Applications of Genetics Artificial Selection Artificial Selection Selective

Applications of Genetics

Artificial Selection

Artificial Selection/ Selective Breeding • Plant and animal breeders want to produce individuals with desirable traits such as high crop yield, resistance to disease and high growth rate. • This can be achieved by selective breeding. • This is where the organism that shows the desirable trait is selected and bred on purpose so that they will pass on these traits.

Artificial Selection/ Selective Breeding • This is usually done by crossing 2 members of the same species which possess the desirable trait. • This process of selecting parents to produce offspring with desirable traits is called artificial selection.

Example • During the past 150 years, selective breeding and improved animal husbandry have enabled cattle breeders to develop breeds which have a high efficiency for either milk or meat production.

Genetic Modification

Genetic Modification • This is a recent technology developed for altering the characteristics of animals and plants, in order to make them capable of making new substances or performing new or different functions. • Genetic information is coded for in the DNA of an organism. • The sequence of bases on the DNA determines the proteins produced.

Genetic Modification • A change in this base sequence will change the protein produced, thus the trait it produces will also change. • This is called genetic engineering. • A gene that produces a desirable trait in one organism can be spliced into another.

Cloning

Clonning • A clone is an organism, produced from one parent, which is genetically identical to the parent. • E. g. Dolly the sheep

Cloning Sheep