Genetic Engineering

The development of genetic engineering has been hailed as a second Industrial Revolution. Do you believe this label is justified? How many products or applications of genetic engineering can you think off?

· Geneticists are transplanting bacterial genes into tomato plants. One gene in particular delays production of ethylene gas, which stimulates ripening. When the bacterial gene is present, it slows ripening, allowing farmers to leave the tomato on the vine longer. This increases the tomatoes flavor.

Will this harm consumers? Can you think of any other concerns and how to address them?

· In 1994, the CDC reported that the percentage of antibiotic-resistant strains of Haemophilus influenza had risen from 4.5% to 28% over the previous 5 years. What factors might have accounted for this change?

Hint: bacterial transformation,transduction,conjugation