Genetic engineering Flashcards
What is genetic engineering?
When genes from chromosomes of organisms can be removed using enzymes and transfered to cells of other organisms.
Explain in 5 points how human insulin can be created.
Human pancreas cell and a bacterium are taken,
Plasmid DNA from bacterium and human insulin producing gene is removed,
Cut off plasmid DNA and replace it with part of human DNA,
Repeat this process many times and put all the new DNA into a fermentation tank,
After it has fermented, human insulin has been created.
Give examples of organisms that have been genetically engineered and for what purpose
Corn - to produce toxins that kill insects,
Bacteria - to produce medicinal drugs,
Cotton - to produce higher yields.
How can silk be extracted if a silk gene is put into a goat?
When a goat with the gene is milked their milk will include silk. The silk has to be extracted from the milk.
How has golden rice been genetically engineered and what does it do/give to the rice?
It has been genetically engineered to include the plant pigment beta carotene. As well as the pigment giving the rice it’s golden colour, it also gets converted to vitamin A in the body.
Give three advantages of genetic engineering
Can help to produce medicinal drugs,
Quicker than selective breeding,
Can increase crop yield.
