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8 th Grade Science Assessment sample question. Which is a major difference between an epidemic and a pandemic? An epidemic is caused by toxins but a pandemic is caused by viruses. An epidemic results in more deaths than a pandemic. An epidemic affects fewer people than a pandemic.
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8th Grade Science Assessment sample question Which is a major difference between an epidemic and a pandemic? An epidemic is caused by toxins but a pandemic is caused by viruses. An epidemic results in more deaths than a pandemic. An epidemic affects fewer people than a pandemic. An epidemic spreads farther around the world than a pandemic.
What is DNA? DNA is genetic material that carries information about an organism and is passed on from parent to offspring.
What are genes? Genes are segments of DNA on a chromosome trait code for a specific trait. Traits are characteristics that are passed on to you from your parents.
What are chromosomes? Chromosomes are double rods of chromatin that contain DNA Changes to or damage to a persons chromosomes results in genetic disorders.
How does biotechnology affect DNA, genes and chromosomes? Genetic engineering (gene splicing) – genes from one organism are transferred into the DNA of another organism. In gene splicing, a DNA molecule is cut open and a gene from another organism is spliced into it. Gene splicing is used to produce medicines, improve crops and to treat/cure genetic disorders.
Genetic Engineering cont’d Scientists use genetic engineering to create bacterial cells that produce important human proteins such as insulin.
How is insulin produced? Scientists remove DNA from bacterial cells. The DNA is cut open. The human insulin gene is removed from a chromosome. The DNA from the bacterial cell and the human insulin are mixed and attach to each other. The mix is mixed in with other bacterial cells which reproduce with the mixed cell and produce new cells that contain human insulin.
Genetic Engineering in Other Organisms Scientists have inserted genes from bacteria into the cells of tomatoes, wheat and rice to enable the plants to survive colder temperatures, poor soil conditions and to resist insects. Scientists have inserted human genes into the cells of cows to produce blood clotting proteins needed for hemophiliacs. The protein is produced in the cow’s milk and can be extracted to treat people with the genetic disorder.
What is gene therapy? Gene therapy involves inserting healthy copies of a gene into the cells of a person with a genetic disorder in the hopes that this might treat/cure the disorder.
DNA Fingerprinting Enzymes are used to cut the DNA sample found at a crime into sections. An electrical current separates the sections to form patterns. Each person’s pattern of DNA is unique. The DNA pattern can be suspects to find the criminal.