Chapter 17: Genetic Engineering and Its Applications

1.	The text posed the following questions about Huntington’s disease: How can one defective protein lead to abnormal movements and personality changes? Why does it take so long for symptoms to appear, and why is the illness progressive? Based on your understanding of the molecular nature of the disease, offer hypotheses to answer these questions.   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
2.	Discuss some of the ethical issues involved in human gene therapy. Specifically, should therapy be restricted to somatic cells, or should individuals be able to alter their germ-line cells (meaning that they would alter the alleles they pass on to their offspring)? Should gene therapy be approved for disease-causing alleles only, or should parents also be able to pay to transform their children with alleles associated with height, intelligence, hair color, eye color, athletic performance, musical ability, or similar traits?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
3.	Several organizations are actively trying to stop the development of transgenic crops and implement bans on the marketing of genetically modified foods. Suppose a representative from one of these organizations comes to your door seeking membership support. Explain why you will or will not support their efforts.   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.