Ch. 18 - Genetic Engineering

Question 1

What is genetic engineering?

Answer 1

Genetic engineering is the artificial manipulation or alteration of genes.

Question 2

What is altered DNA called?

Answer 2

Recombinant DNA

Question 3

Describe the process of genetic engineering.

Answer 3

Genetic engineering involves isolation, cutting, ligation, transformation, cloning and expression. Isolation is the removal of the chromosome from the human cell and the plasmid DNA from the bacterium. Cutting involves cutting the gene from the chromosome and cutting open the plasmid using restriction enzymes. Ligation is the joining of the 2 sections of DNA to form a single strand. Transformation is the uptake of DNA into the cell. Cloning is the production of identical copies of the bacterium. Expression is the formation of the product with the recombinant DNA.

Question 4

What are applications of genetic engineering?

Answer 4

Genetic engineering is used to make weed killer resistant crops, produce proteins to treat emphysema from sheep and producing bacteria that make insulin.