genetic moification Flashcards
use of GM
modifying non-human organisms to produce specific human proteins (such as collagen and insulin)
modifying microorganisms
plasmid extracted from DNA
restriction enzymes used to cut circular plasmid
another set of enzymes used to insert a piece of DNA (from another species) into plasmid
plasmid inserted back into the bacteria
bacteria allowed to multiply in a fermenter
protein produced extracted from this culture
remaining bacterial cells destroyed
artifical selection
selects alleles for characteristics that are agriculturally valuable
farmers save seeds from the best plants of their crop and store them for sowing the next year
genetically modified plants
introducing new genes with alleles for desired characteristics into a plant’s DNA
allows plants to be produced in a timescale of months rather than tears
uses of genetically modified crops
have potential to mass produce medicines and other chemicals cheaply and efficiently
plants have ben genetically engineered in trials to produce proteins for healing wounds and treating conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver, anaemia and CF
screening for gene insertion
marker gene (gene for antibiotic resistance) incorporated into plant cell along with the new desired gene
an antibiotic toxic to plant cells at a high enough dose is incubated with the plant cells
kills off any plants that have not taken up the new gene
only cells to survive are those that have successfully incorporated the new genes and are resistant
GM plant cells hen cultured in agar and nutrients to produce new plants
micropropagation
can multiply a single cell to form a mass of plant cells (callus)
then differentiates to form plantlets and finally novel plants
summary of production of GM plants
identify gene of interest- ‘foreign gene’
remove plasmid from bacterial cell
cut plasmid and gene with restriction enzyme
insert ‘foreign’ gene into a plasmid DNA along with a selectable antibiotic marker
reinsert plasmid with foreign gene and marker into bacterium
allow bacterium to introduce plasmid vector with foreign DNA into plant cell
foreign gene incorporated into plant chromosome transforms the plant cell
plate cells on a growth medium with antibiotic
only transformed cells will be selected
micropropagation
plant growth substances stimulate shoot and root growth
use of gene gun for GM plants
after ‘foreign’ gene and selectable antibiotic marker is inserted into plasmid
coat gold or tungsten particles with foreign DNA
gene gun shoots pellets coated in DNA at high velocity into plant cell
then incorporated and incubated and plant produced
genetically modified animals
methods include
injecting DNA directly into the nucleus of a fertilised egg
- egg implanted into surrogate female
retroviruses used to introduce new genes into fertilised eggs
- virus incorporates its DNA into the host’s DNA
GMO in research
human disease genomes can be incorporated into the genome of model animals
health concerts of GM
transfer of antibiotic-resistance genes to microbes
formation of harmful products by new genes
transfer of viruses from animals to humans
environmental issues
transfer of genes to non-target species
possibility of breeding ‘superweeds’
the possibility that GM crops will lead to the increase use of chemicals in agriculture
