Genetic modification (20 + 21)

Question 1

How do you produce modified microorganisms?

Answer 1

1. isolate the specific gene with restriction enzyme eg, restriction endonuclease
   2) extract a plasmid an cut with restriction enzyme eg, restriction endonuclease
   3) insert isolated gene into the plasmid using ligase
   4) put modified plasmid back into vecotor eg, bacteria
   5) grow bacteria in a fermenter to produce lots of the protein
   6) protein can be extracted and purified

Question 2

How do you produce genetically modified plants?

Answer 2

do the same as you do for microorganisms

1) infect a plant cell with the vector bacterium
2) the bacterium inserts the gene into the plant cell’s DNA
4) plant cell gorws to an adult plant with each cell containing a copy of the gene and producing its proteins
5) proteins can be purified from the plan tissue or the plant can be eaten

Question 3

How do you produce genetically modified animals?

Answer 3

1) a gene for the protein is injected into the nucleus of a fertilised egg cell
2) the egg cell is implanted into an adult female and grows into a whole animals with a copy of the gene in each cell
3) the protein produced is purified from the milk of the animal

Question 4

Benefits of using GMOs:

Answer 4

• agriculture is improved as crops can be modified to be herbicide resistant, pest resistance give higher yields or be more nutritious = lower costs
• a reduction in the cost of production of enzymes = more affordable drugs
• safer eg, than using bovine insulin
• vaccines don’t need to be refrigerated, can make them available to more people

Question 5

Risks:

Answer 5

• concern about transmission of genetic material eg, “superweeds”
• long term unforeseen conseuences
• unethical