Genetic Engineering Flashcards
What is genetic engineering?
- any direct manipulation of an organism’s genes
What is biotechnology?
- using scientific procedures to influence specific processes in living organisms which will benefit humans or improve the environment
How can genes be altered through genetic engineering?
- turned on or off
- deleted or deactivated
- foreign genes inserted into chromosomes
What is recombinant DNA technology?
- a form of biotechnology that is used to introduce new, beneficial genes into an organism to create genetically modified organisms
What is recombinant DNA?
- a form of DNA that does not exist naturally but is created by combining DNA sequences that would not normally occur together
What is a genetically modified organism?
- an organism with introduced foreign DNA (gene) that results in new and useful traits
What does recombinant DNA technology involve?
- finding a desirable gene and moving it into the cells of another organism by means of a vector
What is a vector?
- a virus (bacteriophage) or plasmid that transfers foreign genetic material into another cell
What is a plasmid?
- a circular, double stranded DNA molecules found in bacterial cells that are not part of the bacterial chromosome
How does recombinant DNA technology work?
- after the organism has been genetically modified, the new organism will then follow the instructions of the inserted gene and make the protein for which the new gene codes
- if the genes are placed into bacteria, the bacteria can then be cultured to produce many working copies so that large quantities of the desired protein are produced
What is gene therapy?
- an experimental genetic engineering technique that replaces a faulty gene or adds a new gene
- in a n attempt to cure disease or improve the body’s ability to fight disease
How are new genes introduced into the body?
- vectors such as viruses are used to deliver the gene into the cells of the body
What are the types of delivery of new genes into the body?
- Direct delivery
- Cell-based delivery
How does direct delivery of new genes work?
- the vector can be injected or given intravenously directly into a specific tissue in the body
- where it is taken up by individual cells
How does cell-based delivery of new genes work?
- a sample of the patient’s cells can be removed and exposed to the vector in a laboratory setting
- the cells containing the vector are then returned to the patient
- if the treatment is successful, the new gene delivered by the vector will make a functioning protein
What technical challenges must researchers overcome in before gene therapy becomes a practical approach to treating a disease?
- find better ways to deliver genes and target them to particular cells
- ensure that new genes are precisely controlled by the body
What can farmers control by means of artificial selection?
- the reproduction of their plants
- so that each new generation has as many of the parents’ beneficial genes as possible
What have been some of the benefits of selective breeding?
- the yield of the major cereal crops has been increased
- crops have become more resistant to disease
- the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables has been enhanced
What is transformation in relation to genetic modification?
- the change in a cell or organism brought about by the uptake of introduced foreign DNA
What is the problem with conventional plant breeding methods in terms of time?
- they can be slow and unpredictable
How does genetic engineering combat the problems relating to conventional plant breeding methods and time?
- the exact trait can be created in one generation with great accuracy