Explain/ describe the general application of genetics.

a)Blood transfusion; the knowledge of blood group and rhesus factor helps in blood typing to prevent the risk of agglutination;
b)Plant and animal breeding through artificial selection; it is done in plants and animals to determine the genes which will be passed on to the next generation; through inbreeding/ cross breeding in animals and polyploidy in plant breeding;
c)Genetic engineering; refers to the process of identifying a desirable gene, isolating, changing and transferring a gene from one organism to the DNA of another organism leading to a change in the genetic make-up of an individual; the genetically modified organisms have higher yields, resistant to pests and diseases and climatic changes, mature earlier/ faster;
d)Production of hormones through Genetically Modified Organisms (Gmos); A strain of bacteria (Escherichia coli) has been modified to synthesize human insulin; the human gene that codes for insulin is transferred into the bacteria thereby producing insulin that is purer and in large quantities; the human gene that codes for Human somatotrophin hormone is transferred into bacteria thereby producing the hormone in large quantities that is used to treat dwarfism;
e)Production of medicinal proteins in milk to relieve haemophilia and hereditary emphysema; the gene for blood clotting factors into transferred into sheep embryos to interact with milk producing genes. When born, the sheep’s female offspring has the ability to produce milk containing the blood clotting factors. This factor is isolated and used to relieve haemophilia;
f)Production of vaccines e.g. a vaccine for hepatitis B virus, rabies and cholera; In production of a vaccine against hepatitis B virus, the gene for protein coat of hepatitis B virus is isolated and transferred into a fungus (yeast). The yeast is cultured to produce the protein which is isolated and purified. When injected into the human body it acts as an antigen which stimulates the production of antibodies against hepatitis B virus. Some genetically modified banana is targeted to produce orally administered vaccines against rabies and cholera.
g)Somatical gene therapy; genetically modified organisms e.g. viruses are used to carry the gene and introduce it into the affected tissues to correct the defective gene e.g. lung cystic fibrosis;
h)Production of genetically modified maize and soya beans that are resistant against pest attack; A gene that provide resistance is isolated from bacterium (Bacillus thurungensis) and transferred into these crops; the gene enables the crops to produce toxins which kill the insects that feed on them;
i)Production of genetically modified tomatoes that take long before rotting; A gene that leads to softening of the fruit coat is deleted hence there is no production of enzyme responsible for rotting this is important to avoid rotting of tomatoes before reaching the market and also full maturity before harvesting;
j)Attempts to transfer a gene for nitrogen fixation from bacteria into cereal crops to increase yield without use of fertilizers;
k)Production of bovine somatotropin; this is a hormone that increases milk production and weight increase in cattle the gene that controls the production of this hormone is transferred to bacteria that produce the hormone in large quantities. The hormone is extracted, purified and injected into the cow that leads to increase in the cells in the mammary glands and weight of beef cattle;
l)Genetically modified Pseudomonas bacteria are capable of decomposing hydrocarbons in petroleum controlling pollution due to spillage in water bodies;
m)Genetic counselling; to provide information/ advise to individuals/ families/ communities about genetic disorders, their risks and supportive referral services;
n)Settling legal issues e.g. crime detection, disputed parentage through DNA fingerprinting;