ANDi
This year, Researchers introduced Americans to the first gene-modified rhesus monkey named ANDi. Andi, which stands for “inserted DNA” spelled backwards, was born at Oregon Regional Primate Research Center at Oregon Health Sciences University. For the first time, scientists have modified the DNA of a primate species, whose genetic coding varies from people by only slightly more than 1 percent (Onion 1). ANDi was endowed with a gene for fluorescence. The fluorescence gene was extracted from a jellyfish and inserted into the embryonic material that eventually gave rise to ANDi (Jelliffe 1). Numerous Americans are not familiar with the topic of Andi because many sources of the media such as the news, the paper, and even magazines have only briefly touched base on such an issue that should be well known to Americans and could really have an impact on the world of science and medicine.
First, it is imperative to inform people about the rhesus monkey and it’s origin. The rhesus monkey is actually the genus Maraca, related to managbeys, mandrills, and baboons. All but one of the 19 species are found in Asia from Afghanistan, to Japan, the Philippines and Borneo. They are highly intelligent and display a variety of calls and facial expressions. The rhesus monkey has been widely used in medical and other scientific experiences; the Rh blood factor, found in humans as well as monkeys is named for it (Colombia Encyclopedia).
ANDi was born on October 2, 2000. Before the miracle of ANDi, the Oregon researchers used a genetically modified, noninfectious virus to carry the gene into over 200 monkey eggs. A father monkey’s sperm was injected, a number of hours later, into the eggs, fertilizing the eggs that produced 40 e...
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...e of technology is finding more ways of increasing the odds. Odds that maybe 30, 20, or even ten years ago were very minimal rate. ANDi is a magnificent discovery that will not only help those who are desperately in need for a cure of a deadly illness, but also for those individuals in the entire world to help broaden their eyes as well as their knowledge on such a incredible and promising discovery. If the ANDi program was never rooted what hope would these individuals have left? A year ago scientist at the same Oregon research center reported they had cloned the first monkey by embryo splitting named Tetra which reportedly is doing fine (ABC 3). There is talk about one day mating the two. The creation of ANDi will more than likely be patented in the future, and more than likely we can expect more discoveries form the Oregon Primate Center in the near future.
In today’s modern age science is moving at a rapid pace; one of those scientific fields that has taken the largest leaps is that of genetics. When genetics first comes to mind, many of us think of it as a type of science fiction, or a mystical dream. Yet genetics is here, it is real, and has numerous ethical implications.
DNA is the blueprint of life from its creation to its development and until its death. The discovery of the structure of DNA not only revolutionized science and medicine, but it also affected many other facets of existence: evolutionary, industrial, legal, and criminal justice. Its incarnation has benefitted American families and industries and spurred scientific innovation throughout the country. Aptly stated by Francis Crick, “your joys and your sorrows, your memories and your ambitions, your sense of identity and freewill, are in fact no more than the behavior of a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules. As Lewis Carroll’s Alice might have phrased it: ‘you’re nothing but a pack of neurons.’ [Watson and my] discovery illustrates how that is possible.”
In 2001 scientist attempted to create a cloned human embryo, they had consulted all the necessary sources before getting the “ok” to begin “creating”. Then they had to find a female subject to donate eggs. To start the process of cloning they need to use a very fine needle and get the genetic information from a mature egg. Then they inject it into the nucleus of a donor cell. The female donors were asked to take psychological and physical tests to screen for diseases and what not.
Primates, any placental mammal of the order Primates, normally having flexible hands and feet and, in the higher apes, a highly developed brain (“Primate”, 2016), have been one of the most popular animals and prominent attractions in zoos.
Furthermore, she recommends that scientists explore other alternatives, such as, computer simulations and tests on tissue and cells. Although Goodall sheds light on great alternatives and uses great statistics, Goodall’s essay comes off as too preachy and fails to realize that if it were as simple as to use a computer simulation to cure a drug, of course there would be no need for animals such as primates to be tested on. Although it may sound unsympathetic, in order to find cures and medical discoveries there needs to be trial and error and, unfortunately, in this instance we have to use primates and other animals for research. Goodall believes that animals are used for no reason, however, animals are not necessarily used for no reason because scientists are trying rigorously to find solutions through each trial in order to treat conditions such as cancer and
Boston: Bedford/St. Martin,. 304 - 316 mm. Print. The. Newman, Stuart A.. “The Hazards of Human Developmental Gene Modification.”
Ever since the successful birth of Dolly on July 5, 1996, the scientific community as well as the public have been engulfed in the idea of reproductive cloning, its benefits, and its potential threats. This well-publicized event was a giant steppingstone in understanding and using the techniques of gene cloning and reproductive cloning. By using a technique known as Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, scientists at the Roslin Institute removed the nucleus from an oocyte (unfertilized egg), and then fused this newly enucleated cell with a donor cell (with complete nucleus). This new embryo was then implanted into the womb of a surrogate mother ewe. In total, out of 277 fused cells, 29 successfully developed into embryos, while only one of these resulted in a successful live birth (a total success rate of 0.4%) (Wong, 202). Dolly was the first living mammal to be cloned by this fast and accurate process of somatic cell nuclear transfer, but was by no means the first animal to be cloned. The first...
The paper Total social isolation in monkeys by Dodsworth, Harlow, & Harlow (1965), likens rhesus monkeys to children as parallels exist between the social development of humans and monkeys. The study kept infant rhesus monkeys in total isolation therefore depriving them completely of any caregiver and possibility of attachment, mimicking children in orphanages, or children suffering from emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Though no monkeys died during isolation, a monkey that had been isolated for 3 months developed emotional anorexia and refused to eat subsequently dying. While the effects of total social isolation from birth was severely deleterious, rhesus monkeys that had been socially isolated from birth showed no social skills such as play, aggression or sexual behavior, though instead high levels of fear in social situations. Harlow however observed that though the social or emotional brain had been obliterated, the intellectual portion seemed to be intact. Suomi and Harlow (1972) also found th...
For instance, due to animal cloning, scientists have advances in the search for a cure to mitochondrial disease. Mitochondrial disease is a disease caused by a genetic mutation which causes the mitochondria in a cell to malfunction. The mitochondria is responsible for producing energy for the cell. Thus, when the mitochondria malfunction it causes the cells to shut down, this has led to millions of children going deaf, getting diabetes, heart disease, or even dementia. According to Gautam Naik, author of the Wall Street Journal article Mitochondrial Disease Research Makes Progress “researchers used two cutting-edge laboratory techniques, cloning and cell reprograming, to make fresh tissue that was a perfect genetic match for patients suffering from the disorder”(Naik). This is definitive proof that animal cloning is important if not essential to scientific research for advancement in modern
If you see a group of monkeys casually walking around in a grassland environment (like those shown on the right), you can be sure that they are from the Old World. Many of the larger New World monkeys have prehensile, or grasping, tails that are capable of being used as strong "third hands" for holding onto branches and supporting their bodies. None of the Old World monkeys or apes has this capability. Many species of Old World monkeys have ischial callosities , or hairless callous pads, on their rumps which may be adaptations for long periods of sitting or sleeping on rough branches and rocks.
Although humans have altered the genomes of species for thousands of years through artificial selection and other non-scientific means, the field of genetic engineering as we now know it did not begin until 1944 when DNA was first identified as the carrier of genetic information by Oswald Avery Colin McLeod and Maclyn McCarty (Stem Cell Research). In the following decades two more important discoveries occurred, first the 1953 discovery of the structure of DNA, by Watson and Crick, and next the 1973 discovery by Cohen and Boyer of a recombinant DNA technique which allowed the successful transfer of DNA into another organism. A year later Rudolf Jaenisch created the world’s first transgenic animal by introducing foreign DNA into a mouse embryo, an experiment that would set the stage for modern genetic engineering (Stem Cell Research). The commercialization of genetic engineering began largely in 1976 wh...
Chimpanzees are part of the non-human primate group. Though we share a common ancestor, evolution has pushed us in different directions. However this common ancestor causes humans to be curious about these creatures. As discussed in Jane Goodall’s video Among the Wild Chimpanzees we were once considered to be human because of our use of tools but once we observed these non-human primates using tools, this perception was changed forever. The question now at hand is if having the chimpanzees that we study in captivity makes a difference between studying wild chimps. These interesting creatures can be found naturally in the rainforests of Africa.
Using animals as testing models for scientific research has become one of the serious issues in the world. According to Procon.org, almost 26 million animals are used for scientific testing every year in the United States, and more than 10 thousand animals died in those testing experiments. Many scientists believe that animal testing is necessary because it can help humans to develop more scientific research. However, the truth is that many animal testing experiments usually fail when they are used in humans. Therefore, animal testing should be banned because human’s DNA is not similar to animals, there have better ways, and animals have right.
In 2004 another experiment was created in Rochester Minnesota at the Mayo Clinic. The clinic was the first to create pigs that used human blood in place of their own. In 2005, two more hybrids are created the first being a mouse with human brain cells and the second is a feline-human protein hybrid. These hybrids are being created to fight and cure cancers and diseases including Parkinson and Alzheimer’s disease. 2007 and 2008, sheep ...
Sir Robert Edwards was an English physiologist who always took an interest in the study of genetics. He was the mastermind behind the medical reproductive procedure called In-vetro fertilization (Johnson). Because of Sir Edwards’s extraordinary contribution to the medical field, women with predisposed fertility problems are possibly able to have children. Without IVF millions of people wouldn’t be living on Earth today. Although Sir Edwards IVF procedure is considered controversial, it certainly had, and continues to have, a huge impact on our society. Sir Edwards’ first successfu...