Concept explainers
Fruit flies, bacteria from hot springs, sea jellies, Gila monsters, burdock burrs—why study these obscure forms of life? In fact, research on these organisms, and a host of others, has improved people's lives Fruit flies, for example, have been used for over 100 years to study how genes influence traits. Their genes are similar enough to ours that many human genetic diseases can be investigated to some extent in these flies—a pair of which can produce several hundred genetically identical offspring in a few weeks, An obscure bacterium from a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park is the source of a protein crucial to a process that rapidly copies DNA. Thanks to this discovery, the amount of DNA in a few skin cells left at a crime scene can now generate a sample large enough to be compared to the DNA of a suspect. A fluorescent green protein discovered in a sea jelly can be attached to a gene, protein, or virus, making it glow and allowing researchers to monitor its activity. A protein found in the Gila monster’s venomous saliva was approved in 200S as a drug to help diabetics maintain more constant blood sugar levels. And what did microscopic examination of a burr lead to? The inspiration for Velcro, Some people criticize governments for funding research into topics that seem obscure, like what makes a jellyfish glow. But no one can predict where such studies will lead; even lines of research that appear to be dead ends can provide unexpected and valuable insights.
Why Scientists Study Obscure Organisms?
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Biology
- Scientists look at thousands of mutagenized flies, one at a time, under a microscope. They are looking for flies that don't look like they have developed normally. They find a remarkable fly with an extra thorax and a complete extra set of wings. This is an example of: A crazy waste of time A forward genetic screen A reverse genetic screenarrow_forwardImproving the nutritional value of food has long been one of the goals in agricultural genetics. Crossing different strains of plants and animals followed by generations of artificial selection have yielded some successes, including the development of high-protein maize. The use of gene transfer biotechnology has led to other advances, including the creation of nutritionally enhanced rice to combat vitamin A deficiency and blindness. Researchers are now turning their attention to the nutritional enhancement of animals that are used as food. Scientists are now turning their attention to using gene transfer technology to nutritionally enhance animal foods. Recently, biotechnology was used to produce a sheep with increased amounts of an omega-3 essential fatty acid that plays an important role in the development of the nervous system and, in adults, reduces the risk of coronary artery disease. Once a small number of transgenic animals have been produced, they can be bred by conventional methods to establish a source of nutritionally enhanced meat and milk. The use of biotechnology is presenting consumers with many new choices, which will become more common in the future. Increasingly, we will all have to educate ourselves about the pros and cons of such decisions. On the other hand, how would you explain your preference for meat from animals without higher levels of beneficial fatty acids?arrow_forwardImproving the nutritional value of food has long been one of the goals in agricultural genetics. Crossing different strains of plants and animals followed by generations of artificial selection have yielded some successes, including the development of high-protein maize. The use of gene transfer biotechnology has led to other advances, including the creation of nutritionally enhanced rice to combat vitamin A deficiency and blindness. Researchers are now turning their attention to the nutritional enhancement of animals that are used as food. Scientists are now turning their attention to using gene transfer technology to nutritionally enhance animal foods. Recently, biotechnology was used to produce a sheep with increased amounts of an omega-3 essential fatty acid that plays an important role in the development of the nervous system and, in adults, reduces the risk of coronary artery disease. Once a small number of transgenic animals have been produced, they can be bred by conventional methods to establish a source of nutritionally enhanced meat and milk. The use of biotechnology is presenting consumers with many new choices, which will become more common in the future. Increasingly, we will all have to educate ourselves about the pros and cons of such decisions. How would you explain your decision to eat nutritionally enhanced meat from animals modified by biotechnology?arrow_forward
- In 2005, researcher Woo-suk Hwang reported that he had made immortal stem cells from human patients. His research was hailed as a breakthrough for people affected by degenerative diseases, because stem cells may be used to repair a persons own damaged tissues. Hwang published his results in a peer-reviewed journal. In 2006, the journal retracted his paper after other scientists discovered that Hwangs group had faked their data. Does the incident show that results of scientific studies cannot be trusted? Or does it confirm the usefulness of a scientific approach, because other scientists discovered and exposed the fraud?arrow_forwardWhich question MOST likely may have led to the development of recombinant DNA technology? Can DNA be cut into fragments by restriction enzymes Can human genes be integrated into bacterial DNA so bacteria can copy the genes and produce their proteins? Can Can human genes be undifferentiated introduced into the cells be used to cells of people with and then separate into unique patterns? repair parts of the genetic disorders using a virus? body? Music off Zoom In Sign out V 0 2:53 100e Lenovo backs & SC 2$ 7 23 @ 4 3 t earrow_forwardWhat it is called when two regions of the genome in different species share similarities like those shown in the image below? D. melanogaster (chr3R scaffold) CG12746 Rheb CRMP CG2931 CG2926 upstream genes downstream genes D. yakuba CG12746 Rheb collapsin response mediator protein (CRMP) CG2931 CG2926 upstream genes downstream genesarrow_forward
- this is an example of biotechnology: In order to increase the yield of oil from canola, research focused on ways to reduce competition from competitor weed plants. Weeds can be controlled by spraying with a herbicide that interferes with biological processes, like amino acid anabolic reactions, in the plant cells. A mutant of canola that is resistant to herbicides is sometimes grown in fields that are sprayed with the herbicide. The majority of canola in Canada, though, is genetically modified to be resistant to herbicides. also use the link: https://youtu.be/VS3kcwgIwm0 Question: Evaluating Biotechnologies in Food Systems As we practice being able to describe choices in Biology you will use this consolidation task to organize details about the advantages and disadvantages of biotechnologies. In an ideal world, all solutions to improving our food system would have no negative consequences. But issues in Biology involve the interaction of many different factors and changes in one…arrow_forwardEvolution in Humans 1) explain how differences in gene expression of genetically similar organism can result in different evolutionary outcomes 2) describe the evolution of symbolic thought in humansarrow_forwardWhich of these machines are a good analogy for what a PCR machine does? A washing machine that removes dirt from the surfaces A computer that processes large amounts of information An oven that heats up to bake a cake and cause it to change forms. A Xerox copier that makes many copies of a document A truck that helps transport large amounts of materials long distancesarrow_forward
- I would like to know a list of examples on different human diseases that has a genetic basis and can be investigated using model organisms. Thank you!arrow_forwardWhy is it easier to identify spontaneous mutations in bacteria than in most eukaryotes? The mutations occur at a much higher frequency. Because bacteria have smaller genomes. The mutations can be induced via exposure to the bacteriophage. The mutations are expressed directly in descendant cells because bacteria are haploid. The mutations are visible as color changes within a bacterial colony.arrow_forwardAdvances and New Technology Classify the following advances and new technologies whether they belong to advances in statistics and computing (AS), molecular genetics (MGT), and/or reproductive biotechnology (RB). Please take note that some technologies can be classified into two classifications. In such cases, you have to mark both classifications. Otherwise, it will be treated as wrong. AS MGT RB Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) Artificial Insemination Cloning via Somatic Nuclear Transfer PCR-based genotyping technology Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer (МОЕТ) In vitro oocyte maturation and in vitro fertilization Genomic EBVarrow_forward
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