Variation

• Genetic Engineering


  Involves modifying genome
• Genetic Engineering

  1. Selection of desired trait

  2. Gene responsible is cut out

  3. Gene is inserted into organism

  4. Replication of modified organism
• Genetic Engineering uses

  • Treating diabetes by injecting insulin
  • Genetically modifying bacterial cells
• Benefits of Genetic Engineering

  • More or better quality food
  • Higher yield of insulin
  • Animals that cause less harm (no horns)
  • Golden rice
• Risks of Genetic Engineering

  • Reduce genetic variation
  • Physical problems are created
• Selective Breeding


  Farmers selectively breed plants and animals for desired characteristics
• Selective Breeding

  1. Select desirable characteristics

  2. Choose parents with these characteristics from a mixed population

  3. Breed them together

  4. Choose offspring with desired characteristics

  5. Repeat process continuously over many generations
• Causes of Variation

  • Environmental factors
  • Genetic factors
  • Environmental and genetic factors
• Environmental variation


  • Scars, darkened skin, language
• Genetic variation


  • Cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome
• Environmental and genetic variation


  • Tall parents having tall children but they also need enough calcium
• Mutation


  A change in a gene or chromosome, creating variation
• Mutation example


  • Peppered moth adapted to black surroundings, increasing survival and genes being passed on
• Cloning in animals

  • Embryo transplants
  • Adult cell cloning
• Micro propagation


  Tissue culture technique to produce new plants
• Cloning in plants

  • Allows a variety of a plant with desirable characteristics to be produced
• Cuttings(Cloning)


  1. Branch from parent plant is cut off

  2. Stem is planted and new plant grows
• Tissue culture 


  Tissue sample placed in agar and new plants grow