B3 - Genetic Engineering

Question 0

Disadvantages of genetic engineering?

Answer 0

Injected gene may have harmful effects. People worry that the gene could escape, herbicide for crops could go to weed and make it unstoppable.

Question 1

Advantages of genetic engineering?

Answer 1

New useful characteristics, quickly.

Question 2

Examples where selective breeding is used?

Answer 2

Insulin
Rice with vitamin A for countries that mainly eat rice.
Resistance to herbicide, frost and disease for plants.

Question 3

How do they put vitamin a in rice using genetic engineering?

Answer 3

Take gene that controls beta-carotene production in carrots and put it in rice the human body can then turn it into vitamin a.

Question 4

How is insulin produced using selective breeding?

Answer 4

The gene for human insulin is selected.
Then it’s cut out from DNA using enzymes, it is then isolated.
The useful DNA(insulin) is inserted into the DNA of another organism(bacterium). The organism then replicates so there are loads of similar organisms all producing the same thing. The insulin can then be separated from the bacteria as it is no use.

Question 5

Moral and ethical issues involved with genetic engineering?

Answer 5

1) Wrong if purely for human benefit especially if it harms the animal.
2) Some people think we will not stop at animals and plants and people who can afford it will pay for their child to have desirable characteristics and the people who cannot afford it will become ‘genetically underclass’.
3) Evolutionary impact is unknown so irresponsible to leave next enervation with possible consequences.