Cells - Genetic Engineering

Question 1

What does normal control of bacterial cell activity depend on?

Answer 1

Normal control of bacterial cell activity depends on genetic information.

Question 2

In what two ways can genetic information be transferred from the cells of one species to the cells of another?

Answer 2

Genetic information can be transferred from the cells of one species to the cells of another either naturally or artificially.

Question 3

Give examples of natural methods.

Answer 3

Natural methods of transfer include fertilisation in animals and plants and transfer of plasmids between bacterial species or by viruses.

Question 4

What is the name of artificial transfer of genetic information?

Answer 4

The artificial transfer of genetic information is called genetic engineering

Question 5

What does genetic engineering often, but not always, involve?

Answer 5

Genetic engineering often, but not always, involves bacteria.

Question 6

How can pieces of chromosome be transferred?

Answer 6

Pieces of chromosome can be transferred from a donor species to another, which then allows the recipient species to make new proteins.

Question 7

Why is genetic engineering carried out by humans?

Answer 7

Genetic engineering is carried out by humans to allow a species to make a protein that is normally made by another species

Question 8

What do the stages of genetic engineering include?

Answer 8

• identifying a section of DNA that contains the required gene from the chromosomes of a a donor species and extracting it
• inserting the required gene into a vector or bacterial plasmid
• transforming the recipient (host) cell by placing the modified plasmid onto it

Question 9

What follows genetic engineering?

Answer 9

Following genetic engineering, transformed cells are cultured to produce a GM (genetically modified) strain or organism.

Question 10

What can the GM strain or organism produce?

Answer 10

The GM strain or organism can produce a new protein normally made by another species.