As we all know,
humans can become infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Cats
fall victim to a similar virus called the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV),
which causes nearly identical symptoms.
Scientist have inserted genes into cats that
fight off the disease. These genes can then be passed on from mother cats to
kittens. The experiments use a glowing gene taken from a jellyfish that
allows scientists to track the success of the gene insertion. Basically, if the
cat glows green or red, the scientist know the genes that fight off FIV have
also been inserted into that cats genome. Pretty cool right?
This type of
experiment is called genetic engineering. Scientist are working on similar
experiments where they are attempting to insert genes from different animals
into humans to cure diseases (including inherited disorders, some
types of cancer, and certain viral infections).
Do you think
genetic engineering is a good thing? Although the advantages of genetic
engineering are obvious, what do you think some of the disadvantages would
be?
I found this article fascinating. I have always found bio-luminescence to be a mesmerizing subject, and I find it so interesting that we can now create animals that glow. I also find it interesting that this isn't the primary glow (if I were a geneticist, that would be all I wanted to do), and that it is instead used as a secondary marker. Crazy bio people.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I want a glow cat.
My mom's cat died recently from FIV, so this topic stuck out to me. Like you said, obviously there are some very distinct advantages to genetic engineering, like preventing hereditary diseases and cancer. But I also think this is an ethical issue. Will people use advances like this to determine the sexes of their children? What would that do to our population? What are the long-term effects on our biology? No one knows. Also, many people have issues with this from a religious stance. Are we playing God? I read a study about gay/lesbian couples and how they are trying to alter their sperm/eggs in order to produce offspring that are biologically from both partners. So, for a lesbian couple, they would take the DNA out of one woman's egg and insert it into an empty sperm shell, then use that "sperm" to fertilize the other woman's egg. Likewise, for a gay male couple, they would take the DNA from one man's sperm and insert it into an empty egg shell, then fertilize that with the other man's sperm. This seemed really cool at first, but the problem is, you could potentially create a THIRD SEX of human beings. For lesbians, women can only donate X chromosomes, so all lesbian couples who reproduced this way could only ever have daugthers. But men can donate an X or a Y chromosome, so you could end up with either a daughter or a son...but what happens when they both donate a Y? What would the sex of a human with two Y chromosomes be?? Whenever I read about something like this, I always think of the quote from Jurassic Park where Jeff Goldblume's character says, "Scientists are so concerned about whether or not they COULD do something, they don't stop to think about whether or not they SHOULD." Wise words to live by...
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting Joanie about that study, and I am sorry for the loss of your cat. My goldfish died once, and I was upset too. I think the carnival poisoned him, but who knows.
ReplyDeleteQuestion, do they have medicines for cats with FIV like how they have for people with HIV?
I thoroughly enjoy your topic of genetic engineering, so much so I'm thinking of making a blog myself :P. I think genetic engineering is a great thing, and things like treatments for disease and cancers are amazing. I am worried what it will hold for the picking of choosing of our genes to create "designer" children as Joanie talked about kind of. so worddddddddddd
ReplyDeleteYeah Genetic Engineering is such an interesting topic. Students love this stuff and because I really doubt genetic engineering is going away any time soon, students should be aware of these types of things.
ReplyDeleteOne thing about the same sex couples producing offspring. We learned about this in many of classes as an undergrad. So fortunately, a third sex of humans can not be created. From my understanding an embryo with two Y chromosomes can not be conceived. There are genes that are only found on the X chromosomes that are required for life.
As we go forward and begin to think about our future classrooms, we need to be incredibly sensitive and aware of the different homes out students are coming from. Already many students are aware that they were conceived because of some type of fertility treatments and it is very possible that in the future we can have students who are the products of same-sex reproduction.
If anyone is interested in this topic, this website breaks it down pretty simply:
http://www.chromosomechronicles.com/2009/07/29/sexual-reproduction-for-same-sex-couples/