rainbow, even though she was a clone/
Rainbow, the surrogate mother had an inactivated X chromosome which gave many different colored patches for her cat. CC received a somatic cell that had an activated X chromosome that colored her fur black instead of orange.
25. What is "nature vs nurture"?
IT is the fact that genetics can be made exactly the same for the organism and clone, but the environment affects the physical appearance and behavior of an individual. Basically, the epigenome.
Is it Cloning or Not?
26. For each of the following scenarios, indicate YES (it is cloning) or NO (it is not cloning)
______No_____Sperm taken from a mole goat is combined with a female's egg in a petri dish. The resulting embryo is implanted into the female's uterus to develop
___Yes________A sheep embryo, composed of 16 cells, is removed from the mother's uterus and separated into indivudal cells. Each cell is allowed to multiply, creating 16 separate embryos, which are then implanted in different female sheep to develop to maturity.
____No_______A cow with many desirable traits is stimulated with hormones to produce a number of egg cells. Each of these eggs is fertilized and implanted into a surrogate mother.
______No_____ In vitro fertilization
______Yes_____ Cell nuclei from an extinct wolly mammoth are placed into enucleated cow cells.
27. Define or describe each of the following processes (you may need to reset the Cloning or Not Screen)
Invitro fertilization-The fusion of a father's sperm with a mother's egg to create an embryo identical to neither the father or mother.
Embryo splitting-THe process involves taking an embryo out of a cow. You then split the embryo and but the 2 halves in a petri dish with hormones that help with growth and another embryo is formed. These embryos are put into 2 different surrogate mothers and new babies are born.
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer-The nucleus of a somatic cell is taken out and placed into a germ cell missing a nucleus. The result is an embryo from the fusion of the somatic nucleus and the germ cell.
What Are the Risks of Cloning?
28. What is one reason why cloning animals has such a high failure rate?
An enucleated egg isn't compatible with the transferred nucleus.
29. What is a telomere and how does it affect cloned animals?
A telomere is a useless group of letters on DNA that is at the tip of each DNA strand so that when the cell divides, the important DNA is untouched. If a nucleus in a clone is already very old, the telomeres are short, and the clone will have a shorter lifespan because of it.
What Are Some Issues in Cloning?
30. Pick one of the questions to ponder and ....ponder it. Write a brief essay on your thoughts and opinions.
What are some reasons that would make people against my views?
I am against cloning because it is unethical and unfair. People might be against me because of money. Lots of financial gain will come from cloning for many different reasons. People who are infertile, had miscarriages and want kids will pay to have a child. If a pet or person that is very close to you was about to pass away, you could clone them so that you wouldn't have to lose them.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Harvest o' Fear
1. What is a GM Crop? A GM or genetically modified crop is a crop that in anyway is has been modified from the original product or process.
2. List 2 arguments FOR the growing of GM crops.
2a. GM crops can promise many health benefits. the have longer shelf life, and GM crops have less sugar and oil then traditional crops.
2b. GM crops can n help farmers financially. Pesticides often kill many plants each year, and GM crops are resistant to the pesticides.
3. List 2 arguments AGAINST the growing of GM crops.
3a. GM crops could harm the environment. MAny scientists think that the GM revolution is an uncontrolled experiment with unknown results.
3b. GM foods are not as rigorously tested because so much is being produced at a very fast rate. The FDA has called GM food substantially equivalent to regular foods, and are not subject to the FDA regulations.
Engineer a Crop
4. Practice this simulation until you get the largest ears of corn. How many times did it take you? 3.
What’s for Dinner?
*Click on the foods on the table to see what research is being done to bioenginner the foods.
5. List two foods and desribe how they are being modified.
5a. Coffee. BIotech companies are looking at engineering coffee beans for lower caffeine content, so that eventually they coffee can be grown decaffeinated instead of decaffeinating after the harvest.
5b. Fries. Bioengineers are also working to make high performance cooking oils for healthier fried foods with fewer saturated fats.
Viewpoints
*Read the article titled “Are GM Food Sufficiently Regulated in the US?”
Do you think food should be labeled if it has been genetically modified?
GM food shouldn't be modified because of public panic. Because of certain episodes in the US and around the world, many people are down right afraid of genetically modified food. I think if food was labeled, that business or manufacture would go out of business because of fear. It would be a huge hit to the food industry, and public opinion of this food would hit rock bottom.
Finished? Go to www.yahooligans.com and type "genetic engineering" in the search field. Browse some of the sites that pop up.
(Yahooligans is better than yahoo, the sites tend to be picked for education rather than for scientists and universities, you'll find more understandable and interesting sites on yahooligans than you will with Yahoo)
Write down any of the sites you visited below.
2. List 2 arguments FOR the growing of GM crops.
2a. GM crops can promise many health benefits. the have longer shelf life, and GM crops have less sugar and oil then traditional crops.
2b. GM crops can n help farmers financially. Pesticides often kill many plants each year, and GM crops are resistant to the pesticides.
3. List 2 arguments AGAINST the growing of GM crops.
3a. GM crops could harm the environment. MAny scientists think that the GM revolution is an uncontrolled experiment with unknown results.
3b. GM foods are not as rigorously tested because so much is being produced at a very fast rate. The FDA has called GM food substantially equivalent to regular foods, and are not subject to the FDA regulations.
Engineer a Crop
4. Practice this simulation until you get the largest ears of corn. How many times did it take you? 3.
What’s for Dinner?
*Click on the foods on the table to see what research is being done to bioenginner the foods.
5. List two foods and desribe how they are being modified.
5a. Coffee. BIotech companies are looking at engineering coffee beans for lower caffeine content, so that eventually they coffee can be grown decaffeinated instead of decaffeinating after the harvest.
5b. Fries. Bioengineers are also working to make high performance cooking oils for healthier fried foods with fewer saturated fats.
Viewpoints
*Read the article titled “Are GM Food Sufficiently Regulated in the US?”
Do you think food should be labeled if it has been genetically modified?
GM food shouldn't be modified because of public panic. Because of certain episodes in the US and around the world, many people are down right afraid of genetically modified food. I think if food was labeled, that business or manufacture would go out of business because of fear. It would be a huge hit to the food industry, and public opinion of this food would hit rock bottom.
Finished? Go to www.yahooligans.com and type "genetic engineering" in the search field. Browse some of the sites that pop up.
(Yahooligans is better than yahoo, the sites tend to be picked for education rather than for scientists and universities, you'll find more understandable and interesting sites on yahooligans than you will with Yahoo)
Write down any of the sites you visited below.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Epigenome
IDENTICAL TWINS: PINPOINTING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON THE
EPIGENOME
1. Often, the physical characteristics of genetically identical twins become increasingly
different as they age, even at the molecular level.
1a. The appearance changes because of environmental factors that change the epigenome, although the genome stays the same. Diet for example is a factor that could change twin genomes. Exposure to toxins and stress are also contributors to the changes in the epigenomes.
2. Name 3-4 environmental factors that influence the epigenome.
2a. Diet, Exposure to toxins and stress.
3. What is an imprinted gene?
3a. A chromosome that has epigenetic tags that remained on after fertilization.
YOUR ENVIRONMENT, YOUR EPIGENOME
1. Discuss factors in your daily life (ie. Diet, exercise, stress etc.) that could be affecting
your epigenome. My excerise level isn't very high, so that is definitely affecting my epigenome. Diet and stress are also big factors, because
LICK YOUR RATS
1. Explain how a high-nurturing mother rat shapes her pup's epigenome, and what that
pup's response to stress will be.
1a. A high-nurturuing rat mother shapes her pup's epigenome by licking, grooming and nursing them. A high nurtured pup will become a calm adults, while low nurtured pups usually grow up to be anxious.
2. Explain how cortisol and the GR protein work together in the brain to relax a rat pup.
You may draw a diagram.
2a. The cortisol binds with the GR inside the hippocampus, and the bonds cause the hippocampus to send out signals that turn off the stress circuit, turning off adrenaline and cortisol production.
3. The rat nurturing example shows us how parental behavior can shape the behavior of
their offspring on a biochemical level. Relate this to humans and think about the personal
and social implications. Record your thoughts.
3a. With the ability to shape the behavior of offspring, I believe that child abuse and child neglect will become even higher offenses and the authorities will be on their toes for any people trying to hurt their children. People would also be more understanding of traits that aren't looked upon well by society. They would know that the reason they are acting a certain way is because of things parents did to affect the child's epigenome.
NUTRITION & THE EPIGENOME
1. Explain how the food we eat affects gene expression.
1a. Food affects gene expression in the way of methyl. When the diet of a pregnant mother's diet is rich in methyl, the offspring that results is normal and has a healthy life throughout. Mom's without a methyl rich diet produce offspring that don't really look like them, and the offspring tends to be obese and more prone to diseases like diabetes.
2. Can the diets of parents affect their offspring's epigenome?
2a. Yes. In the question above it is explained how methyl causes changes in embryos and postnatal offspring.
EPIGENETICS & THE HUMAN BRAIN
1. How does Dietary methyl influence gene expression ?
1a. Look at question 1 in NUTRITION AND THE EPIGENOME for the answer to this question.
IDENTICAL TWINS: PINPOINTING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON THE
EPIGENOME
1. Often, the physical characteristics of genetically identical twins become increasingly
different as they age, even at the molecular level.
1a. The appearance changes because of environmental factors that change the epigenome, although the genome stays the same. Diet for example is a factor that could change twin genomes. Exposure to toxins and stress are also contributors to the changes in the epigenomes.
2. Name 3-4 environmental factors that influence the epigenome.
2a. Diet, Exposure to toxins and stress.
3. What is an imprinted gene?
3a. A chromosome that has epigenetic tags that remained on after fertilization.
YOUR ENVIRONMENT, YOUR EPIGENOME
1. Discuss factors in your daily life (ie. Diet, exercise, stress etc.) that could be affecting
your epigenome. My excerise level isn't very high, so that is definitely affecting my epigenome. Diet and stress are also big factors, because
LICK YOUR RATS
1. Explain how a high-nurturing mother rat shapes her pup's epigenome, and what that
pup's response to stress will be.
1a. A high-nurturuing rat mother shapes her pup's epigenome by licking, grooming and nursing them. A high nurtured pup will become a calm adults, while low nurtured pups usually grow up to be anxious.
2. Explain how cortisol and the GR protein work together in the brain to relax a rat pup.
You may draw a diagram.
2a. The cortisol binds with the GR inside the hippocampus, and the bonds cause the hippocampus to send out signals that turn off the stress circuit, turning off adrenaline and cortisol production.
3. The rat nurturing example shows us how parental behavior can shape the behavior of
their offspring on a biochemical level. Relate this to humans and think about the personal
and social implications. Record your thoughts.
3a. With the ability to shape the behavior of offspring, I believe that child abuse and child neglect will become even higher offenses and the authorities will be on their toes for any people trying to hurt their children. People would also be more understanding of traits that aren't looked upon well by society. They would know that the reason they are acting a certain way is because of things parents did to affect the child's epigenome.
NUTRITION & THE EPIGENOME
1. Explain how the food we eat affects gene expression.
1a. Food affects gene expression in the way of methyl. When the diet of a pregnant mother's diet is rich in methyl, the offspring that results is normal and has a healthy life throughout. Mom's without a methyl rich diet produce offspring that don't really look like them, and the offspring tends to be obese and more prone to diseases like diabetes.
2. Can the diets of parents affect their offspring's epigenome?
2a. Yes. In the question above it is explained how methyl causes changes in embryos and postnatal offspring.
EPIGENETICS & THE HUMAN BRAIN
1. How does Dietary methyl influence gene expression ?
1a. Look at question 1 in NUTRITION AND THE EPIGENOME for the answer to this question.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
DNA Fingerpainting
1. DNA is unique for everyone. The only exception is if a person has what? An identical twin.
2. What are DNA fingerprints used for? Determining a biological mother or father to identifying the suspect of a crime.
3. What “crime” was committed? The lollipop was stolen.
4. What bodily fluid was removed from the “crime scene” to get DNA? Saliva.
5. What does a restriction enzyme do? Cut the molecules of DNA to split them apart.
6. What is agarose gel? A thick porous jello like substance. Molecular strainer.
7. What is electrophoresis? The process of moving molecules in an electric current.
8. Smaller fragments of DNA move ____________ than longer strands? more easily
9. Why do you need to place a nylon membrane over the gel? So that you can pick up the small sheet of DNA.
10. Probes attach themselves to __________ DNA fragments on the nylon membrane.
11. Which chemical in your “virtual lab” is radioactive? Probz
12. Sketch your DNA fingerprint. It looks like a fat bar code.
13. Based on your DNA fingerprint, who licked the lollipop? Honey Sweet
Click on the Link “DNA Workshop” (if this link won't load, scroll down to the bottom where it says "try the non-java script version)
Once you’re there, go to the link “DNA Workshop Activity” and practice with DNA replication and protein synthesis.
Browse the DNA Workshop site.
14. What kinds of things could you do at the DNA workshop? You were able to replicate DNA and go through protein synthesis.
Title: Chemicisists create DNA Assembly Line
Author/Date: Science Daily/MAY2010
The article speaks about 3 different DNA machines determining the sequence of DNA. These scientists change the sequences of the machines and are able to prevent the cargo in them chain to be transported. These machines create DNA and replicate it as well.
2. What are DNA fingerprints used for? Determining a biological mother or father to identifying the suspect of a crime.
3. What “crime” was committed? The lollipop was stolen.
4. What bodily fluid was removed from the “crime scene” to get DNA? Saliva.
5. What does a restriction enzyme do? Cut the molecules of DNA to split them apart.
6. What is agarose gel? A thick porous jello like substance. Molecular strainer.
7. What is electrophoresis? The process of moving molecules in an electric current.
8. Smaller fragments of DNA move ____________ than longer strands? more easily
9. Why do you need to place a nylon membrane over the gel? So that you can pick up the small sheet of DNA.
10. Probes attach themselves to __________ DNA fragments on the nylon membrane.
11. Which chemical in your “virtual lab” is radioactive? Probz
12. Sketch your DNA fingerprint. It looks like a fat bar code.
13. Based on your DNA fingerprint, who licked the lollipop? Honey Sweet
Click on the Link “DNA Workshop” (if this link won't load, scroll down to the bottom where it says "try the non-java script version)
Once you’re there, go to the link “DNA Workshop Activity” and practice with DNA replication and protein synthesis.
Browse the DNA Workshop site.
14. What kinds of things could you do at the DNA workshop? You were able to replicate DNA and go through protein synthesis.
Title: Chemicisists create DNA Assembly Line
Author/Date: Science Daily/MAY2010
The article speaks about 3 different DNA machines determining the sequence of DNA. These scientists change the sequences of the machines and are able to prevent the cargo in them chain to be transported. These machines create DNA and replicate it as well.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
MITOSIS VIRTUAL LAB
1. Which stage does the following occur
Chromatin condenses into chromosomes Interphase
Chromosomes align in center of cell. Metaphase
Longest part of the cell cycle. Prophase
Nuclear envelope breaks down. Prometaphase
Cell is cleaved into two new daughter cells. Cytokenisis
Daughter chromosomes arrive at the poles. Telophase
2. The colored chromosomes represent chromatids. There are two of each color because one is an exact duplicate of the other.
How many chromosomes are visible at the beginning of mitosis? 46
How many are in each daughter cell at the end of mitosis? 46
The little green T shaped things on the cell are: centrioles
What happens to the centrioles during mitosis? Protein spindles form and move to the other side of the cell.
1. Which stage does the following occur
Chromatin condenses into chromosomes Interphase
Chromosomes align in center of cell. Metaphase
Longest part of the cell cycle. Prophase
Nuclear envelope breaks down. Prometaphase
Cell is cleaved into two new daughter cells. Cytokenisis
Daughter chromosomes arrive at the poles. Telophase
2. The colored chromosomes represent chromatids. There are two of each color because one is an exact duplicate of the other.
How many chromosomes are visible at the beginning of mitosis? 46
How many are in each daughter cell at the end of mitosis? 46
The little green T shaped things on the cell are: centrioles
What happens to the centrioles during mitosis? Protein spindles form and move to the other side of the cell.
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