Hi,
Will parents be able to pre-determine and design the perfect baby for themselves?
Attributes such as the colour of eyes and skin, IQ, EQ, height and absence of known genetic diseases be chosen by the parents.
Cheers
Showing posts with label genetic engineering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label genetic engineering. Show all posts
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Molecular Genetics, cell divisions, ecology, selection
Hi Students,
Below are a few links I found very useful in understanding concepts in Molecular Biology and genetics. Difficult concepts in cell division are also dealt with.
Ecology, bioaccumulation and bio-magnification are also dealt with in the powerpoints slideshows listed below.
Ecology, bioaccumulation and bio-magnification are also dealt with in the powerpoints slideshows listed below.
I will go through these slideshows in class. You may want to browse through them for better understanding.
Cheers
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Synthia, the world's first man created organism
Hi,
20th May 2010 was a memorable day for mankind. It was the day when a scientist by the name of Dr Craig Venter and his team created the world's first man-made organism. The bacterium is affectionately named Synthia.
It cost the scientists US$40 million dollars and 15 years to make this synthetic cell. Dr Venter is a visionary who hopes to create many more such synthetic organisms to help mankind in:
(1) change environmental wastes into clean fuel
(2) Soak up pollution in soil and water
(3) vaccinate against diseases
(4) produce synthetic hormones, enzymes and other biological molecules
At the present, these processes and biological molecules are obtained from animals and plants. They are expensive to grow and harvest. The molecules are also not 100% human compatible. With engineered organisms human enzymes, human hormones and other organic processes and molecules can be obtained on the cheap!
20th May 2010 was a memorable day for mankind. It was the day when a scientist by the name of Dr Craig Venter and his team created the world's first man-made organism. The bacterium is affectionately named Synthia.
It cost the scientists US$40 million dollars and 15 years to make this synthetic cell. Dr Venter is a visionary who hopes to create many more such synthetic organisms to help mankind in:
(1) change environmental wastes into clean fuel
(2) Soak up pollution in soil and water
(3) vaccinate against diseases
(4) produce synthetic hormones, enzymes and other biological molecules
At the present, these processes and biological molecules are obtained from animals and plants. They are expensive to grow and harvest. The molecules are also not 100% human compatible. With engineered organisms human enzymes, human hormones and other organic processes and molecules can be obtained on the cheap!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Super Rice from genetically engineered rice plant
Source: International Rice Research Institute
Straits Times 25 Dec 2009
Research has been done to transfer genes for C4 photosynthesis system from other plants into rice.
Rice has genes for C3 photosynthesis which is less efficient at capturing sunlight for photosynthesis. The yield is less than in C4 plants such as sugar cane, wheat or maize. Dr Robert Zeigler and his team of scientists have introduced C4 genes into rice and are expecting this GMO rice to have 50% increased yields.
"Snorkel rice" or rice that can tolerate flooding -important to have due to global warming and rising sea levels.
Dr Robert Zeigler speaks on the genetic nature of rice, its diseases, soil, water quality and other factors that affects yield. These have to be known to develop new rice strains to meet the growing demands and the constraints of climate changes.
Rice plant having some bits of genes from wheat or maize is small matter really.
Merry Christmas to all my Christian friends.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Bacteria that turns CO2 and sunlight energy into liquid fuel
Hi,
Scientists have come up with the perfect solution to global warming.
A genetically modified bacterium has been engineered with the ability to convert carbon dioxide into a liquid fuel that can be used in our present cars.
This GMO bacterium carries out photosynthesis, ie it captures sunlight energy which it changes to the chemical energy in the fuel produced. This is very similar to the green plants, except that in plants glucose is the first product. The plant then changes glucose into other molecules that it needs to grow and develop.
Click on this link to read the full story Engineering bacteria to turn CO2 into liquid fuel.
Cheers
Scientists have come up with the perfect solution to global warming.
A genetically modified bacterium has been engineered with the ability to convert carbon dioxide into a liquid fuel that can be used in our present cars.
This GMO bacterium carries out photosynthesis, ie it captures sunlight energy which it changes to the chemical energy in the fuel produced. This is very similar to the green plants, except that in plants glucose is the first product. The plant then changes glucose into other molecules that it needs to grow and develop.
Click on this link to read the full story Engineering bacteria to turn CO2 into liquid fuel.
Cheers
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Genetic engineering- production of human insulin
Hi,
Watch these videos on how genetically modified E. coli bacterium is produced by scientists. The human gene that controls the production of the hormone insulin was identified. it is the "cut" out from the human chromosome on which it is found and then inserted into the bacterial DNA (plasmid). This GMO is then grown on an industrial scale to produce insulin. The hormone is excreted by the GMO and the medium is collected, the cells filtered and removed. The filtrate is purified and crystalline insulin is collected and sold on a commercial scale by pharmaceutical companies.
However many people are uncomfortable in consuming GM food or using GM products. Here is another video that explores this aspect of genetic engineering.
Cheers
Watch these videos on how genetically modified E. coli bacterium is produced by scientists. The human gene that controls the production of the hormone insulin was identified. it is the "cut" out from the human chromosome on which it is found and then inserted into the bacterial DNA (plasmid). This GMO is then grown on an industrial scale to produce insulin. The hormone is excreted by the GMO and the medium is collected, the cells filtered and removed. The filtrate is purified and crystalline insulin is collected and sold on a commercial scale by pharmaceutical companies.
However many people are uncomfortable in consuming GM food or using GM products. Here is another video that explores this aspect of genetic engineering.
Cheers
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Global warming is hotting up-is panic an appropriate response?
Hi,
John Doerr is one of Silicon Valley's richest man and a savoy investor. However he is afraid that he may not be able to talk to his 15 year old daughter, Mary, about what his generation has done to the planet. His daughter demands that he and his generation has to clean up the mess their generation has created.
His emotional talk about climate change and how businesses, political will, scientific research and investment are our "last straws" to rescue ourselves from eco-apocalypse.
He lists a number of initiatives that have taken place in line with reducing global warming.
Walmart, the biggest US retailer, has reduced 20% electricity consumption in all its old outlets and 30% in its new outlets. Using smart skylight, compact florescent lighting and doors in its refrigerated shelves, are the simple changes that can bring about such reductions in energy consumption.
He talks about people being ignorant of how much CO2 is released when we drive short distances when we should be walking. Legislation should be passed to make clear a mandate for people to be aware and responsible for their own behaviour.
New microbes must be created by genetic engineering where the creature will make and excrete biofuel. More money must be set aside by government and private companies to increase investment in green energy.
Bills must be passed to promote green behaviour. Individuals must stand up and be counted. Green activists must multiply their influence to solve these global problem as we have only one atmosphere.
Cheers.
John Doerr is one of Silicon Valley's richest man and a savoy investor. However he is afraid that he may not be able to talk to his 15 year old daughter, Mary, about what his generation has done to the planet. His daughter demands that he and his generation has to clean up the mess their generation has created.
His emotional talk about climate change and how businesses, political will, scientific research and investment are our "last straws" to rescue ourselves from eco-apocalypse.
He lists a number of initiatives that have taken place in line with reducing global warming.
Walmart, the biggest US retailer, has reduced 20% electricity consumption in all its old outlets and 30% in its new outlets. Using smart skylight, compact florescent lighting and doors in its refrigerated shelves, are the simple changes that can bring about such reductions in energy consumption.
He talks about people being ignorant of how much CO2 is released when we drive short distances when we should be walking. Legislation should be passed to make clear a mandate for people to be aware and responsible for their own behaviour.
New microbes must be created by genetic engineering where the creature will make and excrete biofuel. More money must be set aside by government and private companies to increase investment in green energy.
Bills must be passed to promote green behaviour. Individuals must stand up and be counted. Green activists must multiply their influence to solve these global problem as we have only one atmosphere.
Cheers.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Coal and petroleum are actually concentrated sunlight
Hi,
Watch the short video attached. Juan Enriquez states that fossil fuels such as coal, methane and petrol are actually concentrated sunlight energy. (Please see the reference to this in my blog profile.)
The way we define bioenergy has to change. A change in mind-set will cascade into fundamental sea changes in how we produce bio-fuels/energy and tame natural systems.
In 1943, the father of green revolution, Mr Norman Borlang, taught the world how to apply technology in producing grains to feed the millions. India, China and Mexico used to face famines on a periodic basis before the GR. Mr Borlang has changed all that, and India and China are now net exporters of grains!
Improved corn, rice yeilds, increased productivity rates in these countries have resulted in excess grain production which they want to change into biodesiel and ethanol. But, according to Mr Enriquez, this is all wrong. It is expensive, it takes away agricutural land which can be used to grow food and it leads to clearing more forests for arable land.
"Farming oil" is what he suggests instead. The present methods of mining and drilling for petroleum is all wrong as it brutalises the land. He suggests that we need a bioenergy revolution. New developments in genomics and other life sciences will bring about changes in business technologies, political and society changes just as it did in the 1940s with green revolution.
The difference is, in the 1940s and 50s the scientists used selective breeeding to produce new strains of grains and then distributed them to the farmers in India and China to grow on large scales.
In the bioenergy revolution, genetic engineering will be used to create new strains of micro-organisms that will "eat" the coal deposits and change it into biogas (methane).
Drilling for methane does not cause large scale destruction of land, methane is clean, it does not pollute the air with sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Producing clean energy occurs with biological processes and it does not brutalise the earth as did the open-cast coal mining and dirty petroleum drilling.
One thing that struck a chord with me is how he suggests that stabilising the petroleum price will lead to innovation and research into sustainable new and clean forms of energy. He suggests that the price of fossil oil must not be allowed to go below a level (e.g. $35 a barrel) that will stifle innovation in alternative energy fields. When the price falls below an agreed price, then a tax is levied on oil to make up the difference. When the price goes above that amount, the government will pay the difference. This will allow entrepreneurs to invest in and develop new technological and biological processes to produce new forms of cheap and clean energy.
Cheers
Watch the short video attached. Juan Enriquez states that fossil fuels such as coal, methane and petrol are actually concentrated sunlight energy. (Please see the reference to this in my blog profile.)
The way we define bioenergy has to change. A change in mind-set will cascade into fundamental sea changes in how we produce bio-fuels/energy and tame natural systems.
In 1943, the father of green revolution, Mr Norman Borlang, taught the world how to apply technology in producing grains to feed the millions. India, China and Mexico used to face famines on a periodic basis before the GR. Mr Borlang has changed all that, and India and China are now net exporters of grains!
Improved corn, rice yeilds, increased productivity rates in these countries have resulted in excess grain production which they want to change into biodesiel and ethanol. But, according to Mr Enriquez, this is all wrong. It is expensive, it takes away agricutural land which can be used to grow food and it leads to clearing more forests for arable land.
"Farming oil" is what he suggests instead. The present methods of mining and drilling for petroleum is all wrong as it brutalises the land. He suggests that we need a bioenergy revolution. New developments in genomics and other life sciences will bring about changes in business technologies, political and society changes just as it did in the 1940s with green revolution.
The difference is, in the 1940s and 50s the scientists used selective breeeding to produce new strains of grains and then distributed them to the farmers in India and China to grow on large scales.
In the bioenergy revolution, genetic engineering will be used to create new strains of micro-organisms that will "eat" the coal deposits and change it into biogas (methane).
Drilling for methane does not cause large scale destruction of land, methane is clean, it does not pollute the air with sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Producing clean energy occurs with biological processes and it does not brutalise the earth as did the open-cast coal mining and dirty petroleum drilling.
One thing that struck a chord with me is how he suggests that stabilising the petroleum price will lead to innovation and research into sustainable new and clean forms of energy. He suggests that the price of fossil oil must not be allowed to go below a level (e.g. $35 a barrel) that will stifle innovation in alternative energy fields. When the price falls below an agreed price, then a tax is levied on oil to make up the difference. When the price goes above that amount, the government will pay the difference. This will allow entrepreneurs to invest in and develop new technological and biological processes to produce new forms of cheap and clean energy.
Cheers
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