Week 10
Report #1: To the Society for the Conservation of the Grey Wolf:
I greatly appreciate your desire to help protect the grey wolf. The species Canis lupus consists of many different subspecies all over the world, each slightly unique. One of the things that I believe needs to be done in order to better protect wolves is to research these different subspecies and their differences and similarities to each other. This can be done by comparing genetic data acquired through DNA fingerprinting.
An example of this is a project done to benefit Sumatran tigers, as explained on http://www.ology.amnh.org/genetics/aroundtheworld/pages/cat.html. DNA from Sumatran tigers was compared to DNA from other subspecies of tigers. The results showed that Sumatran tigers were indeed their own separate subspecies.
If a similar study were to be performed for all the subspecies of wolves possible, we could learn a lot about these wolves and how to best preserve them in each of their unique environments. Also determining which wolves are the most similar would help efforts to breed more populations of wolves.
Consequently, I propose that a study should be done involving DNA fingerprinting. First, DNA would be gathered in a humane way from different wolf populations all over the world. Then, the DNA would be taken to a lab to create DNA fingerprints. Finally, the DNA fingerprints for each subspecies would be analyzed and compared to each other to give us the genetic data that could help preserve grey wolves all over the world.
Thank you for your concern.
Report #2: To the Society for the Genetic Modification of the Grey Wolf:
I greatly appreciate your desire to help protect the grey wolf by genetic modification. It has come to my attention that in addition to the wolves’ problems with loss of habitat and a bad reputation that causes them to be illegally killed, they can also suffer from the effects of pesticides. Twelve wolves studied in Galicia, Spain (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ap/es/2000/00000045/00000003/art01856), had high doses of pesticides in their bodies. Considering the prevalence of pesticides around the world, it would not be surprising if many wolf populations were suffering due to pesticides. Consequently, I suggest that wolves undergo genetic modification to make them resistant to pesticides and therefore help protect an already suffering species.
Some plants have already been modified with genes that are resistant to pesticides and herbicides. Perhaps we could take that pesticide and herbicide resistant gene and transfer it to wolves. In order to transfer the gene to wolves, we would need to take the gene from a plant chromosome and attach it to a plasmid from a bacterium. The plasmid would have been previously cut with the same restriction enzymes as the gene, so they would come together to form a recombinant plasmid. This would be put back into the bacterial cell, which would then multiply and would eventually be injected into wolves.
However, there is a significant environmental impact that may arise if this is done. If much of the wolves’ prey, such as caribou, moose or deer, has been exposed to pesticides or herbicides themselves, then the wolves will not eat the exposed animals. This would wreak havoc on the wolves’ system of survival and may cause many to starve. Also, if this gene was accidentally transferred to any other predator near the wolves, it may have the exact same effect on them, too, causing them to not be able to eat their prey and therefore starve. Consequently, I believe that much research will need to go into this idea before it is acted upon.
Thank you for your concern.
Cracraft, Joel. Undated. The Big Cats of Sumatra. http://www.ology.amnh.org/genetics/aroundtheworld/pages/cat.html. Downloaded March 31, 2007.
González-Barros, Carril, Alvarez Piñeiro, Lozano, and Lage Yusty. “Organochlorine Pesticides in Wolves from Galicia.” Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Volume 45, Number 3, March 2000, pp. 247-252(6). http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ap/es/2000/00000045/00000003/art01856. Downloaded March 31, 2007.
Wikipedia. 2007. Gray Wolf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf. Downloaded on March 31, 2007.
I greatly appreciate your desire to help protect the grey wolf. The species Canis lupus consists of many different subspecies all over the world, each slightly unique. One of the things that I believe needs to be done in order to better protect wolves is to research these different subspecies and their differences and similarities to each other. This can be done by comparing genetic data acquired through DNA fingerprinting.
An example of this is a project done to benefit Sumatran tigers, as explained on http://www.ology.amnh.org/genetics/aroundtheworld/pages/cat.html. DNA from Sumatran tigers was compared to DNA from other subspecies of tigers. The results showed that Sumatran tigers were indeed their own separate subspecies.
If a similar study were to be performed for all the subspecies of wolves possible, we could learn a lot about these wolves and how to best preserve them in each of their unique environments. Also determining which wolves are the most similar would help efforts to breed more populations of wolves.
Consequently, I propose that a study should be done involving DNA fingerprinting. First, DNA would be gathered in a humane way from different wolf populations all over the world. Then, the DNA would be taken to a lab to create DNA fingerprints. Finally, the DNA fingerprints for each subspecies would be analyzed and compared to each other to give us the genetic data that could help preserve grey wolves all over the world.
Thank you for your concern.
Report #2: To the Society for the Genetic Modification of the Grey Wolf:
I greatly appreciate your desire to help protect the grey wolf by genetic modification. It has come to my attention that in addition to the wolves’ problems with loss of habitat and a bad reputation that causes them to be illegally killed, they can also suffer from the effects of pesticides. Twelve wolves studied in Galicia, Spain (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ap/es/2000/00000045/00000003/art01856), had high doses of pesticides in their bodies. Considering the prevalence of pesticides around the world, it would not be surprising if many wolf populations were suffering due to pesticides. Consequently, I suggest that wolves undergo genetic modification to make them resistant to pesticides and therefore help protect an already suffering species.
Some plants have already been modified with genes that are resistant to pesticides and herbicides. Perhaps we could take that pesticide and herbicide resistant gene and transfer it to wolves. In order to transfer the gene to wolves, we would need to take the gene from a plant chromosome and attach it to a plasmid from a bacterium. The plasmid would have been previously cut with the same restriction enzymes as the gene, so they would come together to form a recombinant plasmid. This would be put back into the bacterial cell, which would then multiply and would eventually be injected into wolves.
However, there is a significant environmental impact that may arise if this is done. If much of the wolves’ prey, such as caribou, moose or deer, has been exposed to pesticides or herbicides themselves, then the wolves will not eat the exposed animals. This would wreak havoc on the wolves’ system of survival and may cause many to starve. Also, if this gene was accidentally transferred to any other predator near the wolves, it may have the exact same effect on them, too, causing them to not be able to eat their prey and therefore starve. Consequently, I believe that much research will need to go into this idea before it is acted upon.
Thank you for your concern.
Cracraft, Joel. Undated. The Big Cats of Sumatra. http://www.ology.amnh.org/genetics/aroundtheworld/pages/cat.html. Downloaded March 31, 2007.
González-Barros, Carril, Alvarez Piñeiro, Lozano, and Lage Yusty. “Organochlorine Pesticides in Wolves from Galicia.” Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Volume 45, Number 3, March 2000, pp. 247-252(6). http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ap/es/2000/00000045/00000003/art01856. Downloaded March 31, 2007.
Wikipedia. 2007. Gray Wolf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf. Downloaded on March 31, 2007.
posted by Rachel at
9:39 PM
