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Science: Unit 3: Genetic Engineering

You will construct a poster researching a gene technology and subsequent impact on biological evolution with reference to political, moral, ethical, economic, legal and/or social implications

Topics in this Research Guide

Human Reproduction, e.g. IVF

GM Crops (esp. in Victoria)

Human Evolution over time

Genetic Engineering: Gastric Brooding Frog Extinction

Gastric Brooding Frog Extinction

Key Terms

  • Genetic engineering 
  • Resurrection Ecology 
  • Cloning 
  • De-extinction

 

Reference Information 

Southern Gastric Brooding Frog (Rheobatrachus silus

Northern Gastric-brooding Frog (Rheobatrachus vitellinus)

Encyclopedia of Life - Rheobatrachus: Gastric Brooding Frogs
General biology of the gastric brooding frog.

 

Articles

National Geographic - Resurrecting the extinct frog with a stomach for a womb (March 19, 2013)

University of Newcastle - Lost frog back from the dead: Lazarus Project (March 18, 2013)

Australian Popular Science - Scientists resurrect bonkers extinct frog that gives birth through its mouth (March 16, 2013) 

ABC News - Frog that gives birth through mouth to be brought back from extinction (March 20, 2013)

The Guardian - Scientists clone extinct frog: Jurassic Park here we come? (March 18, 2013)

New York Times - So you're extinct? Scientists have gleam in eye (March 18, 2013)
The end of the article covers some of the ethical arguments about reversing extinction. 

 

 

Ethical Considerations

National Geographic - The promise and pitfalls of resurrection ecology (March, 2013)

TED DeExtinction -https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/7650

This is a TEDx event that explores a bold topic: reviving extinct species and re-introducing them to the wild. Can it be done responsibly? Should it be done at all?   

The Ethics

Candidate Species and Viability

FAQs and Recommended Reading

Videos of the exhibition have been uploaded: http://new.livestream.com/tedx/DeExtinction 
During the Sessions 1-3 video at 1:05 there is mention of two Australian cases - the Gastric Brooding Frog and the Tasmanian Tiger.

Human Evolution Over Time

NewScientist: Human Evolution

Paul Root Walpe It's Time to Question Bio-Engineering
The first 2 mins covers Human Evolution, then goes into genetic engineering and animals, then looks at the ethics briefly.

TED Talk: Are we ready for neo-evolution?

 

TED Talks: Theme - Evolution

 

 

GM Crops

Key Terms

  •  Genetically Modified
  •  Gene-technology
  •  Biotechnology

 

The Ethical Considerations of GM Crops

Department of Primary Industries Victoria: Genetically Modified Crops

Better Health Channel: Genetically Modified (GM) Foods 
A good overall summary page. 

SBS Factbox: GM Foods in Australia

The is an ECHO page from 2008 available. 

 

Examples of GM Crops in Victoria 

Food Standards Australia and New Zealand: Applications and Status

 

For

CSIRO: Gene-Technology

 

Against 

Greenpeace - Genetic Modification

 

Other Resources

Applied Genetic Modification (Interactive)

 

 

Human Reproduction - IVF