Questions
What does CAR-T therapy allow T-cells to recognize?
Virus infected cells
Bacteria
Tumours
Foreign biological material
3. Tumours
What can Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells be used for?
Embryonic research
Growing new organs
In-vitro gene editing
All of the above
4. All of the above
The protein hemoglobin is produced by the HBA1, HBA2, and HBB genes. Suppose that the HBB gene became mutated. Explain what might happen to hemoglobin production.
BONUS 200 POINTS: What disease could it lead to?
Since genes are responsible for creating specific proteins, the mutated HBB gene may create a protein that is harmful or nonfunctional. Therefore, it would negatively affect hemoglobin production.
BONUS: This could lead to sickle cell anemia.
What are 8 ethical concerns for gene editing?
100 POINTS for each ethical concern!
1. Unknown Long-Term Risks/Side Effects
2. Neo-eugenics
3. Effects on Future Generations/Lack of Informed Consent
4. Animal Testing
5. Embryo Destruction
6. Healthcare Disparities
7. Potential to be Misused/Abused
8. Moral, Cultural, and/or Religious Beliefs
Why might there be more gene therapies for recessive genetic disorders compared to dominant ones?
Dominant genes are more likely to be expressed, since only one copy is needed from a parent. Therefore, dominant genetic disorders will always appear in individuals carrying the allele. However, since genetic disorders generally reduce an individual’s reproductive fitness, it is less likely to be passed down to future offspring. As a result, dominant genetic disorders are more rare than recessive ones.
Recessive genes are less likely to be expressed, since two copies are needed—one from each parent. Therefore, an individual may carry the allele for a recessive genetic disorder, but not express it if they only have it from one parent. Since individuals carrying the allele may not express the genetic disorder, their reproductive fitness is not affected, and they can pass down the allele to future offspring. If two individuals carrying the allele reproduce, their offspring may carry the allele, or express the genetic disorder. As a result, recessive genetic disorders are more common than dominant ones.