Genetic modification Flashcards
what is genetic modification?
moving a gene or genes from one species to another
what has been done to bacterial cells in order to help with disorders such as diabetes?
Bacterial cells have been genetically modified to produce substances such as human insulin.
what is a feature of genetically modified crops?
and why is this beneficial?
they resistant to insect attack or are herbicide resistant,
this produces increased yields.
why can harvesting genetically modified crops require less herbicide?
Herbicide resistant crops allow them to tolerate herbicide, but the weeds are killed by it, therefore less herbicide is needed.
what is the advantage of golden rice?
it can be used in areas where vitamin A deficiency is common, so it can help prevent blindness since it has been genetically modified to produce beta-carotene
what are the health related downsides to genetically modified foods? (2)
-possible health risks
-food might contain a substance that causes an allergic reaction in some people, or higher levels of a toxin naturally found in the food.
what are some future used of GM?
curing genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease
The process of genetic engineering (5)
1- Restriction enzymes are used to isolate the required gene leaving it with sticky ends.
2- A vector, which is usually a bacterial plasmid or a virus, is cut by the same restriction enzyme leaving it with corresponding sticky ends.
3- The vector and the isolated gene are joined together by ligase enzyme.
4- The vector inserts the gene into required cells.
5- The genes are transferred to animal, plant or microorganism cells, during early development, which allows them to develop with the desired characteristics.
what are sticky ends?
a short section of unpaired bases
why is GM better compared to selective breeding?
Genetic engineering is a faster and more efficient way of getting the same results as selective breeding.
how could farmers in developing countries benefit from GM?
Improve crop yields or crop quality, which is important in developing countries. This may help reduce hunger around the world.
additional Benefits of genetic engineering: (related to agriculture) (2)
-Introduce herbicide resistance, which results in less herbicides being used, as weeds are quickly and selectively killed.
-Insect resistance from Bacillus thuringiensis can be inserted into the plants. The plant produces toxins, which would discourage insects from eating the crop.
how could GM be used to reduce the danger of vectors for disease such as mosquitos?
-Sterile insects could be created, such as mosquitoes. They would breed with fertile mosquitos, but be unable to reproduce. This would reduce the number of offspring and may help with spread of diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever and the Zika virus.
Risks of genetic engineering: (4)
-Transfer of the selected gene into other species. What benefits one plant may harm another.
-Genetically engineered crops could be harmful, for example toxins from the crops have been detected in some people’s blood.
-Genetically engineered crops could cause allergic reactions in people.
-Pollen produced by the plants could be toxic and harm insects that transfer it between plants.
discuss an ethical issues posed by GM?
Some people believe it is not ethical to interfere with nature in this way. Also, genetically engineered crop seeds are often more expensive and so people in developing countries cannot afford them.
