Genetic Engineering

Activity 1: Match the words or phrases with their definitions

Column A Column B
1.) selective breeding a.) Sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and thus determines a trait
2.) mutations b.) Continued mating of individuals with similar characteristics to maintain
the desired characteristics of a kind of organism
3.) genetic engineering c.) Crossing different individuals to bring together the best of both
organisms
4.) recombinant DNA d.) A technology that includes the process of manipulating the DNA of a
cell resulting in desirable functions or outcomes that would not occur
naturally
5.) plasmid e.) DNA molecules that are artificially created by combining DNA from
different sources (or species)
6.) hybridization f.) Method that allows only those individual organisms with desired
characteristics to reproduce the next generation
7.) gene g.) Changes in DNA structure
8.) inbreeding h.) A circular DNA molecule that is usually found in bacteria and that can
replicate independent of the main chromosome

Answers:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
f g d e h c a b

Activity 2: Replace the words or expressions in bold with words or phrases from the box.

analyzed – genetic engineering – breakthrough – molecular biology – a technophobe – safeguards –

development – invented – combined – life expectancy – a technophile – innovations – react – an
experiment – research – discovered

1.) The company is carrying out a scientific study to find a cure for AIDS. research
2.) The planning and production of the new computer system will take some time. development
3.) Modern inventions are changing everyone’s lives. Innovations
4.) Some elements change their chemical composition when mixed with water. react
5.) The scientists have created a new machine to automate the process. invented
6.) Who was the person who found penicillin? discovered
7.) When the food was examined closely and scientifically, it was found to contain bacteria. analyzed
8.) Rain joined together with CO2 gases produces acid rain. combined
9.) Jacob is terrified of modern technology. a technophobe
10.) Aliou is really interested in modern technology. a technophile
11.) Protections against accidents in this laboratory are minimal. safeguards
 12.) Scientists conducted a scientific test to see how people react to different smells. an experiment
13.) Demba is studying the techniques used to change the genetic composition of a cell so as to
change certain characteristics which can be inherited. genetic engineering
14.) There has been a sudden success in the search for a cure for cancer. brakthrough
15.) Moussa is specialized in the things which form the structure of living matter. molecular biology
16.) The number of years a person is likely to live has increased a great deal thanks to modern
medicine and technology. life expectancy

Answers:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Activity 3: Complete the following passage with words or phrases from the box.

analyzed – genetic engineering – breakthrough – internet – technophobes – safeguards – invented –

life expectancy – technophiles – innovations – email – experiment – research – discovered –
cybernetics – nuclear engineering

Technology has come a long way in the last fifty years, and our lives have become better as a result.
Or have they?

The second half of the twentieth century saw more changes than in the previous two hundred years.
Penicillin has already been 1 . . .discovered
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and used to treat infections; there have been many
remarkable advances in medicine that have helped to increase our average 2 . .life . . .expectancy
.... ..... .... ...
. . . way beyond that of our ancestors. Incredible 3 . .innovations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . such as televisions have
changed the way we spend our leisure hours. Perhaps the most important 4 . .breakthrough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,
however, has been the microchip. Nobody could have imagined when it was first 5 . .invented .. .. ... ..... ...
, that within a matter of years, this tiny piece of silicon and circuitry would be found in almost every
household object from the kettle to the video recorder. And nobody could have predicted the sudden
proliferation of computers that would completely change our lives, allowing us to access to information
from the other side of the world via the 6 . . internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . or send messages around the world by 7 .
email
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . at the touch of a button. Meanwhile, 8 . research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . into other aspects of
information technology is making it easier and cheaper for us to talk with friends and relations around
the world. Good news for 9 . .technophiles
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . who love modern technology, and bad news for 10 . .
technophobes
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . who would prefer to hide from these modern miracles.

But everything has a price. The development of 11 . .cybernetics

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . has led to mass automation in
factories, which in turn led to millions losing their jobs. The genius of Einstein led to the horrors of the
atomic bomb and the dangerous uncertainties of 12 . .nuclear
. . . . . .engineering
. . . . . . . . . . (we hear of accidents and
mishaps at nuclear power stations around the world, where 13 . safeguards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to prevent
accidents were inadequate). The relatively new science of 14 . . . . . . . .engineering
genetic . . . . . . . . . . has been seen as a
major step forward, but putting modified foods onto the market before scientists had properly 15 . . . . .
. analyzed
. . . . . . . . . . . . them was perhaps one of the most irresponsible decisions of the 1990s. Meanwhile,
pharmaceutical companies continue to 16 . . . experiment
. . . . . . . . . . . . . on animals , a move that many consider
to be cruel and unnecessary.

Of course we all rely on modern science and technology to improve our lives. However, we need to
make sure that we can control it before it controls us.

What is Genetic Engineering?

Genetic engineering is the process of modifying an organism’s DNA to introduce new, desirable
traits. Many organisms, from bacteria to plants and animals, have been genetically modified for
academic, medical, agricultural, and industrial purposes. While genetic engineering has definite benefits,
ethical concerns surround modifying humans and our food supply.

Genetic engineering is possible because the genetic code – the way information is encoded by DNA
– and the structure of DNA are universal among all life forms. As a result, an organism’s genetic code
may be modified in several ways.

The nucleotide sequence may be selectively edited by using techniques such as the CRISPR/Cas9
system. Known as the “molecular scissors”, the CRISPR/Cas9 system is an innate, prokaryotic immune
response that has been co-opted for editing genetic information.

A gene may also be removed from an organism to create a “knockout”, or introduced to create a
“knockin”, through a process called gene targeting. This method relies on homologous recombination –
genetic exchange between DNA molecules that share an extended region with similar sequences – to
modify an endogenous gene.

Scientists can also insert a gene from one organism into the genome of another, resulting in a
transgenic organism. Generally, DNA combined from different sources is called recombinant DNA. The
organism that receives that DNA is considered a genetically modified organism or GMO. Genome editing
has significantly impacted scientific research, agriculture, industry, and medicine. Molecular biology
research often inserts transgenes – foreign genes – into bacteria and viruses to study gene function and
expression. Bacteria were the first organisms to be genetically engineered. Scientists introduced the
human insulin gene to produce synthetic insulin that is used by people with diabetes.

A technique called gene therapy allows a new gene to be inserted into a person so that the protein
it encodes can be expressed within their cells. Gene therapy provides a cure or treatment for some
serious and otherwise untreatable genetic diseases. Scientists modified viruses to deliver new genes to
host cells. These customized viruses can infect diseased cells and insert a correct copy of a defective
gene, treating human disorders such as Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID).
 While genetic engineering can yield new treatments for diseases, it can also be used for other
practical purposes. Transgenic goats have been developed to produce spider silk in their milk for
industrial use. In agriculture, some plants have been genetically modified to improve characteristics such
as nutritional content and pest resistance. Recent and future advances in genetic engineering will likely
continue to impact both human health and well-being.

Genetic engineering has great potential, but where do we draw the line? Scientists and society must
answer this question. Human genome editing, especially in germline cells, is a major ethical concern.
Most gene therapies modify somatic cells, so genetic changes only affect the individual. Changes to a
person’s germline, however, are also inherited by their offspring.

In 2018, a scientist shocked the world when he allegedly created the first babies genetically
modified with CRISPR. He attempted to make the twin baby girls resistant to HIV by introducing an
unstudied germline mutation. His actions sparked outrage and concern as scientists and the public
grappled with what this meant for humankind. It remains unclear how this will affect the girls’ health,
their future offspring, or the population.

Another concern is the use of foreign genetic material to improve the food supply. Plants are the
most common genetically modified food source, with 28 countries growing nearly 450 million acres of
GM crops globally. While there is enormous potential to secure food supply for a growing world
population, scientifically sound, long-term studies are needed to address the concerns of GMO critics.

(Retrieved from https://www.jove.com/science-education/10806/what-is-genetic-engineering)

Activity 4: Read the text and choose the right answer.

1.) How is the CRISPR/Cas 9 also called? 5.) What technique provides a cure or treatment
a) “knockout” for some serious and otherwise untreatable
b) “molecular scissors” genetic diseases?
c) “knockin” a) holistic therapy
d) “recombination” b) gene therapy
2.) What DNA is called recombinant? c) neurotherapy
a) DNA was taken from an animal d) somatic psychotherapy
b) DNA derived from a plant 6.) What are transgenes?
c) DNA has grown in a lab a) natural genes
d) DNA combined from different sources b) synthetic genes
3.) How is the organism that receives a gene from c) foreign genes
another organism called? d) modifying genes
a) GMO 7.) What is a major ethical concern in genetic
b) SCID engineering?
c) CRISPR a) genetically modified crops
d) HIV b) transgenic goats
4.) What were the first organisms to be genetically c) genome editing
engineered? d) human genome editing
a) viruses
 b) fungi
c) bacteria
d) protozoa

Activity 5: Give the reason why genome editing is possible.

. Because
. . . . . . . .the
. . .genetic
. . . . . . code
. . . . .and
. . . the
. . .DNA
. . . . structure
. . . . . . . .are
. . .universal
. . . . . . . . among
. . . . . . .all
. . life
. . . .forms
........... ....

Activity 6: Complete the table with information from the text.

Medicine Agriculture Industry

Advantages of 1.). Production
. . . . . . . . . .of. .synthetic
. . . . . . . 3.) . . . Pest
. . . . .resistance
. . . . . . . . . . . 4.) . . Transgenic
. . . . . . . . . goats
.......
genetic insulin
.. ..... ..... ..... ... improved nutritional
....... .... .... ..... ...... .... .... ...... producing spider
engineering 2.) . . Diseases
. . . . . . . . treatment
.... ..... content silk
with gene
.... ........ ..... .... therapy

Activity 7: Say whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE. Justify by quoting a specific passage
from the text.

1.) Human genome editing affects the progeny. T/F

. .Changes
. . . . . . . . to
. .a. .person's
. . . . . . . .germline
. . . . . . .however,
. . . . . . . .are
. . .also
. . . inherited
. . . . . . . .by
. . their
. . . . offspring
...... ............
2.) People were angry with the scientist who created the first babies genetically modified with
CRISP. T/F
.His
. . . actions
. . . . . . sparked
. . . . . . . .outrage
. . . . . .and
. . . .concern
. . . . . . .as
. .scientists
. . . . . . . .and
. . .the
. . .public
. . . . .grappled
. . . . . . . with
. . . . .what
. . . . this
. meant for
humankind
Activity 8: Write on one of the following topics.

Topic 1: Genetic engineering is an important issue in modern society. Some people think that it will
improve people’s lives in many ways. Others feel that it may be a threat to life on earth. Discuss both
opinions and give your personal point of view.

Topic 2: In recent years, farming practice has changed to include methods such as genetic modification
and the use of technology to improve crops. Some people believe these developments are necessary,
while others regard them as dangerous and advocate a return to traditional farming methods. Discuss
both opinions and give your personal point of view.