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.
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.”
Harlow observed the monkeys all during their life including the growing up stage from adolescent to adult see what kind of vibes they’ll give of in social environment as adults. Harlow noticed that monkeys had very odd behavior. They didn’t demonstrate any normal breeding activities, and many of the females did breed became very poor mothers and did not try to take care or even protect their offspring.
I agree with Harry Harlow as he stated, “All the objective tests we have been able to devise agree in showing that the infant monkey’s relationship to its surrogate mother is a full one. Comparison with the behavior of infant monkeys raised by their real mothers confirms this view.” The content of Harlow’s experiment, especially the resolution, was personally intriguing and insightful to me considering my potential future as a mother and as an individual. This experiment has provided me with knowledge about rhesus monkeys. It is fascinating that even in infanthood, they have an admirable ability to possess and utilize the same emotions and behaviors that human babies exhibit daily.
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
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.
“Scientists in Canada announced the successful treatment of Ebola viral infection in monkeys. The encouraging results were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine on June 13.” - See more at: http://healthmap.org/site/diseasedaily/article/did-scientists-just-discover-cure-ebola-62212#sthash.Yx397W5P.dpuf
“Andi” is a backward acronym for “inserted DNA” that describes the method used by scientists at the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center (ORPRC) in Beaverton. The lead scientists Gerald P. Schatten and Anthony W.S. Chan, along with their team, placed copies of the green fluorescent protein (GFP), found in jellyfish, in specialized viri: retroviri. Their main goal was to create a monkey with a new gene introduced in a laboratory, thus a transgenic monkey. The significance of the GFP gene was to provide quick, detectable, and vivid evidence of whether the experiment was successful. These “replication-defe...
Alexandrine Paradis was an ongoing mysterious character throughout the novel. Andi’s adventure on reading Alex’s diary was an ongoing process throughout the book. So when trying to find the full story behind Alex, you had to read till the end to know all about Alex. The quote above illustrates a slight description of Alex’s past life and who she was. Though, Alex wasn’t the main character throughout the whole story, Andi, introduces Alex into the story. It all started with Andi discovering that her brother's key opens a secret compartment in the guitar case. Inside are a small potpourri bag, a diary and a tiny portrait of a young boy who reminds her of her brother. The diary belonged to a 17-year-old girl named Alexandrine or Alex during the
Humans and non-human primates have many behaviors and characteristics in common. All humans and non-human primates also share physical and beha...
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...
In recent years, great advancement has been made in medicine and technology. Advanced technologies in reproduction have allowed doctors and parents the ability to screen for genetic disorders (Suter, 2007). Through preimplantation genetic diagnosis, prospective parents undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) can now have their embryo tested for genetic defects and reduce the chance of the child being born with a genetic disorder (Suter, 2007). This type of technology can open the door and possibility to enhance desirable traits and characteristics in their child. Parents can possibly choose the sex, hair color and eyes or stature. This possibility of selecting desirable traits opens a new world of possible designer babies (Mahoney,
Humans have always loved to mix and combine things weather it is for looks, tastes, and stories. These combinations have always been seen as an improvement until recently. Medical breakthroughs in the cloning industry have been raising more ethical questions than when it initially started. The main issue was playing God. The new issue now is where we draw the line. As of 2003 the first human-animal embryo was created in China at the Shanghai Second Medical University. The creation was a human-rabbit embryo. However the embryo was destroyed before stem cells and research could be collected and studied.
The controversy of these issues stems from the immense potential in genetic sciences for both positive use and harmful misuse. Though the questions and fears of critics reflect the wisdom of caution, the potentially unlimited benefits mandate that we pursue these technologies.
The reconstruction of DNA has brought many cures against genetic diseases that before were undetectable. Although it is not a treatme...
First, I’ll attempt to explain which methods and procedures will be the future of modern medicine. The procedures that will be the future of modern medicine currently fall into the realms of taboo and fictional. These procedures encompass every aspect of medical science from exploration of the human body, curing of diseases, to improving a person’s quality of life. Many of these procedures are not very well known while a few have been in the spotlight. These procedures are; cloning, nano-robotics, retro-viruses, and genetic manipulation via gene-specific medications. For any serious breakthroughs in modern medical science we must embrace these new forms of treatment instead of shying away from them.