Genetic engineering Flashcards
What is genetic engineering?
Transfer of DNA from one cell to another artificially.
What do we call the organisms produced by genetic engineering?
Genetic engineering produces organisms that have been “reprogrammed”. Such organisms are called genetically modified (GM) organisms.
Why are genes inserted into genetically modified organisms?
Genetically modified organisms have genes inserted that allow them to make proteins they would not normally make.
In bacterium cells what are the large and small rings of genetic material called?
Bacteria have one large chromosome in a ring and smaller rings of genetic material called plasmids.
What are the chromosomes and plasmids in bacteria cells made up of?
The chromosome and the plasmids are made up of genes.
What do the genes in bacteria cells do?
The genes code for certain proteins e.g. enzymes.
What happens when a useful gene is removed from one organism and inserted into a bacterium’s plasmid?
If a useful gene is removed from one organism and inserted into a bacterium’s plasmid, the bacterium will now be able to produce that protein.
Name two pharmaceutical products that genetic engineering has allowed to be produced and their purpose.
Insulin-used to treat people with diabetes.
Human growth hormone-used to treat some growth disorders.
What is the first step in the genetic engineering process?
Identify section of DNA that contains required gene from source chromosome.
What is the second step in the genetic engineering process?
Extract required gene.
What is the third step in the genetic engineering process?
Extract plasmid from bacterial cell;
cut open the plasmid
What is the fourth step in the genetic engineering process?
Insert required gene into bacterial plasmid.
What is the fifth step in the genetic engineering process?
Insert plasmid into (another) host bacterial to produce a genetically modified (GM) organism.
What is the sixth step in genetic engineering process?
Genetically modified bacterial cell divides and produces the required product.
What stages in the genetic engineering process require energy?
Several stages in this process require energy:
Cutting human DNA to extract the required gene
Cutting open the plasmid
sealing the human gene into the bacterial plasmid.
