B6 Genetic Engineering (page 78) Flashcards
What is Genetic Engineering?
it is to transfer a gene responsible for a desirable characteristic from one organism’s geome into another organism, so that it also has the desired characteristic.
How is a gene transferred from one organisms geome into another organism?
A useful gene is isolated (cut) from one organism’s genome using enzymes and is inserted into a vector.
What is a Vector?
The vector is usually a virus or a baterial plasmid (a fancy piece of circular DNA found in bacterial cells) - depending on the type of organism that the gene is being transferred to.
When the Vector is introduced to the target organism, what happens next?
the useful gene is inserted into its cell(s).
Scientist use genetic engineering method for all sorts of thims, give some examples?
1) Bacteria
2) Genetically Modified (GM) crops
3) Sheep
Why is Bacteria used as a method for genetic engineering?
Bacteria have been genetically modified to produce humaninsulin that can be used to treat diabetes.
Why is Genetically Modified (GM) crops been used for genetic engineering?
Genetically modified (GM) crops have had their genes modified, e.g. to improve the size and quality of their fruit, or to make them resistant to disease, insects and herbicides (chemicals used to kill weeds)
Why have Sheep been used to for genetic engineering?
Sheep have been genetically engineered to produce substances, like drugs, in their milk that can be used to treat human diseases.
Scientists are researching genetic modification treatments for inherited diseases caused by faulty genes, give some examples, and what is this called?
e.g. by inserting working genes into people with the disease. This is called gene therapy.
Genetic engineering is an exciting area of science, which has the potential for solving what?
it has the potential for solving many of our problems - e.g. treating diseases, more efficient food production.
Not everyone thinks genetic engineering is exciting, what are peoples worries?
There are worries about the long-term effects of genetic engineering - that changing an organism’s genes might accidentally create unplanned problems, which could get passed on to future generations.
What are the Cons of Genetically Modified (GM) crops?
Cons:
1) growing GM crops will affect the number of wild flowers (and so the population of insects) that live in and around the crops - reducing farmland biodiversity.
2) Not everyone is convinced the GM crops are safe and come people are concerned that we might not fully understand the effects of eating them on human health. E.g. people are worried they may develop allergies to the food - although there’s probably no more risk for this than for eating usual foods.
3) A Big concern is that transplanted genes may get out into the natural environment. for example, the herbicide resistance gene may be picked up by weeds, creating a new ‘superweed’ variety.
What are the Pros of Genetically Modified (GM) crops?
Pros:
1) The characteristics chosen for GM crops can increase the yield, making more food.
2) People living in developing nations often lack nutrients in their diets. GM crops could be engineered to contain the nutrient that’s missing. For example, ‘golden rice’ is a GM rice crop that contains beta-carotene - lack of this substance causes blindness.
3) GM crops are already being grown in some places, often without any problems.
Outline one benefit and one concern about GM crops (2 marks)
Benefit: e.g. the characteristics chosen for GM crops can mean that they have an increased yield./GM crops can be engineered to contain certain nutrients, which some people in developing nations may lack from their diets (1 mark).
Concern: e.g. some people are not convinced that GM crops are safe and are concerned that we might not fully understand the effects of eating them on human health./Some people say that growing GM crops will affect the number of wild flowers and insects that live in and around the crops./There is concern that the transplanted genes cound get out into the natural environment, which could lead to the creation of ‘superweeds’ (1 mark).
