Genetic Engineering Flashcards
What is genetic engineering?
Changing the genome of an organism to create a genetically modified organism
Describe the three steps of genetic engineering
1) Gene is cut out of a chromosome using enzymes
2) Gene is inserted into the chromosome of another organism
3) The cell of this organism now produces the characteristics of this gene
GM crops have been genetically modified to give them characteristics including …
Resistance to insects and herbicides.
Describe the first two steps of making human insulin
1) DNA (which contains insulin) from a human cells is cut using restriction enzymes, leaving unpaired bases called sticky ends
2) Plasmids are also cut opens, which leaves matching ends of unpaired bases (sticky ends)
Describe the last two steps of making human insulin
3) The sticky ends from the DNA and plasmids are joined together, and ligase is added to link the DNA back into a continuous circle
4) Plasmids are inserted into bacteria, which grows in huge fermenters to produce insulin
What are the uses of animal cell cultures?
To test the effect of drugs in cells, to check for cancer cells in a sample from a patient, and to produce important proteins, eg. antibodies
What are the uses of plant cell cultures?
Produce many clones from one parent plant, to produce disease free plants
Describe the process of plant tissue culture
1) Tissue sample cut from parent plant
2) Put into agar jelly containing plant hormones and nutrients
3) Samples grow into plants
What are the advantages and disadvantages of fertilisers?
👍: contain nutrients, increasing crop yield thus providing more food for people
👎:can cause eutrophication, expensive, can reduce soil biodiversity
What is biological control?
Using a natural predator, parasite of disease of the pest to keep the pest population low
