Selective Breeding – 4.8, 4.9B, 4.14

Genetic Modification – Edexcel GCSE (1BI0): Higher Tier

In this course, Dr Matt Ivory (Cardiff University) covers genetic modification, including topics 4.8, 4.9B, 4.10-4.14 and 4.13B in the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology (9-1) Higher Specification. We begin (i) with our first example of genetic modification, selective breeding, where we go through some key examples of selective breeding, its uses and some potentially negative consequences of this form of genetic modification; we then (ii) move onto how humans directly genetically modify the genomes of various organisms using methodologies in a lab, why we may want to do this, as well as the ethical implications of altering an organism's genome; to finish up (iii) we discuss the concerns around the human demand for food, food security and the various techniques humans have implemented to ensure we have enough food.

Selective Breeding – 4.8, 4.9B, 4.14

In this first mini-lecture, we introduce genetic modification by discussing selective breeding. We first define what selective breeding is, and some reasons as to why we may want to selectively breed to amplify certain traits and characteristics, as well as some of the negative consequences of this. We then finish with how we can use selective breeding in a laboratory setting, culturing both animal and plant cells for medical research.